The Osceola times., 1877-06-23

The Mohammedans believe that Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mo
hammed were divinely commissioned to
proclaim new laws and dispensations
that to the prophets were revealed certain
scriptures inspired b. God, that all those
have perished except the Pentateuch,
the Psalms, the Gospel and the Koran I;
that the first three have been falsified
and mutilated and that the Koran
supersedes them all They regard Christ
as next to Mehammed, but deny that he
was the son of God. and that he was
cruciied, believing that some other per-
son suffered in his place, while he was
taken up 10 God. They believe in the
second coming of Christ, As heralding the
approach of the last judgment. As to
future lite, they believe that God will
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 bridge finer than 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, avarice, debauchery, and insists on
.,,l. 80 ka NJ e..
bearancc, love of peace, sincerity, truth
fulness and benevolence. II restricts,
but does not prohibit polygamy, and pre-
sents sensual idea of heaven.
After the death of Mohammed the
promulgation 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 732. They advanced into
China, swept over Judes, establishing
great empires, and mastering portion
OF the Greek empire. Then they were
in turn everrun by the Tartcr tribes,
led by the Turks, but these adopted
the religion of the people they
conquered and become its cham
pions, and in 1543 they captured
Constantinople. This was the golden age
of Mohammedanism, 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 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. II 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 idostrous and superstitious
nations. Its promulgation and rapid rise
in power were at time when the Chris
tian religion was bcset by enemies on all
sides. 1t is noticeable that in no case
did Christian nation conquered by a
Mohammedan nation espouse the Mo-
hammedan religion. Mohammedanism
succeeded against lower type of civili-
zation, but never against 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 Mshsm-
medan nations, they have made little
progress. Arabia has gone backward in
stead of forward, Persia has lost her an
cient glory, and Turkey made no progress
until forced 10 accept western political
philosophy. Mohammedan nations have
stood stubbornly at the line drawn in
1882, 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
Mosem coDquerers have, with few ex-
ceptions, been moving forward. What
is known as the civilized world is nearly
all Christians, and the nations are strong
and wealthy. Mohammedanism is
strong among the tribes of Africa
and the nomadic nations OF Asia.
With these facts in mind we
come TO the consideration OF the prob
able results In case the sultan should
unfurl the flag Of the Prophet and call
upon all Mohammedans TO join in holy
war. He would forfeit all claim TO sup
port from those nations which now sup
port Turkey, not because she is Moham-
medan, but because she is European.
In the old days of holy war it was easy
to arm and clothe a mass of adventurous
soldiers but, suppose the Mohamme-
dams of Africa and Asia poured into
Russia, they would come as a barbarous
horde indifferently armed and without
discipline, and against the discipline and
armaments of modern warfare they
would have little chance of success.
Such a movement would be the signal
for new combinations in Europe. The
Christian nations would soon be n unit
in driving back the hordes animated by
an anti-C Christian fana.icism, and the re-
suit would he the end of the Ottoman
empire.
The sultan will not take such course
unless he is prepared to cut loose from
all European alliances, or unless he des-
pairs OF help from European ma
tions. If he does take it he plays into
the hands OF Russia and hastens his owr
downfall. It is questionable whether
such an appeal would rouse the riva