The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-19
BRUTAL METHODS IN WAR.
TWO INSTANCES WHICH EXCITE COM
MENT ON ENGLISH CHARA CTER.

DebecrAton OF tho MRlidIs Tomb in tho
soudan ard British Approval of the Use
OF Dum-Dum Bullets-Preventivo Iuoc-
ulntion In IndiR-Lord Rosebery's Stand
on the Church Question-Alfred Austin
Living Down Northumberland Hydrogen.
LONDON. June o.--Two questions. which by
moro coincidence havo beer bracketed In pub
lie attention this week-the dissertation OF the
Mahdi's grave In the Soudan and tho use Of tho
dum-dum bullet in war-have no relation ap-
parently one with the other. As matter OF
fact, those who Justify the Sirdar in his de-
struotion OF the tomb at Omdurman are pre-
eisely the persons who approve the use OF the
deadly new missile and the motives and argu-
ments which dictate their attitude are the
same in each case. Moreover. they number a
vast iority OF Englishmen as we'll as Of the
British Parliament. The comm ttee OF the in
ternational conference at The Hague having
the matter In charge has condemned the dunn
dun bullet by an overwhelming vote. the
American representative being included in the
majority. Perhaps the gentlemen who COM
pose the Cars conference would equally dis
approve o: the violation Of the hahdi's remains
Il tho subject was before them.
But would these expressions OF opinion imply
that EuRishmen are more cruel than the
rest Of the world or that they are lacking in
the finer developments OF civilization at large7
These differences would not seem at first
glance TO be Illogical. There Is no doubt they
will be drawn; that they have already been
drawn by many people In many countries. The
French. indeed. are already quoting the facts
as fresh justification OF one OF their friendly
sayings-that when an EneIishman Is bored
and wants amusement he proposes to go out
and kill something. And Englishmen do not
think II worth while to defend themselves
against the charge. Why should they2 They
do not realize that ignorance OF their character
and motives is anywhere so great that any
considerable number OF people will believe
that they are cruel and brutal as a nation. As
well expect Americans us a nation to solemnly
contest the belief held by thousands OF Euro
peans that lynching isa well-recognized insti-
tuition constantly availed OF in lieu OF justice
throughout the United States.
The question OF the dum-d bullet dis
cussed at some length in this correspondence
few weeks ago. 1t Is by no m cans 30 destruc-
tive in It's effect as the missiles used in the
American civil war or In the latest conflict be-
tween great powers. the Franco Prussian war.
The newer. small calibre high velocity bullet
will undoubtedly be used by both sides In any
war between civilized powers. because an or
binary wound from it will suffice to put the
victim out OF the fighting for the time being.
1t will not suffice for this purpose as against
the superior hardness and endurance OF saw
age or barbarian soldiers. There Ia even
on record In the British War Office the
case OF an Afridi warrior who continued to
fight valiantly after being pierced by sixteen
bullets. and he afterward recovered from all
his wounds. 1t Is represented In explanation
OF the adverse action OF the Conference Com
mittee at The Hague with regard to the dunn
dunn bullet that the ms do ardi In
the tests of the missile were seriously mis-
leading. The tests made by Continental
powers were not with bullet identical with
the dum-dum. but with something quite
different
Lord Kitchener's destruction OF the Mahdi's
tomb and the scattering OF his ashes upon the
Nile has been described by Lord Salisbury as
"a matter OF taste" and by the Liberal leader.
Sir Henry Campbell Ban herman. as vulgar"
Mr.. Balfour. In his eloquent defence OF the
Birdar before the House OF Commons this
week. said more to the point 1t was the first
duty Of Lord Kitchener to cut the root OF that
ianatical superstition which had been tho
itrength OF Mahdism for fifteen or sixteen
years" There can be no doubt that the desc
grafton OF the Mahdis tomb was more
effective means to this end than even the
overwhelming defeat Of the Khalfa's forces
So long as the Mahdis bones remained in I'M
disturbed sepulchre. they would have been
menace to the peace OF the Soudan and a
temptation to renewed attempts to revive o
lost cause. 1t is necessary to the appreciation
Of this fact to know something OF the tradi-
tons and the fanaticism OF the dervishes and
the whole Mohammedan race. writer who
Ia qualified to speak on this subject says:
II traveller were to start from the shore
OF the Atlantic aud make his way through
N,rnnno 70 nd Inv palnetipa RI
Persia. AiGhanistan and India. he would find
along the whole OF that space multitudes OF
tombs-countless as to numbers-where holy
men were buried, and had become places Of
worship. These shrines vary from large and
costly architectural structures. elaborate with
ornamentation. as we'll as costly in the mate
rails they are built with. down to the ple
heap. covered, perhaps. with few rude stones,
that mark the grave OF somo local saint. who
had established for himself a reputation for
sanctity. This particular form OF worship
might almost DO said TO be the most promi-
nent form which religious ritual assumes In
the Oriental mind, Spiritual consolation
10 no doubt derived from this devotion
TO the dead. for they are supposed to con =
sttute link between this world and the next
but thore is another reason which helps very
largely to preserve this old practice OF prayers
At tombs The shrine OF a celebrated saint
brings pilgrims. and pilgrims mean bucksheese
in a number OF ways-a noted place OF that kind
lisa paying concern. and the more the fame
OF the saint can be Wanted tho greater the
number OF devotees that will visit the spot.
People with ailments come to be cured. and II a
cure should take place. or is merely supposed
to have been accomplished. the whole merit ia
ascribed to the deiunct holy man. and his re-
puts Is thus increased the repute bringing
with 1t moro pilgrims and larger revenue OF
bucksheese. This may explain why such holy
places do not decrease. but on the contrary 20
on extending from their monetary value
A story Is related OF Sir Richard Burton
which may be apocryphal. but II so 1t forms a
good illustration Of this tomb worship. In one
OF his early excursions to gain knowledge he
had vsntured among some OF the wild Afghan
tribes disguised as fakr. After some rough
travelling visitors to Algeria cannot be LONG
in that region without hearing tho word Mar
about and learning that the tombs OF these
pious persons are plentiful and are looked
upon as sacret spots He at last reached