The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-28

L.
The war between Italy and Turkey
has set many persons who do not COM
monty think upon International themes
to considering the essential difference
between Europe and Asia. The scene
of action has been on the coast OF
North Africa, just across the way from
the tip of the Italian Peninsula, but the
foe has been Turkey, an Asiatic power.
and the bond of the people has been
Islam, the faith of hither Asia. Europe
stands for Christianity and progress;
nearer Asia stands for Islam and re-
progression. Despite the unWarranted
action of Italy in declaring war. she
does embody the principles of Chris
tianity, and does stand for tn cross,
as against the crescent. Liberty, en-
lightenment, and modern civilization
follow wherever the flags of Europe
penetrate. In the inmemorial strug-
gle between the East and the West,
the guardianship of the gospel which
came out of Asia has rested upon the
great powers of Europe
The most distinctive battle line on
the earth's surface is that which runs
past Constantinople, the Bosphorus,
the Sea of Marmora and the Darden-
Giles, which divide Europe from Asia
The wars of thousands of years have
ragged over this frontier. Not all have
been accompanied by marching legions
and the clash of arms: the most i'm
portant victory Of all was gained when
the Apostle Paul crossed over from
Asia to Europe and took an earnest of
tho continent in the name of the Lord
Jesus. Then began the war for the
Contamination of Europe; and. as a
result today Europe, with its child,
America, is the citadel. the arsenal, the
training camp, the home of the Chris
tan conquest of the whole world.
Only they who know both can really
understand how 1.-The East is the East,
and the West is the West There are
deep and radical differences. Better
fifty years OF Europe than a cycle of
Cathay,'' cried Tennyson. A long article
could be written to illustrate the diff
ference. One instance must suffice.
Travelling East of the Jordan, in what
| we best know as the Land Of Moab, /
suddenly found myself at a settlem enf
of Circassians, who had removed from
Russia because they were Moslems and
wanted to be under the rule of the
CaIiph Some would say that the Cir
cassians represent Europe at its worst:
but here. in contrast with the lack OF
order, discipline, and domesticity of
the Arabs, they spelled Europe. Their
homes were in houses, heated and fur
niShed: their cattle were stabbed, in
stead of exposed to the weather; their
estates were surrounded by walls; their
ideas of law and order were rather
those of civilization than of the desert.
It is well for the young people of today
to understand what Europe has repre-
scented through the centuries, and how
| incumbent it is upon them to stand for
these things. To be a Frank or
European, in the near East. gives one
! special privileges and obligations; s'the
word of a Frank" is accepted as an
other mans bond. To this standard
ali the heirs of Europes past are
bound to be true.
1 One of the dramatic statues of the
world stands on the heights above the
Danube overlooking the city of Buda-
Pesth. 1t is a colossal figure of a
! soldfer-mon holding aloft a cross;
while at his feet crouches marble fig
ure of a wild Hun. The transformation
| of the Goths nd Huns as of PictS and
CeIts and Gauls and Saxons, came by
way of the cross. which Is here up1ifted
| as q beacon over modern city
/ The old. old law is working out that
they who give. get Europe sent mis-
sionaries to America, now America is
sending missionaries to some parts OF
Europe.
We ignorantly boast that the best Of
Everything is to be found in this west
ern world of ours; but Britain, Ger
many, Switzerland. and the Scandina-
Wan countries have much to teach u:
concerning law, the organization of 50
u ciety. and the use Of life These hap