The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-06-22

Judge men by their acts in life; that the
time of resurrection is known only to
God; that after judgment all men must
pass over a bridge finer than a hair and
sharper than a sword" the good passing
over easily, the wicked falling headlong
to hell that all who believe in the unity
of God will finally be released from
punishment and enter paradise, while
idolaters and hypocrites suffer eternally.
The Mohammedans observe strictly
the outward forms of their religion, re.
garding the Koran as the rule OF their
religious, civil and social life. The Koran
forbids gambling, intemperance and
usury urges charity, and provides for
the punishment of crimes; condemns
pride, a%varice, debauchery, and insists on
submission to the will of God, on for
b%carancc, love of peace, sincerity, truth.
fulness and benevolence. 1t restricts,
but does not prohibit polygamy, and pre-.
sents a sensual idea of heaven.
After the death of Mohammed the
PRONUNCIATION of his doctrines spread
with amazing rapidity. The Moslems
conquered Syria (making Jerusalem one
OF their holy cities), Persia, Assyria and
all of northern Africa before the begin
ming of the eighth century. Then they
crossed into Spain, conquered province
after province then into Gaul, where
they met their first great defeat near
Tours, in 1872, They advanced into
China, swept over Judea, establishing
great empires, and mastering a portion
of the Greek empire. Then they were
in tHrn everr&n by the Tarter tribes,
led by the Turks, but these adopted
the religion of the people they
conquered and become its cham
pions, and in 1913 they captured
Constantinaple. This was the golden age
of Northumberland, and the Ottoman
empire was at the zenith of its power.
Forty years afterward the MOhamme-
dams were forced out of western Europe,
and there has been a gradual decline ever
since. There comes dissensiOns in their
own ranks, and they divided into two
great sects, the Sunnites and Shiahs.
Instead Of the wonderful unity and en-
thusiasm that had prevailed, a hostility
on the part of one sect for the other was
developed. The MOhammedans OF the
Ottoman empire, of Arabia, Turkestan
and Africa, are %ounnites, and the Per
slams and the Mohammedans of India,
Shiahs. 1t is estimated that of both
sects there are now one hundred and fifty
millions in Europe, Asia and Africa, fully
one hundred millions being in Asia.
MOhammedanism was well calculated
to influence idOlatrOus and superstitious
nations. Its PRONUNCIATION and rapid rise
in power were at a time when the Chris
tian religion was beset by enemies on all
1t is noticeable that in no case
did a Christian nation conquered by a
Mohammedan nation espouse the Mo
religion. Mohammedanism
succeeded against a lower type of civil
but never against a higher. 1t
Overrun the Roman empire of the east,
but the Christians remain Christians to
this day.
As the Koran, written twelve hundred
years ago, with Arabic life in mind, fur
nishes the political system for Meham-
nedan nations, they have made little
progress. Arabia has gone backward in
stead of forward, Persia has lost her an
Gent glory, and Turkey made no progress
until forced to accept western political
philosophy. Mohammedan nations have
stood stubbornly at the line drawn in
1852, and have refused to advance, asking
nothing and desiring nothing beyond
what is outlined in the Koran. In the
meantime the Christian nations that
covered at one time at the feet of the
conquerers have, with few ex-
options, been moving forward. What
$ known as the civilized world is nearly
Christians, and the nations are strong
md wealthy. Mohammedanism is
trong among the tribes of Africa
nd the nomadic nations of Asia.
With these facts in mind we
ONE TO the consideration of the prob
BILE results in case the sultan should
nfurl the flag of the Prophet and call
pom all Mohammedans to Join in a holy
'ar. He would forfeit all claim to sup
ort from those nations which now sup 7
Ort Turkey, not because she is Moham- !
ledan, but because she is European. 7
the old days of holy war it was easy t
} arm and clothe a mass of adventurous a
but, suppose the Mohamme- C
ans of Africa and Asia poured into e
they would come as a barbarOus v
Drde indiferently armed and without {,
Iscipline, and against the discipline and o
'maments of modern warfare they u
Ould have little chance of success. e
Ich a movement would be the signal I
r new combinations in Europe. The V
hristian nations would soon be a unit l.
driving back the hordes animated by I
anti Christian fana!icism, and the re- fc
1t would be the end of the Ottoman T
npire. C
The sultan will not take such a course CO
Hess he is prepared to cut loose from pl
European alliances, or unless he des- al
irs of help from European ma b.
If he does take it he plays into tu
e hands OF Russia and hastens his own ci
wnfall. 1t is questionable whether az
CHI an appeal would rouse the rival di
It's of Mohammedans to the old war an
of enthusiasm, but even if the pr
.TOnse was not general Russia would co
fer. The importance of the event GU
mot be overrated, as it would make a m,
v era in European politics. The I'M of
ling of the flag of the Prophet would bu
use the old spirit of warfare it would ex
bad for Europe, bad for Mohamme. sill
lism and fatal to Turkey. We
tel
Easy Lesson in Physiology. ioC
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