The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-26
What Led To The
Present War in Turkey

!, harmony with the Greek Orthodox
church. Such things are against the
Greek law. Also the Bible Is only al
lowed to be printed in he ancient
Lar lanell 2 q !; and, the common naonla-
can neither read nor understand this
language. they practically are with
out the Bible, and know nothing ex-
cept what they hear from the mouth
OF the priest. The Turkish govern
1 ment places no such restrictions, and
the agents OF the American and Brit
ish Bible Societies carried on their
work to the benefit Of the people;
whereas In one of the principal cities
of Greece a Bible agent was recently
arrested because a lawyer thought he
had some Bibles in his possession
which were translated into the mod
ern language. The agent was bound
with rope, and led publicly to the
station where he was taken by train
I to Athens. The accusation was en-
4 tirely false, and the colporteur was
given his liberty.
Much OF the territory formerly
i governed by Turkey now falls under
Greek rule, and 1t certainly would DO
very regretable II the spirit OF relig-
ious intolerance should be exercised
IN the newly acquired land 1t would
mean that the people could no longer
hold the Bible they now possess, and
4 that henceforth the Bible colporteurs
must sell no Bibles not printed in the
ancient language-a language even
4 less comprehensive to the inhabi-
tants of Epirus than those Of Greece.
4 Let us hope that with the enlarge
Ment OF territory there may be cor
4 responding enlargement Of ideas, and
that every person who is willing to
conform to the government in tenn
poral matters, may be allowed per-
feet religious freedom This would
De a good way Of celebrating the new
: rules. and of showing good Intentions
toward the various peoples who have
been brought under 1t.
Surely the war ought not to be
without its lessons, as we see the
once proud nation getting ready to
| leave the territory over which it has
ruled for five hundred years. Chris
y tlans and Mohammedans have not
equally enjoyed the same benefits,
whilst on the other hand in certain
matters of religion, Turkey has given
some privileges which have been
much apprecia. ed
There have been some men in tas
1 empire who have urged reforms, but
she has been slow to listen to advice,
and failed to do to others as she
would have been done by. The rule
of the sword has not been a success
full rule, and in the hour of calamity
!, he has stood as a stranger in his own
, country. The inhabitants have ever
been more ready 10 help the invader
, than their own ruler, and the conquer
ing armies have been hailed with de-
4 light and glad shouts. as soon as 1t
was thought to be safe to show their
real feeling In his dying moments
/ his own subjects have left him, and
would gladly help to thrusl him deep
!. err into his grave.
a "The Turk has been proud OF the
[ fact Of not only being soldier, but
also conqueror During the Alban-
ian troubles | have seen troops with
long lines of cannon and machine
guns marched to the front: officers
/ giving sharp orders here and there.
j have seen armed soldiers leading
rows of chained captives to prison.
Il have seen policemen roughly dlctat-
ing what must and must not be done,
but never until the last few days have
II seen the Turk with his sword and
rifle taken from him, and being com
Y PEELED to march along as prisoner
4 Of war, with naught left Of his manly
+ bearing, and being governed by the
! men he formerly desptsed and looked
i upon as Weddings. 1t was pitfrul
sight to see long professions march
/ along between two rows of glistening
bayonets, and behind these huge
4 crowds of people The naughty spirit
4 had all gone, and mostly all seemed
to be looking towards the ground as
they were led on heir way to prison.
Quite change indeed for the former
conquerors, and it is doubtful wheth-
er the Turk will ever again be quite
what he has been. He has been
beaten at his own game, the only
4 game he ever pretended he was any
good at playing; and not only beaten,
but badly beaten.
and now. as this part of his his
/ tory is drawing to close. let us hope
there may be good future for him,
4 a future that will bring him far more
happiness and peace than in the past
he has ever known. This war may
have bearing on the greatest of all
missionary problems he conversion
! Of tie Mohammedans. The proud
warrior may find that the dead pro-
phet has been unable to help him in