Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-01-16


printed in the ancient language-a
language even less comprehensive
to the inhabitants of Epirus thar
those OF Greece.
Let us hope that with the eqllars-
ment of territory there may be a, cor
responding enlargement of ideas, and
that every person who is willing TO
conform to the government in temper
al matters, may be allowed perfect
religious freedom This would be
coed way of celebrating the new rule
and of showing good intentions to-
wards the various peoples who have
been brought under it.
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 Christ
lans and Mohamnedans+ have not e
qually enjoyed the same benefits.
whilst on the other hand in certain
matters of religion Turkey has given
some privileges which have been
much appreciated
There have been some men in the
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 to help the
invader than their own ruler, and the
conquering armies have been hailed
with delight and glad shouts, as soon
as it was thought to be safe to show
their real feeling. In his dying mo-
ments his own subjects have left him
and would gladly help to thrust him
deeper into his grave
The Turk has been proud OF the
fact of mot only being a soldier, but
also a conqueror. During the Alban-
IAN troubles l have seen troops with
long lines of cannon and machine
guns marched to the front; officers
giving sharp orders here and there
have seem armed soldiers heading
rows of chained captiyeS to prison.
L have seen policemen roughly dicta-
ting what must and must not be
done, but never until the last few
days have | seen the Turk with his
sword and rifle taken from him, and
being compelled to march along aus a
prisoner of war, with naught left of
his manly bearing, and being gov
erned by the men he formerly des-
pissed and looked upon as weaklings
ut was a pitIful sight to see long
professions march along between
two rows of glistening bayonets, and
behind these huge crowds of people
The naughty spirit had all gene, and
mostly all seemed to he looking to-
wards the ground as they We're led
ON their way to prison. Quite
change indeed for the former con-
querors, and it lis doubtful whether
the Turk will ever again be quite
what he has been. He has been beat
en- at his own game, the only game
he ever pretended he was amy good
at playing; and not only beaten, but
badly beaten
"And now. as this part of his
history is drawing to a close, let
us hope there may be good future
for him, future that will bring him
far more happiness and peace than in
the past he has ever known. This
war may have bearing OH the great
est of all missionary problems, the
conversion of the Mohammedans. The
proud warrior may find that the dead
prophet has been unable to help him
in his struggles, and may turn to the
One who is not dead but alive for,
evermore, and the Turks closing bat
ties be far more glorious than any
of his former ones. He may learn to
get the victory over himself. At
least let us not only hope so, but
try to do our part towards helping
him"