Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-29
ISLAM IN CHINA.


The Edinburgh Reoieao contains an arti-
Gle ON the spread of Mohammedanism in
China, which is very suggestive. In re-
cent issue we alluded slightly to the advance
of Mohammedanism in Africa, all the dense
populations of which country appear to be
rapidly yielding to religion which brings
along with it marked civilizing influences.
1t seems that very similar change is tax
ing place in China, where the descendants
of Arabian immigrants who have always
retained their religion are reaching out
more and more boldly, and striking their
roots deeper continually. These Moslem
Chinese did few years ago actually take
and hold the important and populous prov
ince of Yunnan, but the Imperial Gov
eminent finally overcsme them by proffers
of amnesties and promotions, and so their
leaders became divided, and fell. The
Chinese Moslem are described as being
physically more robust and energetic
race than the Chinese proper, or the Con-
fucian Chinese, and they are strongly in
clined to independence. The Imperial
Government has had such conclusive evil
dence of their valor and prowess that it
holds them in high respect, and is very
careful to avoid all irritating treatment.
They howeverare enthusiastic proselytizers,
and they are spreading Islamism abroad
through China, and it appears to find much
favor because of its superior defniteness
and energy. The growth of Islam in
China, in short, is an event which it has
become necessary to recognize and to take
into consideration, for it is at once evident
that it may have the most important con-
sequences. 1t is quite within the bounds
CT possibility that Islamism may conquer
the whole of China before another century
has passed, and should that happen it is
evident that the restless proselytizing spirit
which is bringing about this change would
look abroad for further fields of employ
ment. Suppose the four hundred millions
of China all converted to Mohammedism !;
tn swarming races of Africa ranged under
the same religious standard ; the recru-
descence of Arabian energy coincidingwith
these changes what is to prevent, or
what could hinder, descent upon
both America and Europe such as the
ancient history of civilization records as
pouring forth from the cradle of the race
in Central Asia? China Is always center
of portentous possibilities, and this cloud
of Mohammedanism impending over the
land appears capable of supplying the
| stimulus which was alone wanting to make
that overgrown nation world-danger.
The immense intellectual and emotional
energies which have always had their seat
in the mysterious land of Arabia, are by
no means on the decline. The fiery des-
erts which inclose as with magic spell
the old empire of Nejid may not forever
doom the robust race thus imprisoned, to
isolation. The materials for as many
social and racial cataclysms as have
already taken place yet remain, and
the advance of civilization has not been so
rapid or so general that there are not left
enough barbarian hosts to overwhelm all
that Europe has constructed, more utterly
and hopelessly than old Rome or old
Carthage was overwhelmed. Civilization
has recognized dangers within itself which
to some seem to menace its destruction,
but apart from all evil and threatening
products of its own processes there remains
this outward danger an Enceladus who
may at any time overcome the weight that
bears him down, and rise in his wrath
upon the nations that despise his present