, 1882-08-26

crn progress and the propagandism of
Western ideas have brought the ends of
the Mahomedan world together. Moslem
races nave learnt to compare their impress
slonS of their own destiny, and their fears
Of the force of Christian annexation.
Steam and electricity and the press and
the posi- have dubbed the yehemeuce Of
Mussuiman emotions and apprehensions.
Arabic journals are read throughout the
continents OF Asia and Africa. Their one
text 10 the brotherhood of Mussulmans
with the common peril they run from Chris.
tan violence or insidiousne9s. Christians
must feel some shame at the effect the
modern facilities of communication have
produced in the confirmation and infama-
on of NJ oSlem devotion. The telegraph
and mail steamers have had no visible
power to strengthen the sense of Christian
Fraternity. They and similar agencies
have played a prominent part in stirring
up among Mahomedans an inclination
towards confederation from which the
Egyptian instruction, if it be not an off.
shoot, at all events derives most Of its
dangerous Importance.
Pan-Islamlsm in one form or another
Is Il reality. Europe has to reckon with
1t. M~ahOmedans have y keen conviction
that they are on the eve Of IL long and
critical duel with Christendom. The
safest attitude for Christendom to assume
IS not to pick up the gauntlet Mlhomedan-
ls%mappearS disposed to fling down. A qua.
rel requires two parties and Christians
Will be behaving most like Christians in
refining 10 let themselves he pitted aga.nst
Moslems az M0sIems. A Christian cannot
but be persuaded that MthOmplanism is
without the clement, Of substantial vitali-
ty. Its merits, where ii is most sincere, are
aS fatally hostile t. it, pArm ln.nca as it's
vices. But Oh &Stianity had better keep
alO0f from politics. Europe in m|lintan-
ing itself against an onslaught of Maho.
medan fanaticism, will think OF preserving
the peace OF the world, and not of spread.
ing It's wi doctrines by the sword. Eu-
rope las nothing to DO with caliphs and
the dOgmas OF Constantin0politan or
Cairene Ulema. It's concern is with the
Ottoman Empire, and the resources that
Empire possesses for disoharsing its duty
to preserve the rule Of law within it's
dominion3 Theological b|i5leynesscs and
expectations which stir Arabs anl Turks
have to be calculated among the forces
Europe may have ID deal With. TIL,
machinery for deal ng with them it in
entitled to leave to Others who can fight
them with their own weapons. Europe
is not destitute Of capacity for com.
polling the secular chiefs Of n Ahome.
d1nism to suppress mischievous agltationS
at HEN ONn risk. Should incandiary fet-
was be issued, and holy wars be proclaim
ed, the Slltan would equitably be chal.
lenged to devise, as Calipil. Appliances for
meeting a common danger to civilization
and humanity. If the Porte and tho
Sultan be not answerable for the present
direction of Mahomedan vindictiyenesA
against Western Europe, they nave at any
rate tempered dangerously with very explO-
Sive materials. For years past prints with
Government inspiration nave been empha.
sizing the authority of the Caliphate and
the ecclesiastical sovereignty of Abdul
Hamid. The Mahomedan world has been
sedulOUSly taught to perceive in him the
attributes rather of q Caliph than of a
Sultan. Whatever embarraSsmentS now
environ him through the incompatibilitles
OF the double character are distinctly of
his own cOntIiving. He will have to find
a way out of them Tor himself.
Europe is bound to take cOgnizance for
its own protection of the Moslem revival
which seems for the moment, to be break.
ing down a hundred partition walls in
Asia and Africa. Europe is neither bound
TO counteract it directly nor to be over
much alarmed at the curious phenomenon.
The forces which are impelling reluctant
Turkish craftsmanship to a contest with
Christendom are i'll that stage Of political
and material simplicity when an insuper.
able enterprise is essayed because it's
righteousness is not gagged. ChriStendom
has most ransom tO 1raod SI,ob M o,oo,.