PASSING EVENTS. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1908, Page 2

PASSING EVENTS. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

SPEED IN PERSIA. Things have a way of happening with most remarkable speed in this, Iho old age of the world. A few"" short years were enough to convert Japan from a medieval people, with soldiers clad in' armour to a nation 1 replete with all the conveniences and contrivances of our much vaunted civilisation. At one bpund Persia became a constitutional country. Tho Parliament, which in England grew with infinite difficulty "from precedent to precedent" as slowly as ono of our old oaks, wes suddenly flung into the lap of the Shah's subjects. On nearer view, it is true (says St. James's Budget), this Parliament is perceived to bo a somowha,t unparliamentary creation. In fact, it is something like a town council, largely consisting of the clergy of tho different parishes. Half tho members come from Teheran, and more than half belong to the priestly class. Here again the speed with which matters proceed in this age is remarkable. For ages Persia has been under the domination of the priestly class, but suddenly before anybody is aware tho whole country is swarming with secret societies. The slow-going Grand Vizier i 3 assassinated by them, the priests are terrorised, and the present critical situation is entirely due to their manoeuvres. France after many centuries has evolved her Freemasons, who war against the church. ■ Persia, in a few months produces an equivalent, and what this equivalent may do Is beyond the wife of mortal man to prophesy.