The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-10-22
HOLY LAND EMANCIPATED.

Students of holy writ and others interest
ed in the Holy Land who have followed the
campaign of General Allenby, commanding
the English and French expeditionary force
in Palestine, with eager interest from JofFa
to Jerusalem and up the valley of the Jor-
dan are gratifed at the progress made in
clearing that historic country from the re-
pugnant rule of the Ottoman Turk.
Palestine, the land of tradition, song and
story, is not merely revered as the birth
place Of Jesus Of Nazareth, but is beloved of
many peoples. It was the birthplace of
Abraham, the promised land of the chosen
people, land that once flowed with milk
and honey. No spot on the earth's surface
is so crowded with events so momentous to
the human race or so rich in memories cher
ished in legendary lore. It was reputed to
have once been the garden Of the world
Mary, mother Of Jesus, and Joseph travelled
the lonely roads that wound around the
Judean hills on their way to Bethlehem
where it was decreed Jesus should be born
Now these same grounds are resembling to
the din and noise Of contending armies,
while the sound of artillery awakes the
echoes in the hills about Nazareth. At Jeru-
salem, now reconQuered, after its long occu-
patton by the Moslem. David wrote the
Psalms and Solomon his Songs Within the
confines of this land lie the Garden of Geth-
semane, the Mount of Olives, the Hill of
Calvary, the Sepulcher of the Christ Much
of the beauty, beatitude and blessing of
our present christian civilization had it's be-
ic ba IF iAo+i
for humanity. Is it any wonder, then, that
the christian world has long cried out in in
dignant protest at the sacrilgious occupa-
ton of the unspeakable Turk? Or that a
grateful cry at its deiverance is heard wher-
ever the christian religion is held in rever-
ence?
The stretch of country along the Medi-
terranean sea, known as the Holy Land, has
been in the iron grip Of it's Moslem conquer
ers since its invasion and conquest by the
Saracens in 635, with the exception of the
period it was held by the Crusaders from
1899 to 1887. No organized or concerted
effort has ever been made to redeem it in all
these centuries until now. Although in SEN
tlment dear to many peoples none has ever
made serious attempt to wrest it from the
clutch of its alien invaders and restore it to
something of its pristine beauty and tradi-
tional destiny. In all these centuries the
curse of the oppressor has rested heavily
upon it. It's people have been burdened
by heavy taxes, its forests have been cut
down and it's soil impoverished The once
populous and prosperous people have dwin-
died to a tenth of their number It's an
Gent cities and temples have crumbled to
dust. And in the place Of their departed
magnifcence remains nothing but squalor
and poverty
Modern civilization owes debt to this
impoverished land, a debt that should be
repaid with interest. Now that there is a
prospect that Palentine will be swept clear
from the Ottoman rule forever an effort
should be made by philahthropists, both
Jew and Gentle, to restore this country,
so rich in tradition and sentiment, and make
it at least habitable for the people who still
cling to its denuded hills and valleys.