Evening star., 1924-03-24

The real modernization of Turkey
seems to stand our finally in the abo-
lition of the caliphate and the ban
ishing of the caIiph from his ancient
see in Turkey, in the opinion of
great many American editors. For
centuries the Christian world has
viewed with a deal of suspicion every
move toward readjustment, for mod
ernization, by the ''unspeakable Turk
Because Great Britain, apparently to
appease the millions OF Mohammed-
ans who are it's subjects, for a time
appeared to do all in its power to
help Islam keep its spiritual head,
; the latest move for the separation of
mosque and state by the national
Turkish assembly takes on a special
significance.
Many are conclusions drawn by
American commentators. Surprise at
the radical departure from custom,
however. is the note most expressed
Many look for Turkey that will
take its place before many years as
real world power. Others see the be-
| ginning of tolerance that may end
: for all time the massacre of Christian
hordes that have shocked the world
/: from time to time.
LET us not be too sure" says the
Manchester Union, that the Turk is
incapable of modernization. A people
who can withstand any such revolu-
tion as is represented by Turkeys
renunciation of spiritual leadership of
Islam is capable of other transforma-
tions." The fear of an Islamic upris-
ing gets no great credence as re-
suit of Turkeys democratic attitude.
AS the Waterbury Republican points
out, "the caliph has been without
temporal power now for more than
year, and Islam has given no sign
of an intent to rise in a holy war
against the usurpers. Keftial And his
Associates are probably entitled to
feel confident, therefore, that their
decision to abolish the caliphate Will
provoke little protest on: Religious
grounds"
"The only explanation" says the
Springfield Republican, "is that mod
erfism has got a stronger hold upon
the Turkish people than has generally
been recognized" Turkeys command
ing position in the world of politics
may not be retained without the re-
ligious prestige it held, according to
the view of the New York Evening
Post. which declares Turkey appears
| to have thrown away her trump card,
| to have sacrificed on the altar OF
modernism the bugaboo menace OF
islam that frightened her foes into
show of ffiendliness." The temporal
power will rise again in some place
! shortly, according to the philadelphia
Public Ledger, which declares the
caliph can be exiled. of course, but
Angora can no more abolish the
caliphate than Mussolini, by expelling
| the Pope from Rome, could abolish
| the papacy.'
| The Surprising part of it, in the
view of the wilkes Barre Record, lis
| that the Turks, so fanatical in their
religious affiliations and SO welded to
custom and tradition. are yielding to
passive obedience to the decree" This
journal also sees the aim OF the foung
| Turks to westernize the nation in
| habits and customs and form of gov
ernment. ut is hoped, it adds, that
these severances will be followed by
the suppression of the massacre OF
Christian populationss tnas grew sou out
ernment that has gone so far in abol-
ishinr customs should emerge into a
broad spirit of tolerance to subjects
who are not of the Mohammedan
In a more or less facetious vein,
the Providence journal benioafs the
utter disregard for sentiment shown
| in the attitude of the reformers of
Turkey, and sympathizes Win that
and the alluremeht of the picturesque
mean more than diplomacy and eth
nical politics." which ''sighs and spec
mates upon the latter-day disregard
of symbols of legendary tales" 1t
Hooks like the end of Mohammedanism
to the Wschita Eagle, which con-
cludes SLOWLY but surely, and at the
imofnent dramatically, Mohammed goes
to the mountain and to his grave.
| r n
The possibility of a new caliphate
| In another center of the Moslem
world causes speculation as to what
may happen to the Angora assembly
IL Islam seeks revenge. at is just
lpossibie. too," says the Columbus Dis
patch. that ca1iphate outside of
Turkey Mag. make itself more trou-