New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12

disturbances are filling his heart Win appTe-
hension. for he realizes that CARBON viii be
compelled by popular sentiment TO seek repara-
ticn in the Balkans and in Asia Minor for the
injury sustained to its prestige in the Far East,
ana that It has now no longer the power, nor yet
she desire to hold in leash the insurgent ac-
fivity Of Bulgaria Of Macedonia and IN his otner
Christian dependencies. Besides this, there Is so
much analogy from a Western point OF view'
between the essentially Oriental forms OF gov
eminent of Russia and Of Turkey that the SOUND
Of the waves OF popular revolt now sweeping
over the Muscovite empire re-echo through the
length and breadth Of the Padishah's donlinions
nowhere more loudly or more ominously than
around the walls Of his palace Of Yildiz Kiosk
at Constantinopie Although Russia has always
been looked upon as the hereditary foe Of the
Turk. vet there is to-day no who is more
anxious for the success of her arms in Man.
churia and for the settlement of all her troubles
nearer home than Abdul Hamid.
II ts England that has supplanted Russia
the object Of his principal dread. 1t is in Great
Britain that he sees the gravest peril, II not to
the Ottoman empire, at any rate to his dynasty,
and he appreciates the fact that Russia's mis-
fortunes constitute Englands opportunity, and
that Carbon. overwhelmed with disasters, mil
itary as well as domestic, becomes with every
new catastrophe less capable Of acting as an OBJ
stacle to Great Britain's designs.
Lord Curzon is the instrument Of these de-
eigns Some credit him with being the Original
tor thereof But should be far more inclined to
sscrfbe their conception to that wonderful de-
!psrtrnent at Calcutta which Is the indian
counterpart OF the Foreign Office In London, and
OF which Sir Mortimer Durand. now British Am
ibassador to the United States. for several
years the chief. This belief is strengthened by
the fact that # Is especially since Lord Lans-
downe became Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs that the Oriental policy OF the English
government has become more active and more
aggressive. Lord Lansdowne served for a term
as Viceroy in India. and while there became
profoundly interested in the work Of the Foreign
Department at Calcutta and imbued with
great admiration for its officials men who are
the pick Of the Indian Civil Service. Moreover,
he identified himself with the aims and theideals
Of this department. and since he has been For
eign Secretary has done everything in his power
70 promote their development and to foster their
execution In fact. to-day the Foreign Depart
nents of London and Calcutta are working to-
gether in the most perfect harmony, with ina
rnense advantage 70 English interests. and 1t is
pretty well known In well informed circles that
the member OF the Cabinet to whom Lord Cur
Eon looks for support at home is Lord Lans-
eowne, rather than Sir John Brodrick, the Sec
rotary of State for India.
Foreign Department at Calcutta are to
strengthen Englands hold on India, well
her predominant influence upon all vassal and
independent rulers within what may be de-
scribed as the Indian sphere, and to counterfeit
any effort that might be made by European
powers either TO endanger the line of communi-
cation with the mother country to foment
anti-English intrigues among the native rulers
and races Of Asia Now, the most powerful ele-
rnent IN India is undoubtedly that which ac-
cords spiritual allegiance to Islam England
has probably some eighty million Moslem sub
5ects in the Deccan Peninsula, and at least
\ thirty million more in Africa. Indeed, Great
Britain is without exception the greatest Ma
hofaetan power of the world and has won
the confidence and the good will Of the follow
OF the Prophet to a degree enjoyed by
other Christian power, through the religious
tolerance displayed by her government
For many years the English believed in the
pretensions Of the Su1tans of Turkey to the
dignity of Caliph; that is-to say to the spiritual
supremacy of the entire Mahometan Church
throughout the world. II was indeed. this. even
more than the dread Of seeing Constantinople
fall into the hands of Russia. that led Great
Britain to champion the cause Of the Sublime
Porte and TO expend vast quantities Of British
blood and treasure IN its defence. The English
thought that they owed IT, as great Mahome-
tan power. to their Mahometan fellow citizens
In India to protect the chief of the latter's
church
But Abdul Hamid. by his readiness to lend
himself ever TO anti-British intrigue at Con-
stantinople. and by his reluctance to accept
English advice, ere long convinced the states
men at Calcutta and IN Downing Street that as
the spiritual head Of Islam, he constituted not
only perpetual source Of trouble, but likewise
OF very serious danger TO the Moslem posses
sions of the English crown Realizing the hope
lessness Of the situation at STEAMBOAT, where the
Sultan with his policy Of playing off one Euro
pean power against another was always certain
20 md some government ready to outbid Eng
land for the sake Of temporary advantages at
the latters expense, the Foreign Department at
Calcutta, while Lord Lansdowne was Viceroy
ano Sir Mortimer Durand its chief, proceeded to
investigate the pretensions OF the Turkish Sui
tan to the Caliphate, and after a most ex-
hausttve inquiry in which the most learned
members of the Moslem creed in India took
part came to the conclusion that his claims
were unfounded and based entirely on usurpa-
ton and on false assertions The Koran that
is TO say. the Khadissei Shereef portion thereof,
strictly provides that the Caliph Of the Ma
hometan Church-its supreme pontiR-must be
a lineal descendant of the Prophet who founded
the faith. Now the Grand Shereef of Mecca full
Ills these genealogical requirements being a
lneal descendant OF Hassan, the grandson Of the
Prophet. Sultan Abdul Hamid on the other
hand, has none OF these qualifications, his an
cestors having belonged to tribe distinguished
for its enn1ity to the Prophet He cannot be
considered as being even IN the remotest de-
gree 6escended from nTaboyae+ o,l,-