The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-11

DFUTSCH has demonstrated thht th'T" X no
fatalism in the Koran. On the contrary,
there Is the most stern recognition Of human
responsibility and the most searching APP
pcals to human free will If the purity of
the original doctrine has been clouded by
contact with the invctcratc precOnccptiOns
Of some Oriental nations, we can no more
charge that corruption upon Islam than we
could arraign the Christian Gospel for the
divergence from its original spirit remarked
in civilized communities. Finally, it is not
consistent with historical fact to associate
the Mohnmmcdan religion with an auto
cratic form Of government. The fusion of spir
itual and temporal authority IN a CalipIatc
substantially disappeared with the down
fall Of the Onmyad dynasty, for how could
the principle survive the cOcXist"ncc Of two
and subsequently of three Culiphsf Tine
truth is that Islam has been adapted with
out difficulty toe every species OF pulity which
il has encountered 10 divers forms Of linz
itcd monarchy in Spain and northern Africa.
tot genuine oligarchy i'm the case of the
Mamclukcs, and to pairiarchal system
among the numads " Arabia. central Asia.
and Algeria. We may add that the form Of
sucirty promoted 10y the Muhammcdan faith
might adjust itself with peculiar facility to
pure democracy. and this brings Us to the
capital merit OF the religion and the main
source OF its vitality.
Three 81 ,nt crccds and three only. have
proclaimed the absolute equality of hclicv-
crs before God and before each other Buddh-
ism. Christianity, and Islam havcthu- much
in common that they vcaddrcs-cd man as
man. have known nothing Of caste or class.
or rncc. but have based their faith ON the
broad lines Of humanity. and aimed 10 cs-
tahlish brotherhood of mankind IT.
Christcndom. however. this doctrine had tu
struggle with a compact and powerful -trlc-
turc of society Ia whose bosom the germs
Of frulal order were working. and We nood
not say that in too many instances aud ior
too long a period. it -uccumhcd to the spirit
of caste. ON the other hand. the loyalty OF Is
| lam to the gospel OF humanity has been fer
,id and mistaken. and H. may hc that the
relatively simple and inorganic character of
/ Oriental society furhorcd that result BE-
/ that a. II may. the essential nature OF a
/ Mohammcdan community Is now, and has
always hccn u NcIitahlr social democracy.
committing its larger political concerns tu
one or another form of government. accord
ing TO circumstances. hut most frequently
to nm autocratic head The two exceptions
which seem 10 prnv. the rul. are Roenia.
where the Christian aristo,rncv accepted
th. n. -l,rn rrh zion only ON condition of TO-.
tanning their f.u,lnl pri,ilr.r.-. and India.
where the Brahlnniii,.al t,.N-tenl tn
potnnt to ho entirely with-tnod
There are two cnrollari,- from tho doe.
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