The record-union., 1893-08-01
MARCH ON MECCA.

1t is related by the dispatches that
European sanitary and other govern
mental authorities are convinced that but
for Mecca they could absolutely prevent
the cholera becoming epidemic.
In other words, they are satisfied that,
except for Mecca, by keeping clean and
all Europe taking a bath frequently,
cholera can be as well controlled as can
any ordinary disease. More than that
it need, say the authorities, never come
TO the United States from the Atlantic
side
All this is very gratifying to hear-but
Mecca stands in the way Of realization.
What does that mean? Simply this: Re-
ligious fanaticism, which oftener than
otherwise is the synonym for filth and
dirt, makes Mecca and surrounding
country and the holy well of Zemzem
breeding places for cholera. There the
germs are created, and carried abroad
they seek out filth spots and make each a
new breeding place.
1t is related that the water of this "holy
welr' has been chemically and micro
Bcopically analyzed and is found to be
fouler than London sewage. The dirty
pilgrims who migrate to it bathe in its
waters, and using them above the well
the drainage goes back to the well and
pollutes it. They live in and about
Mecca in such a state of filth as is indie
scribable, and at this very time their
dead by the thousands lie rotting in the
sun upon the Meccan plains, and cholera
sways an indisputed scepter over the
awful scene
If Mecca and its dirty pilgrims, the
Zemzem we'll and its cholera breeding
qualities are such menace to the civil
lied world, what should the latter do
about it? March upon Mecca, fill up the
well, cleanse the whole region, and at the
point of the bayonent teach these vaga-
bond and filthy religtonists that before
God cleanliness is a first law of holiness.
The creed is despicable and the people
worthless in life who make religion
such a menace to the world. Civiliza-
ton will not longer put up with it. This
decision of the sanitary authorities will
just as surely invoke force against chol-
era-breeding as the slave trade drew to
its suppression the better nations of the
Thnra &c a. -
ment in Europe or on this continent that
will not clasp hands with others in cru
sade against the filth that is the genesis
of the most dreadful disease of time.
But Mecca is not alone cholera threat:
on the upper and lower Nile, in India and
in other parts of the Orient and some
Mediterranean quarters, are cholera
breeders, and they must be scourged to
cleanliness-and they will be- 1t needs
no prophetic power to indicate the early
date when European and American States
will proclaim the new crusade. 1t is as
certain to come as is death, and it will as
surely wipe out the cause of so much ill
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trade on African shores.
Cholera does not originate in Europe.
though its baccili find there as they do
here congenial spots. 1t never has orig
mated in the United States but once, and
then only because there was outrageous
otfense by man to and defiance of natural
laws. AS it invariably comes from the
East, the cleanly world, in the very
nature of things. will apply remedies at
the source. For six consecutive years the
cholera threat has troubled Europe. and
every time the menace has arisen in the
same places. 1t follows as certainly as day
follows night, that Europe will presently
compel the Orientals to abate the cause,
and if they decline European civilization
Will roll up its sleeves and enter upon the
cleansing process-we are as convinced OF
this as we are that tomorrow the sun will
shine; for the world is not going back
ward; civilization is not retrograding and
svery day it is becoming more and more