Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-04-25

' HflsttaH bIplesfNfeFts
In ibis condition Of Affair." 40 one
state was strong enough 10 coneen.
traie the Christian energies Of the age. So.
eiesy vas chaos. Even II Christianity had
essr been sueeessfui military conqueror
no voice in Europe wa. then strong enough
/ TO invoke ont Of ihe general disorder any
thing like martial unity. Bat Christianity
has been successful only through it, inber-
ent spiritual efficacy never by the power Of
I its arms. Fight fruitiess cru@ades have
established thi, fact Of history beyond all
reach % controversy.
( such was tbs condition Of European conn
/ tries ehrn the followers of Mohamm d
arose 10 become c0nquer0rs and 10 found
upon the -chisms Of Christianity u marvel
Gus growth and civilization
coming from the barren sasies Of the
arabian pcninsHla, firmly united in the
common bond of Islam; Injured To arms
by lives of continual warfare; glow
ing with restless energy. AMI ami
mated by q love Of conquest they threw
Themselves upon the ener, atrd Christian
state. with Irresistible forcc and intrepid
daring They swept the -horcs of the Leyant
tesiegrd toustantnople for seven years
ovcrrnn calabria and Spain and but for
| the heroic deftnce of Charles Martel on the
bioody field of Tours Marathon of
continental history would have suhjugated
not only France but all Christcndum.
The proutest achievements Of the Mos
/ lem empire however were IN Spain. 1t
was Indeed beautiful country and one
well calculated To inspire Saracrn cupdily
by its very contrast To their avn bar
rem land In no part of the world
ha. nature been more lavish of her
gifts. Yielding in profusc abundance, the
fruits of two zones rich in mines of gold
aud silver, possessing warm equahe eli
mate and bs,hcd by the blue waters Of the
Mediterranean. Il seemed to the eager
host~ Of Islam the nearest earthly approach
to their promised Paradise. It vas to them
the Eden of the continent,
Here dweIt the descendants of those an
cicut Sucvi AMI NiSigoths, who. follow ing
the westerly trend of national migration.
hal found the pyreuccs barrier to further
prngrc~- aud had <rttlcd in the quiet valleys
below
Ilr~e people were Ingenious. energetic,
rhastc and courageous hut thrirtir<crndant.
Who occoprd spain, at the time of the
SArac,n invasion had departed widely from
The virtue Of their fpth,rs, lutrignc hal
usuprd sincerity, -luQashne~> hal SUE
rcciid energy CHASTITY had given place 10
,rn.uahlS anrl the manly eopragr of their
ancestor, had dcgyuerat.vl into eaiu pride
of blood and arrogant haunting such werr
thu people from HON the Moors vresled
their Spanish possessions
The followers of Nohammpd were. every
vhcrr, organized in the work Of extending
their faith, under supreme ruler or khaif.
when. therefore, in III the Sarsrcn gen
erai rarik crossed the strait of Gibraltar
anil eutercd upon the conquest of Spain
him but the united strength and influence
Of tho Mo>lcm world
The conquest was brief and bloody
The single battle Of Gaudattc practically
settled the question Of saracen supremacy
The war was thenceforth confined TO the
storming of castles and the taking of cities.
In two wears this work was completed and
ninc-tcnhs of the entire peninsula was
under Saraccn dominion.
The followers of the prophet FASTENED
from Africa hy thousands tn settle this new
acquisition. This was part eff the general
plan of the Musem empire for securing it.
conquered territory and extending its faith.
The Suhjugation of Spain was the wild over
iov vi a resis'lc<s tile of religious passion.
liable tn recede As rapidly a. it had arisen
hal no, colonization wisely secured whist
conquest had won.
Having firmly established themselves in
Spain the Moors turned their attention from
the arts of war 10 the arts of peace. They
were race Of enthusiasts entering with
equal fervor aud industry into every depart
ment of progress. Learned men were re-
sanied among them with u rcspect amount
ing almost to ycncration and the scholars of
all countries were cordially welcomed To
their midst.
Under such favorable conditions. -cience.
literature aad art attained y perfection
among the Moors which called forth the
reluctan; admiration of tue worli Spain
became the grta, center of European cul-
ture and refinement Vast libraries were
collected, Free schools. colleges. and
universities were established whose pro-
! fessors received iixrd salaries. and 10 gain
the advantages of whose learned lectures
Christian students caue from all parts of
the continent.
Daring the eight centuries that the Moors
remained in Spain they flied al inipor,ar,
office in the history of human progrp.S
They werc tic 'lepesitorics of the vast learn-
Ing of the ancient civilizations; the int.lium
through which came To Europe the cru,ii-
ton of 9pecc and Rome.
Msny cause. contributed to the decline of
the MoslCm power in Spain. The incrcas-
| ing cuRrage and unity of the native Goths Z:
| internal dissertations: and. n,ast of all. the
| insecurity of the hcusc ami th,, loa<cne.s Of
the domestic relations. polygams was sane
toned thea as nou, both by their religion
and their law, ansl divorce was facilc AMI
general
| The whole system Of their theology foS-
tered the most brutal sen>aalitv The che
waiting Influence oi pure home atmosphere.
which torn,s thu safeguard of Christian ma =
| tons, was hacking 10 the followers of Muliam-
mel. With such domestic condition among
| its people any bong continued lease of Mos
lem power wa moral ims'ossihili;s. That it
should hare risen above these degrading
social conditions and attained the material
civilization whicl, il did is simply marvellous
and without i parallel in history.
/ Many wears before the departure of the