The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-13


The writer observes;
Assuredly, then, tho frat projecting impetus was
not Impressed upon Islsmism by Mshomet. This
lay in a revealed truth aud BY Mahomsl was iur-
lively translated to his own use from those oracles
which held ii 10 keeping. But possibly, II mol the
primo pie operation yet al least the steady conserve
lion OF this motion secured 10 lslamism by Ma
homet. Granting (you will say) tina, The launch OF
this religion might DC due TO alien inspiration, ye'
the steady movement onward Of this religion through
some centuries might be due exclusively To the code
Of laws bequeathed by Mahomot IN the Moran -
| And this has been the opinion OF many European
scholars. They fancy that Mahomet, however
worldly and sensual the founder Of a pretended
revelation, was wise in the wisdom Of this world |;
and that II ridiculous a prophet, he was worthy
of vencration as a statesman. lie lepislaled well
and prescieny, they imagine for the interests OF
remote poslerity. Now, upon that question, let Us
hear Mr. Finlay. He, when commenting upon the
steady resistance offered TO the Saracens 6y the
Afrcan Christians OF the seventh and eighth eentu-
res a resistance which terminated dissstrously for
both sides--the poor Christians being extefminaed,
and the Moslem invaders being robbed OF an indi-
genous working population, naturally inquiries what
1t was that led to SO tragical result he Chris
tian natives of these provinces were IN political
condition, little favorable to begerent efforts; and
there cannot be much doubt, that, with any wisdom
any fo bearance the part OF the intuders both
parties might soon have settled down into PACING
compromise Of their feuds. Instead OF this. the cl-
meter invoked al worshpped a, the sole possi-
BILE arbitrator and truce there was none until the
silence Of desoation brooded those once fertile
fields. How savage was the faDatiesm, and how
blind the worldly wisdom that coua have co-ope-
rated to such result. The cause must have been
| in the unaccommodating nature OF the Mahome-
IAN institutions, in the bigory Of the Ma.
homctan leaders, and in the defeat of extensive
views on the part of their legislator. He had not
provided for other climates than that OF his own
swelterng stye of the Hedjas, or for manners more
polished, or for institutions philosophc than
hose of his own baked Ishmueles { The con-
suc,ion of the political government OF the Saracen
empire, says Mr.. Finley, pp 4b2-3, was Imperfect,
and shows that Mahomet had neither contemplated
extensive foreign nquests, nor devoted the energies
OF his powerful mind 10 the consideration OF the ques-
tons of administration which would arise out OF the
difficult task Of ruling numerous and wealthy PoPu-
laton, possessed of property but deprived Of equal
rights He then shows how the whole power OF the
State settled into the hands of chief priest, sys
tematicalIy irresponsible When, therefore, that
mentary state OF responsibility had passed away,
which created (hke the state Of martial law
by national feelings, military compaDionship, and
exalted enthusiasm, the administration of the Caliphs
became far more oppressive Than that of the Roman
empire 1t is, in fact, insult to the majestic Ro-
mans If we should place them seriously IN the bal
ance with savages like the Saracens The Romans
essentially the leaders of civilization, according
TO The possibilities then existing for their earliest
usages and social forms involved a high civilization
whilst promising a higher whereas all Moslem na-
tons have described petty arch Of national cyility,
soon reaching its apex and rapidly barbarizing back
wards. This fatal gravtaton towards decay and de-
composition IN Mabometan institutions, which, at this
day, exhibits TO the gaze of mankind one uniform spec
tace of Mahometan ruins, all the great Mosem nations
being already in Strul5rg state and held erect only
by the colossal support of Christian powers, could
not as repersionny evil, have been healed by the
Arabian prophet. His own religious principles would
have prevented that for they offer permanent boun-
| ty on sensuaty; so that every man who serves n
Mahomet state faithfully and brilliantly at twenty.
five, is ncapactated at hrlyfve for any furthe-
vice. by the very nature of the rewards which he re-
ceives from the State. Within q very few years
every public servant is usually emascuaied by that
unlimited righteousness, which equally the Mosem
princes and the common Prophet of all Moslems,
countenance the proper object of human pursuit.
Here is the mortal ulcer of lslshsn, which can
yer cleanse itself from death, and the odor of death
political ulcer would or might have found restora-
ton for itself; but this ulcer is higher and deeper; IL
lies in the religion which is incapable of reform 1t
is ulcer reaching high the paradise which Is
lamism promises and de-, the hell which II creates
We repeat, that Mahomet could not ,ftctually have
neutralized a poison which he himself had introduced
into the Circulation and life blood Of his Mo.iem
economy. The false prophet forced to reap he
had sowo. But an evil which is certain may be re-
,arded and ravages which tend finally to confusion,
| may be limited for many generations. Now, IN the
case of the African provineials, which have
ticed we sec an original incapacity of slamsm, even
| 10 its palmy condition, for amalgamatng with any
superior culture. And the Il ecihc action Of Mahom-
etaDism in the African case, oonrastcd with the
Roman economy, which u supplan,ed, is thus exhibit
ed by Mr. FInsy IN most instructive passage, where
every negatlon the Mahometan side is made to
suggest the countervapg usage positively the side
of the Romans. y, children of Romulus how no.
bic do you appear when thus iercey contraste1 with
the wild bears which desolaed your vineyards No
local magistrates elected by the people and parish
priests, Connected by their feelings and interests both
with their superors and interiors, bound society to-
geiher by common ties and system of legal sd-
minis'rauon, independent of the military and fnsn-
cia authorizes preserved the property Of the people
from the rapacity Of the Government"
Such, we are to understand was mol the
Mahometan system such had been the system
Of Rome
I" Socially and politically proceeds the passage
the Saracen empire was little better than the Gothic,
Hunnlsh and Ayar monarchies and that IL proved
more durable with almost equal oppression, is TO be
attributed TO the powerful enthusiasm of Mshomets
religion, which tempered for time its ayarce
and tyranny
The same sentiment is repeated still more
empbatically at p. 46s:
"The political lory Of the Ssracens was Of itself
utterly barbarous and 1t only caught passing CLEAN
Of justice from the religious feeling Of their prophets
doctrines
''ln his character Of ihsoiogan therefore Mahomet
was SIMPLY the most memorable of blunderers, sup
ported In his blunders by the most unlettered Of
tons 10 his other character OF legislator, we have
seen that already the earliest stages Of Mahometsn
ISM experience exposed decisivey his ruinous mbe.
oility. Where rude tribe offered no resistance to
his system, for the mpc that their barbsrsm
suggested no motive for resistance II could be no
honor TO prevail And where, on the other hand
higher civilization furnished strong points Of repul-
sion to his system appears plainly that thi. pretend
cd apostle Of social improvements bad devised or
limited reader mode Of Cancellation than by put
ting TO the sword all dissentients. lie START a.
theological reiormer, with lancied defiance to the
world, which was no defiance at all being exactly