The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-06
Rcaigiea Z. the Rase-Mshamned anisn and
Christianity.


There are many good reasons why this sub
ject should not be uninteresting to our
readers. To the East we look when we think
of the infancy of our race to the East we look
when we think of the infancy of our religion.
The Garden of Eden, whatever it was and
wherever it was, was at least an Eastern
land. All that we call religion had an
Eastern origin. Buddha, Confucius, Abra-
ham, Noses Christ, Mohsmmed, were all
Asiatics; aud whatever there is in religion
to-day which commands human attention or
absorbs human thought, is somehow asso-
ciated with the rising sun. Those mysterious
waves of human life which centuries ago rolled
toward Europe, and those currents of belief
| which flowed in the same direction, have been
checked, and European thought and senti-
ment, Asiatic in birth, aided by Great Britain
and the United States of America. go back to
| the old centres to give, with interest, what
they received.
Our civilization is Christian. We owe it to
the Holy Roman empire, to the Popes Of
Rome, to Spain. to Great Britain, to the Cava-
encs the American Continent has, that infu-
ence, 20 out in what direction 1t may, is
essentially Christian. Our business tenden-
ces are still toward Europe. Our intellec-
tual and religious tendencies move aggressively
toward Asia. For business purposes we
bridge the Atlantic. For intellectual, but re-
lgous purposes particularly, we bridge the
Pacific r.
What we are doing in the direction of Asia,
Great Britain has long been doing, and 80 too
has Russia. Russian aggression is toward the
East. British aggression is toward the East.
Russia, mistress of the North of Europe, has
made herself mistress of the North of Asia !;
and on the confines of Persia, of China, of
Japan, she begins to press southwards.
Great Britain has built up magnificent
empire on the plains of Hindosan,
and, although India cannot be said
to be converted, one hundred and fifty mil
lions, representing the pith Of the thought of
Asia, are in their inner life and their outgoing
tendencies substantially Christian. The steam
boat, the railroad, the steam plough-these
are potent preachers they are changing the
face of the land, and they are in the Eastern
mind inseparably associated with the Christian
religion.
1t ought not to be forgotten, however, that
Turkey, standing On the confines of Europe
and Asia, and in full possession of the best
border lands Of either continent, is religiously
powerful over the whole of Asia Moham-
mechanism is omnipotent in Persia; it is
mighty power in British India it is danger
ously strong in China; and among the islands
of the Southern Seas it can claim many vo-
taries. The two aggressive religions in Asia
are Christianity and Mohammedanism. 1t ia
not to be denied that Mohammedanism has
taken a firm hold of large section Of the
Asiatc mind. 1t has to be admitted, however,
at the same time, that the religion of
Mohammed is without the support of
any Of the aggressive forces Of these times.
One nation only stands behind that faith; that
pronounced anything but a bulwMk. This,
however, is not all. Mohammedanism is fpr
some cause or other the enemy Of progress.
Aggressive only in the matter of the propaga-
ton of the faith, it is in everything else will
ing to let things remain rs they are. Modern
civilization, in the sense in which we under
stand il, it despises and condemns. 1t is alto
gether different with Christianity. Agrees
sive civilization is the expression of Christian
thought; and all the nations of Europe and
America, Turkey alone excepted, unite in
giving force to the expression. Everything
valuable in science is On the side of Christian
ity. On the rail, on the river, on the ocean,
on the field, in the ham, steam proclaims
the superior genius Of the religion Of Jesus;
and as the long uncnltivated field begins to be
productive, as the barns begin to be filed
with plenty, as money and everything which
of the untutored rises above the mere machine,
and Christianity receives all the praise and
all the glory.
1t is long now since the Crescent and the
Cross came into collision, and since the fight
for the mastery of Europe and Asia, and, in
deed, of the whole world, began, Russia and
Turkey not unfairly represent the actual con-
dition OF the contest. Russia is the mistress
Of the North; Turkey is the mistress of the
South, so far, at least, as the South has any
direc. connection with Asia. They both stand
on the confines Of the two continents. More
than that, the triumph of Christianity or the
triumph of Mohammedanism means the triumph
of one or other of these Powers With
Christianity Russia advances; with Moham-
mechanism Turkey prevails. 1t is not difficult,
after what we have said, to know which must
win. All that is good in modern civilization
is on the side of the one; all that is stand
still or reactionary is on the side of the other.
The time has come when the truce which has
allowed the Mohammedan Power To remain On