East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-10
ACE Of MIRACLES
FOR TURKEY
DAZZLING CHANGES COME
IN RAPID SUCCESSION
MahOmct's Tomb Is Now Lighted by
Electricity and Pilgrims to Shrine
of Prophet at Medina Can Travel by
Rall-Ncw Railway Expected to
Relieve Great Miscrlcs.

These are dazzling brilliant times
In Turkey. 1t seems almost an age Of
miracles. one day tyrant at the
head Of the government; the next, a
constitution, with free press, free
speech and unveiled women. one
day the prisons full Of political prs-
oners; the next, the prisoners llber-
ated and the spies in full flight.
As a sign Of the marvellous times
for Turkey-at hand, the tomb Of
Mahomet, at Medina-Or, at any rate,
the Mosque, which is believed to en-
shrine the tomb-has been lighted
with electricity. Imagine it-Mo-
hammed and electric light!
But this is not all. Almost out of
nothing. the Turkish sultan, Abdul
Hamid-take notice!-has construct
ed a railway 500 miles long, thrown
it across the sandy desert, and linked
Damascus with Medina, on the route
to Mecca. surmounting overwhelming
difficulties on the way, warding off
dangers, and achieving success in the
shortest possible time. In a year the
railway will be completed. and trains
will carry the faithful to the holy
city OF Mecca. with conductors crying
out: Mecca Mecca" Surely
times change.
II Mahomet could come again
what would he think of these modern
miracles, electric light over his tomb
and passenger trains carrying the
faithful 10 Mecca?
Dream Now Reality.
Ten years ago experienced and
shrewd observers laughed at the rail-
road idea. A mere cloud-castle. they
called it, a fitting occupation for an
indolent Oriental loungng In his har-
EN-, or languldly watching the curling
cloudlets rise from his chibouk and
vanish into thin air.
But now the sultan's dream has be-
come a hard reality. The American |
tourist In Paris can set out on his |
journey at the Care de l'Est and quit |
the railway coach in the very heart |
Of the Hedjaz. Of the isthmus which |
Is the center OF three continents, the |
cradle OF three religions. those of Je-
hoyah. Christ and Mohammed.
II IL interesting TO note, however, !
that the sultan's adviser in this road |
building scheme was the alleged re- |
doubtable king OF spies and weaver OF |
plots, IZzet. 1t is asserted that the or
ignal scheme, and largely, too, its !
execution, may be rightfully claimed |
by this trapper OF men.
The motives OF Abdul Hamld in
building the Hedjaz railway were sell
fish and patriotic, private and nation
al. The hold of the dynasty on the
country in general and on the sacred
places In particular, needed strength
ening; then the interests of the en-
pire had TO be consolidated: and, fl
nally, the claims of religion had to be
considered
Between Turk and Arab there Is no
love lost Sway over the Arab tribes
goes together with the possession OF
the shrines of Mecca and Medina. In
future, with the railway, the govern
ment will probably be able to defend
the holy cities effectually and keep
the Arabs in order Indefinitely. per-
haps permanently Anarchy and rail
ways are expected to prove incom-
patible even in Turkey. With the
railway completed Ottoman troops
can be thrown into rebelious districts
TO quell rising as soon as IT breaks
out