New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28


tives, resulting from the rice brew known by
the name OF sake" the other races OF the
tropical regions OF Asia abstain from its use
and resort TO different substances such as. for
instance. opium and hasheesh. to procure that
temporary oblivion from care and the blues
which constitute with the white races so strong
an incentive TO drink The fact that the ORR
entails should seek another form Of intoxication
than that produced by alcohol proves that their
avoidance OF the latter is less a question OF
moral principle than a rule Of health. am per-
fectly aware that the Mahometan religion. the
Buddhist and the Confucsan school Of philoso-
ply all forbid the use OF alcohol. though the
Mahometan rules on the subject are due far
more to law OF the Church than TO definite
precepts Of the Koran. which is relatively liberal
about the matter. The very fact. however. that
alcohol should be forbidden by churches OF the
Orient that have little in common with one
another Buddhism and Mahometanism
serves to prove the truth Of the assertion that
II abstinence from strong drink is commanded.
the religious law. like that other one OF the
various Asiatic creeds forbidding the eating OF
pork. has its origin in considerations OF health
and hygiene.
MAHoMETAN RELIGION ONE OF TEMPER
ANCE.
In this connection a word may be said in be-
half Of the work Of Mahometan proselytism that
Is being carried on simultaneously with the
spread OF the doctrines Of Christianity in Africa.
In the southern portion OF the Dark Continent
the field is left relatively clear to the Christian
missionaries But in Central Africa and
throughout the northern portion thereof they
find their efforts handicapped and frequently
defeated by Mahometan rivals. and there Is no
doubt whatsoever that the results achieved by
the followers OF the Prophet in those regions
infinitely superior TO those obtained by the
Christian missionaries. and that for every one
native that is converted into a more or less
bona fide Christian a thousand or more become
fanatic and bigoted Mahometans One Of the
reasons for this greater success on the part OF
the missionary efforts of the Mahometans is
that their creed is better suited for a tropical
climate and for tropical races than Christianity.
1t authorizes that polygamy to which the Afri-
can races were addicted before their CONVEX
sion, whereas Christianity prohibits a plurality
Of wives. and invites its converts not merely TO
break up all their domestic arrangements and
their families. but to turn their backs upon the
entire social system in which they have been
reared and TO which they have been accus-
toned In one word. the civilization such II
Is. that Is taught by the Mahometan Church. is
readily understood and grasped by the
heather Africans than that preached by the
Christian missionaries.
That from a purely material point OF view
the efforts of the Mahometan missionaries in
Africa beneficial is shown by the fact that
they preach the doctrine Of total abstinence
from alcohol and absolutely forbid those who
become converted to the creed Of the Prophet
to touch stimulants 1t is admitted on all sides
that alcohol Is the curse OF Africa. and that II
is decimating the native races we'll as the
European colonists. In fact. at the present mo-
ment there is an international congress In ses-
sion at Brussels organized by the great Powers
OF the Old World with the object OF checking
the importation of alcohol into what is so Justly
described "gin-soaked Africa" The Ma
hometan missionaries. stated. forbid the
OF alcohol on the part Of the converts to their
creed. and II is due to this that drunkenness is
non-existent in the Mahometan part OF the Dark
Continent. whereas It is the principal blight Of
that portion OF the Dark Continent which has
been brought within the scope of Christian civil
ization.
HOW WHITE MISSIONARIES ARE HANDI-
CAPPED.
Nearly all the European houses OF commerce
and trading stations along the coasts OF Africa
derive considerable portion OF their profits
from the importation Of gin for the use OF the
natives The white missionaries are largely de-
pendent upon these traders not merely for soce-
ty and for those comforts and conveniences that
are destined to alleviate the difficulties OF exist
ence in the Dark Continent. but even COM
PEELED to rely upon them for the necessaries.
and missionaries who attempted TO preach
total abstinence to the natives would be sub
jected 10 such treatment by the traders that life
would become intolerable They are therefore.
terribly handicapped. Still the fact remains
that whereas Christian civilization and mission
airy efforts tolerate the and abuse Of aco-
hol on the part Of the dusky races, not merely
temperance but total abstinence is preached
by the Mahometan missionaries. And whereas
alcohol is fata! TO white and colored races alike
in the tropics, destroying both mind and body.
total abstinence. in those climates at any rate.
Is not only conducive to health but indispensa-
BILE thereto.
THE BEST BEVERAGE
The question will naturally arise as to what
form OF beverage can be recommended for use
in the tropics rather. should say. in the
Orient since the water there is usually polluted
and alcoholic liquors deleterious 10 the
health In response thereto IL Is pretty safe 10
the beverages OF the country. tea and
coffee of quality unknown either IN Europe
Or the United States being within the reach OF
every white mans purse throughout the Orient !
They both furnish a certain amount Of stimula- |
ton 10 brain and nerve besides being most |
agreeable to the taste. and leave none Of the |
Daneful effects OF alcohol You can easily con-
sumo twenty eggshell cups OF fragrant Chinese. |
Japanese even Indian tea in the course OF an |
afternoon without sustaining any harm. where |
as a similar quantity OF nips OF brandy would |
prove so much poison.
FAMOUS TOTAL ABSTAINERS IN THE |
ORIENT.
In conclusion. let me say that the most sue
,essful Observation-Disclosures l have
known in the Orient have always been total
.hsta Irera and thIs not ON the ground OF nrInci-