Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-28

enter the complaint that 1.-THE Mosiems
have as much freedom as the Christian
missionaries to proselyte,' and further
more that the Koran has been recog-
nlzed "as a valid code Of law for the
sulu islands. so that greater honor IL
accorded to that book than 20 the
Bible.
This suggests the question whether.
In the judgment Of the compliments
our government ought to abridge the
liberty Of the Mohammedans 10 make
ptoselytes, and forclby introduce the
Bible instead Of the Koran In a Moham-
medan district. That really appears TO
be their secret desire They are disap-
pointed because they are placed on an
equal footing with other religious
preachers Christian missionaries
who feel that way ought to be recalled
by the societies they represent. Thu
prove themselves as ignorant Of Chris
tan principles as Of the fundamental
laws OF the American Republic. They
can do but mischief, IL they persist in
PROSECUTING In a spirit OF intolerance.
Koran Is by no means a perfect code
OF ethics. But II Is better than none
1t may prove a stepping stone TO some-
thing higher and more perfect. To ylo-
lently strike that from under the feet
OF the sulus would be TO precipltate
them into the abyss from which per.
chance the Koran has lifted them up.
Ihey must be educated TO appreciate
the eNcellencies Of the Bible, not forced
to accept It against their Judgment, Inn
mature and childish though this may
appear from the Christian" point OF
view.
1t Is stated that there are no less
Than eight Mohammedan missionaries
IN Manila, and Of these three are Amer
leans three Fllipinos and two Malays.
The head Of the mission is said to be
one Emin Nabokoff a native OF Russia.
With him are Mohammed Price and All
Liant two native-born Americans. both
veterans of the American civil war. and
learned men. They have long been con-
nected with the Moslem union and de-
voted much time TO the Mohammedan
movement in New York.
II is further explained that the most
attractive feature Of Islam. as the Fill
plnos view IT, Is the doctrine that 10
charge interest on borrowed money is
robbery. Spanlards used TO charge as
high as 10 per cent a month and some
times even 1000 per cent year. Labor
was taken In lieu Of money in the pay
ment OF interest, and children were
considered as security in many cases.
There are numerous instances OF faml-
Hes for five generations, II is claimed,
working for Spanlards to pay of a
loan, When the United States took
possession Of the islands there were
100000 Filiplnos who were required to
eiye from sixty to one hundred days
labor out OF every year to Spanish
usurers. SO that form OF slavery was
thus established by the christian"
masters Of the country. No wonder II
a religion that openly condemns such
conditions should become popular
But there Is no need for alarm In
all this. The missionaries can prove
that the Bible, and especially the New
Testament, still more emphatically con-
dennis all kinds OF oppression They
can point to the great sacrifices Of this
country to abolish slavery and estab-
llsh liberty and equality among hui
man beings. They should coniine
themselves TO the labor OF spreading
light and knowledge on all such ques-
tons, and leave the results TO the fu-
ture, But II they stir up strife and
SOW the seeds Of religious hatred, they
may be the cause OF rebellions and
boodshed. They should remember
first Of all that their mission Is one OF
pooco and ooo1 will IN All mon