WILL THERE BE A RELIGIOUS WAR?
From widely separated parts of the Mohammedan world we hear of the fanatics calling for a holy war. In Central Asia the Mohammedans of Khokand have been trying to resist the advance of Russia by stimulating a holy war; and in European Turkey, according to the London Times, the agitation for a war of this kind has taken a strong hold of the Mohammedan population. On all sides the Mohammedans see how the Christian powers are closing in upon such remnants of their ancient dominions as are yet left to them, closing in upon Turkey itself, as well as upon Egypt, and Persia, and Toorkistan, and the North African kingdoms. During the last century the political authority of Mohammedanism has ceased to exist over many millions of its subjects, from the Indies to the Straits of Gibraltar; and nowhere, except in some parts of China, has the sword of Islam been able to assume the aggressive. But that faith cannot make a successful stand against the forces of Christendom, and the outbreak of a holy war in Turkey would soon be brought to an end in the obliteration of the sultan’s empire in Europe. True enough, if the fires of Mohammedan fanaticism could be kindled over the Mussulman world, their extinguishment would involve a frightful amount of bloodshed; but co-operation between the Mohammedan powers of Asia, Europe, and Africa is an impossibility; and any holy war, however extensive, could be but a series of isolated massacres. The British government, which has millions of Mohammedan subjects in its East Indian possessions, and the interests of which are complicated with those of several Mohammedan countries, is doubtless more apprehensive than any other European power over the holy war agitation. To it, the sultan is more important as the head of the Mohammedan faith than as the sovereign of Constantinople.—New York Sun.