My object is to call attention to the political aspect of the conquest of Constantinople, to point. Out that the empire had fought continuously, and in the main successfully, for one hundred and fifty years against the forces of Asia, and had spent its strength partly in this struggle and partly in educat ing the races which had ?owed into the empire, and that it was only when it was struck in the rear that the New Rome was unable to defend itself; that the conquest of the empire was the final blow given after a long series of attacks by ene mies on every side, and that the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders was the cause which brought about the fall of the Roman Empire in the East, and rendered its ultimate capture by the Turks both certain and easy. The conquest of Constantinople was the first great blunder committed by the West in dealing with the Eastern question. That question really means whether Asiatic in?uences and an Asiatic re.