FROM THE 10 JULY 1873
DECATUR LOCAL REVIEW, DECATUR, ILLINOIS
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THE
CRESCENT AND THE CROSS
The Acheenese have been giving the
Dutch authorities in Sumatra much more trouble than we at one time
deemed possible. Acheen proper covers but a small portion of the
island, and for the four millions of population the Acheenese scarely
exceed six hundred thousand.
The Acheenese are Musselmans, and are under the government of a man who
is honored with the title of Sultan. It has always been
understood that outside of Acheen proper the Mohammedans had little
influence. It would seem, however, that the Sultan of the little
territory puts himself at the head of a powerful organization, whose
principal object is to drive the Dutch from the island.
The Dutch traders on
the island and the Dutch troops together have not found themselves
strong enough to subjugate the Sultan or to force him to terms.
On the other hand, the Sultan is not strong enough to put down the
Dutch.
What is the
result? The Dutch governor sends home asking more troops.
The Sultan sends imploring notes to Constantinople asking assistance.
The government at the
Hague has sent out reinforcements. The Ottoman Porte, according
to our latest news,
has sent out twelve
war vessels to assist the Acheenes against the Dutch.
It would be a strange thing in these times if Holland and Turkey went
to war. It is undeniable, however, that the crescent and the
Cross are now contending for supremacy in Sumatra. The Musselmen
perhaps takes more interest in this out of the way fight than the
Christian.
But the Christian must not be indifferent, for the triumph of the
Musselman in Acheen might kindle the war torch in Hindustan and wrap
Asia in flames.
We can hardly believe that even in Sumatra the Cross will yield to the
Crescent.
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