Arizona republican., 1902-03-30
WON THE SULTAN.
How Minister Straus Carried His
Point.

Mr.. Oscar S. Straus, who has Just
been appointed by President Roosevelt
as delegate to The Hague peace con-
ference served for two terms as min
lister of the United States to Turkey.
He was at Constantinople when Aguin-
aldO's forces rose against the United
States government in the Philippines
and through prompt action ne prevent
ed the augmenta ton OF the insurgent
ranks by the large Mohammedan popu-
ation of the islands. Owing to the
usages Of the state department. which
prohibit the publication of matters of
state, Mr.. Straus' action. though of
great importance to his country was
never made public. The details. how
ever, are we'll known to a limited cir
Gle
MI. Stratus. besides being a wealthy
merchant and diplomat of high
standing. is also student. He has
made a speciality of the history of re-
Ggious freedom and is the author of
several books on the subject. The
knowledge he had absorbed in the
course of his reading was of great aid
To him on the occasion mentioned.
The Mohammedans of the Philip
pines recognize the sultan of Turkey as
/ head of their church. Mr.. Straus.
knowing this. called on the sultan.
as soon as he heard of the outbreak OF
| the instruction. Il COME he said.
ITO beg your imperial majesty to use
/ your good offices to bring the Mohanl
medans of the South. Philippine islands,
| AIindanao and the Zulu archipelago 20
| our side. and to restrain them from
joining the insurgents
! But said the sultan. won't your
country try TO take their religion away
! from these people,?
| ''Certainly not. Tile corner stone Of
the whole system of government in the
! United States is religious freedom, and
! SO far from there being any hostility to
| the Mohammedan religion. the case is
| exactly the reverse. AS an evidence of
| the recognition of this by Mohamme :
dan powers, l beg to call your majes-
tvs attention TO the terms of a treaty
negotiated more than hundred years
ago in the administration of our first
president with the hey of Tripoli.'
Thereupon Mir. Straus produced a
copy OF this ancient treaty. the very
existence Of which s probably not
known by 100 persons in the United
States. much less the circumstances
leading up to its negotiation.
The Barbary powers had always de-
ciined to enter into any treaty with the
European governments because of the
fact that under them the church and
state were united. and recognition Of
the government would have involved a
recognition of the Christian church as
an institution. When the envoy al
President Washington proposed tbs
treaty which Was afterward agreed to
the government of Tripoli declined tC
consider it. The envoy tnereupor
pointed out that, in the new govern
ment across the ocean. there was ne
recognition of any church; and a spe-
cial article was inserted i'll the treat!
to that effect. On this basis the treaty
was agreed TO.
| As soon as Mr.. Straus had finished
reading this clause of the understand
ing between President Washington an'
the oey of Tripoli. the sultan declared
himself perfectly satisfied and read!
to do what he could with the Moham
medans in the Philippines. He tele
| graphed to one of the Philippine lead
I ers who happened to be in Mecca. ant
! as a result that dignitary left at once
for the scene of trouble. Here he lai'
| the sultans advice before the Othe
leaders. and the Mohammedans range
themselves on the side of the Unite
States.-Philadclphia Saturday Even
ing Post.