New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16

Notwithstanding the heroic efforts of the de
voted band Of Christian missionaries in Africa
IL j, a recognized fact that the results which
they have achieved are infinitc~imal when com
natnd with the marvellous success of nh" Ma
homctau propaganda among the heather
aloreino, of the Darl, Continent. While the
Christian converts do not exceed few thou
sands. the ploscly'c~ TO the Koran number
millions. \ variety Of considerations. climatic,
dogmatic and othnogrlphic. have been put for
ward - reasons for Tins remarkable slipcuont!
of NahomctaniSm over Christianity III the
African mission field. No mention has, how
eyer. been made of the principal cause which
is 10 hc found in the h1rharonS methods OF
warfare employed against the natives by the
civilized Christian Governments now struggling
for the possession of the land of Ham. The
worl, Of the European missionary has for years
past been pcr>i>tcntly comtcactcd by the
Eurorcan soldier and The Africans when called
upon 10 choose between the Bible and the
Koran. have preferred 10 throw in their lot
with faith that not only taught but also
maintained The solemn observance of certain
great and universal law, OF humanity.
Throughout Africa Asia. and even among
our Indian tribes in the nitcd states there
prcvals an unwritten law which iorhldS the
destruction of wells in such a way rs 10 con
vert either permanently or for long period
the country watcrcd thereby into desert This
VA, recognized in the old Roman days. and So
strictly is it observed that when Lord
Wol,clcy's English army advanced across the
Koro,ko Desert toward khartoum in $3.50 the
Arabs and Soudanc>c rcfraincd from either
tampcring with the wells or destroying the
oascs i'm their efforts 10 arrest the onward march
If thc invader upon their homes This cN-
annie of desert honor was not, however, fol
lowed by the British generals. For. when re
treating toward cairo aftcr> failing TO rescue
Gordon they caused all the wells on the line
Of march either 10 be blow up with gun-cotton
ar 10 be poisoncd Indeed most of the yctcri-
nary stores were used for the latter purpose,
and sick camcls cattle and horses were pur-
uoscly slaughtered at the brink and their car
cases TOPPED into the pools for the sake OF
vitioting the waters thereof. The trees too of
tho various GASES were cut down. and the roots
torn up TO prevent their growing again. There
was no excuse for this rs the SoudancSc made
no attempt to pursue the rctrcatlng English
army. Similar barbarouS practices have been
employed by the Italians in AbySSinia, by the
Germans in East Africa, and by the Portuguese
ON the ZambcSi. Only few weeks ago 1910
desert wells were destroyed with gun-cotton
ON the Somali Peninsula by Lieutenant Raplin,
of the English cruiser Ranger, and party of
sailors and marines dispatched for the purpose
from Aden
1t is impossible to describe the horror which
acts of barbarSm and crimes against nature
such rs these excite in the breasts of the I'M
civilized SavagcS of Africa. The work of cen
turics on the part Of Christian missionaries is
swept away thereby, For the natives are natu-
rally reluctant to adopt religion that appears
to tolerate such infractions OF human law. Bar
barous methods of warfare, even when EN-
ploycd against barbarians, are always II dis
Grace To the civilized nation that practiSes them.