The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-11-23
EUROPEAN SITUATION
ANOTHER ARMAGEDDON

rural population of entire Europe un
til century and a half ago. Only
during the last half century have they
begun to feel the influence coming
from civilized Europe and America.
| If we make a comparison between
the Christian populations of Macedonia
and the Mussulman populations we
shall see that the latter, too, is made
up of large number of peasants
These, though protesting different
faith, have not for many centuries been
either more civilized or more barbar-
Gus than the Christians, and for can-
turtles, in all except their religion,
they have resembled the latter pretty
closely, just as, for that matter, the
lower classes of people are very much
alike anywhere. During the last CEN
fury, however, ideas and tendencies
have been growing different between
the Christians and Mussulmen, because
the Mussulman peasants, immured in
IACiI lCli6lOAly al AuCl lCoS ouDJCSC
than the Christians to the influence
of the ideas of Europe and America.
But if from rural classes we rise to
the upper classes, we shall see that
Islam is represented in Macedonia by
a class of big Mussulman landed pro-
prietors, or beys, in whom again is
found, though in a decadent and hy-
brid form, that refinement and basis
of civilization conceived by Islam as a
matter of beauty and desirability for
rich land owners Side by side with
these beys, Islam is represented by
high officials of the government, who,
there as everywhere else, are the nat
ural depositaries of certain principles
of culture and civilization, judicial,
political and military, though they diff
fer from ours.
1t would, therefore, not be appro-
pirate to say that the Mussulmen in
Macedonia represent, if anything, al
civilization partly aged and decayed,
which has had origins diverse from
ours and which sets itself another SUI
preme aim No doubt Islam, under the
of the Turks is greatly de-
cayed, just as it is decayed in Persia
and northern Africa. The splendor
with which it was shown in the earlier
middle ages under the Arabs, when
from Bagdad, Alexandria, Fee and Cor
dova it Illuminated not only parts Of
Asia and Africa, but even Europe, sunk |
in the darkness of most profound bar
barism, is now nothing but a distant |
Only modern historians now
know how much the modern civiliza-
ion of Europe owes to the Arabs. But
.hough decayed from its ancient sp1en-
lor, Islam still possesses a civiliza-
ion which has it's own moral, relig-
Gus, political, philosophical and ass
hetic principles.
The Christians, on the other hand
or whom the Balkan states have now
civilization which is scarcely now in
process of emergenoe from centuries
If barbarism, while the mercantile
lass, numerous in the cities and COM
POSED of Jews, Greeks and Europeans,
tand between the two great forces in
onflict without taking part too openly
n favor of either
Therefore, the contest in the Balk-
ms is not one between barbarism and
Utilization, but a struggle between
wo civilizations, one aged and the
Their nascent; therefore, it is much
1ore terrible fight than would be be-
ween civilization and any form Of true
arbarism. The American who does
OF understand this point will prob
bly, be unable to understand thel
astern crisis, it's origins and develop
lents.
OF all struggles between peoples, the
lost violent, most bloody, most newt
Bile, are those arising from different
rinciples of civilization. The diversity
f the criteria by which men solve the
reatest problems of life is fact, as
is also fact that each people, and
ach century, thinks it has discovered
he most perfect model of what should
nd should not be done in honor of
lorals and justice.
The Elements of Armagedd0n.
How many disputes, how many hates
nd discords, and how many struggles
ave arisen and will arise among men
'om this perpetual illusion in which
ach century, each people, each relig-
IN, believes it has found the most per-
oct solution of the enigma Of life. {
Lence, too, arises the necessity of war. | !.
war plays great part in history, it {
because there is no other means of 6
eciding from time to time those dis .
1rds and contests when they become ;
70 entangled, than by a decisive cut G
hich settles them in one place for a
ing time in favor of one or another :
opposed principles. 1t is really this 4.
rama of war, of which civilized Eu-
,pe no longer understands the tragic
,lemnity, which is to repeat itself in
lie Balkans.
And it will be an ordeal of God, in
hich indirectly America and Europe
i'll also be involved and all countries