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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5102, 31 July 1877, Page 2

A European telegram, published last w ee k, informed us that at a meeting of the Turkish Cabinet, presided over by the Sultan himself, it had been decided to raise the standard of the Prophet in a. certain eventuality. S U ch an announcement would seem to indicate that the Sublime Portehas given up the idea of obtaining assistance from England or any of the nations which defended her in 1856 ; and, to secure aid from without, has determined to raise a war cry, calculated to bring to her army thousands of fanatic zealots from the Mussulman nations of , the East. This is a factor in the problem which Russia presumably has not taken into account; and moreover, if the design were carried into effect by Turkey, it would add fresh complications to England’s difficulty. That the Mussulman nations are permeated by secret societies is shown pretty clearly by sonie correspondence, received by the British Foreign Office a few years ago, and which has recently been published by English papers.' For instance, the Consul at Tuniswrote, “The ramifications of thesesocieties extend like a net over the whole of the Mohammedan world, in towns as well as villages, and they have redoubled their zeal in carrying out the sacred objects of their mission—viz,, the consolidation of the people of Islam as against the intdels.” In the latter term are, moreover - , included not only Christians and Israelites, but also all Mussulman Princes and potentates, suipected, as the Khedive is suspected, of being favorable to Christian institutions. Some further information is given by the Pall Mall Gazette respecting these societies. It seems the most prominent of the religious orders are the Bektashy, Abdul Kader el Bagdadi, the Bhowan, Issawlye, aud Daskawy. Closely allied io them, and in many instances actually sprung from them, are the secret societies properlj so called, whose mission being of a politico-nligious character, is the more dangerous, seeing that the emissaries they employ “ are iusjired with the utmost blind religious fervor, which knows no fear, which disdains to calculate consequences, and which sustains them in the performance of the longest and most pailful journeys.” The peculiar characteristics Which distinguish these societies it is soaredy necessary to refer to, but we would remark!upon just one or two. The most zealous !■ of all the orders seems to be the Daskawy. These are said to be the Jesuits of Mohammedanism—indefatigable and uncompromising, hesitating at no derioe for the accomplishment of their object, ,It is their especial care to work in close proximity to the Christian or Jewish missionaries, so as to counteract their influence; and though their affiliations aud branches extend over the whole of Western Asia, their propaganda is' exercised with greater fervor and fanaticism in those countries—such as India—where there is a considerable Christian element, or wMch have fallen under the dominion or influence of European Powers. AnothersocietpistheMelevis. It wasoriginated some few years ago, and has rapidly extended its organisation throughout the Ottoman Empire, being encouraged everywhere, as it appears, by the approval of the Turkish Government. Its object is avowed to be philanthropic and religious—the propagation of Islamism. Under these circumstances, the raising of the standard of the Prophet is no mere formal matter. It is an appeal to the disciples of Mohammed, of whatever nationality, to make common cause with Turkey, to rally round the Orescent, and defend by the sword the religion of the sword. Should the appeal be responded to, it is hard to calculate what would be the probable results ; but this much is certain —the contest would be fierce, and be a war distinguished, even among wars of religion, for its merciless atrocities.

In connection with the licensing question we may draw attention to a decision recently given by the Court of Queen’s Bench, Ireland. The decision was given on an appeal from a judgment of the Recorder, and is mentioned by The Times' correspondent. The appellants, named Oluthen, Graver, and Mullet, had been refused transfers of public-house licenses by the Recorder, on the ground that there was already a sufficient number of public-houses in their districts. From that decision they appealed. The Court were unanimously of opinion that the decision of the Recorder was erroneous, and that the element of existing number of public-houses was not to be taken into account in considering the propriety of the transfer of ah existing license. The Lord Chief Justice, after reviewing all the statutes bearing upon the question, said he had arrived at this result with diffidence, having regard to the ability and learning of the Judge whose order was under appeal. He did not think the Court should be influenced by any opinion that the number of public-houses in the city was an evil which should be diminished. If the fact were so, the authorities might properly refuse to add to the number, but existing vested interests should not be extinguished, even with a legitimate object, without compensation. Mr. Justice O’Brien and Mr. Justice Fitzgerald remarked that the course taken by the Recorder in offering the applicants six-day licenses was inconsistent with the grounds on which he had refused them transfers of the licenses they sought.. Mr. Justice Fitzgerald also said that to uphold the decision of the Court below would be to place property estimated as worth millions at the capricious discretion of the Justices at Quarter Sessions, unfettered by the consciousness of the control of the superintending authority of that Court. If it was considered expedient to reduce the number of existing licenses, or to compel the closing of public-houses on Sunday, the purpose was not to be accomplished by straining or misapplying the existing laws, but by direct legislation.

The attention of the Postal authorities has, we hear, been called to a constant breach of law in connection with newspapers transmitted by post; and we may say to eur contemporaries, or those who have so sinned, that to sin in a like way will be to incur punishment. Every newspaper proprietor ought to know what is a “ supplement” to his paper, within the meaning of the law: for an applicant to register a paper for transmission by post receives a'printed copy of regulations which include a definition of “ supplement.” Drapers’ “slaughter”, sale bills, prospectuses of companies, &c., have of late been very frequently put within newspapers sent through the post. Generally they have been bills or prospectuses, pure and simple, without a word meant even colorably to show that they are “supplements.” Occasionally there has been

seen an imprint to the effect that the Bill is “ printed as a supplement to” the paper in which it is enclosed. Our contemporaries should take note that this is not|a compliance with the law. This is the law :—“ A supplement must consist wholly or in great part of matter like that of a newspaper, or of advertisements, printed on a sheet or sheets or on a piece or pieces of paper, unstitched, or wholly or in part of engravings, prints, or lithographs illustrative of articles in the newspaper. The supplement must in every case be published with the newspaper, and must have the title and date of publication of the newspaper printed at the top of every page ; or, if it consists of engravings, prints, or lithographs, at the top of every sheet or side.” It is difficult to see how even complying withtheteohnical requirements as to heading can make a prospectus or a shop-bill a “ supplement; ” for neither of those things satisfies the description of document which, when so authenticated, is transmittable free through the post as belonging to a newspaper. However, our contemporaries must judge for themselves on this point, remembering the penalty for transgression. The penalty is considerable, and will operate curiously. If a newspaper is discovered to contain an illegal enclosure, the whole will be weighed, and it will be tendered to the person to whom it is addressed, condition of delivery being, payment for it at letter rates. The addressee will, in any such case, most probably decline to pay, so he will lose his paper. But the matter will not so end, the registered proprietor of the paper can thereupon be sued for the amount of postage and a penalty. That is where the operation of the law will be found not pleasant 1 Some of the recent offenders have been very innocent in intention, or very daring; for they have published locals stating that they forwarded with each copy of the paper a “prospectus of the proposed company.” We advise that innocence founded on ignorance of the law be not pleaded, if there should be proceedings to recover letter rates on each of a batch of newspapers.