The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-10
SPEECH Ar SPRINGFIELD.
Mohamn,ad BarakAtuIlsh Applauds Mr.
Rs0sevcat and Reouakes the 0outA.


Mohs mn,ad BsrakAtullsh Applauts Mr..
RsOscvc,t and neoulkes tue south.
TO THE Eprroa or THH SuN--Sir: Last
Thursday Mr.. Roosevelt, under exceptionally
awe-inspring circumstances, namely, oy
the side OF the tomb OF the immortal dead.
Abraham Lincoln, made . touching appeal
In telling speech, concise in form. but VOL
luminous In meaning. to the tender conscience
of the American nation. In defence OF the
sacred principles Of democracy and In behal
Of the suffering humanity In the sou'herh
States OF the Union.
1t was said Of Alexander the Great that no
could look with one Of his eyes toward heaven
and with the other toward the earth AT the
same time, Surely it was equally true OF
President Roosevelt when he stood on that
sacred ground and looked at the TOMB OF
Lincoln, and again when he looked AZ the
present state OF affairs. This double retro-
spective and prospective view OF the destiny
OF the human race made him utter these
memorable words. which ought TO be IN
scribed on the tablet Of every American
citizens heart. He said:
II behoovcs us, not only mot 10 e1ult In our
privileges, hut soberly realize our rssponsaoaiues'
Hitherto republics have failed. The repunhes
Of antiquity went down: the republics OF MIDDLE
ages went down, although tried on much smaller
experiment would have seemed less hazardous
fundamentally the cause OF the failure OF those
republics will be found In the fact that ultimately
each tended to become government OF Class
sometimes control of the government slipped mo
the hands Of an ollgarchy, sometimes u slipped
Into the hands of a mob In either case the result
was the same. II was exactly as material 70 inc
abiding welfare OF the republic " " was tuineu
into a government In which the few oppressed 'ne
many. or II II was turned into government IN
IL, 49,. - fhA fAUr
OF pcrvcrson Of the governmental principle spehed
death and ruin IN the county
This Ia a speech. surely, worthy Of the ora
tor and OF the exalted position he occupies
as the guardian OF the rights and privileges
Of all the classes Of this Republic and aa the
defender OF the glorious principles OF democ-
racy. The government Of the people, BY the
people. and for the people. is naturally IKE
the government OF a family on larger scale.
In which all have equal rights and RESPONSE
bilites. and all have TO work for the welfare
OF the whole. The moment you oppress
certain portion of the community you create
a malcontented class Ia the government OF
the house. and the house divided against itself
Is bound sooner or later TO fall. The moment
a class Is oppressed the principle OF democ-
racy is lmperilled. The evil starts In al, In
significant and imperoeptible form, but In
the course OF u generation or two 1t assumes
great dimensions and wakes beyond control.
Hence, the republics OF the past became
empires and imperialism destroyed imperial
ism. Setting aside the ancient republics Of
Greece and Rome. We take for example the
Islanic Republic. founded by the Prophet
Mohammad. on thoroughly democratic basis
under the influence OF religion. When the
Islamic Republic sprang up all OF a sudden
In Arabia thirteen centuries ago II became
an object OF hatred to the neigh boring great
EN- pire, of Persia and BySantium. and they
both wanted to nip In 1t the bud. But that
little gallant democracy, being saturated
with the spirit OF fraternity, liberty and
equality, and united by the bond OF religion.
gave both Of them simultaneously bold
front destroyed one root and branch and
snatched away the fair provinces from the
other.
This ideal democracy subsisted only for
about half a century. in which Belal. an ex-
negro slave had the same rights and privil-
eges as Omar, the Commander Of the Faithful.
But human selfshness found out means to
introduce very little deviation from tho
principles Of democracy. which in course OF
time grew to large proportions Finally
empire took the place OF republic. assuming
the same name Of Khilafet. and new genera
TONS fed upon new literatures and prime iples.
forgot the very name Of democracy. What
wonder is 1t, then. II Rousseau says III
there were a nation OF gods, II Will be gov
erned Theoretically SO perfect a govern
ment Ia unsuited for men"
At the moment the President of the Repub-
lie, at Springfield. was drawing the atten-
ton OF the nation to the ominous evils that
are menacing the very foundation Of democ-
racy, a gang of Hooligans were lynohing the
colorpd man Denis at Greenviie Miss. and
a thousand men. women and children were
enjoying the scene. nay, even the manager
of the ball game had stopped the game for
forty minutes no that the players should edily
ss .o by Of hs sss
Connaugnton OF 20 Jones street was ,strkln g
s ash .m o. So"s :%p
once mpdee, the Carpenter Of Nazareth say :;
Suffer little children to come unto ms, ioT OF
s pat on n the he head little white sirl
Are these healthy ri GINS of the national heart?
countries M with the accounts Of The niassacras
to to the Fair name Of this RepuScF seems
TO me that this mad, wild.soose ch ase after
or ths matos and aS she soo ee %
arc departing from It slowly: SUCH deeds
only indicate tendency 70 wh n. ~ president de
pnepe ana to the deacs
| law. which Is a disgrace to the religion they
profess to follow disgrace 10 tnas tWen n,e
| kind
II ia high time that the Judges In the South
! should establish the prestige OF the Law. take
courage from the encouragins advice OF the
| when any Executive undertakes to enforce
| the law he Ia entitled to the support OF every
| form the law breaking has taken. II he 10
| worth his salt he will enforce the law wheth or
| he gets the support or not; and save the ma
| ton from disgrace and democracy from ruin.
MoHAMMAD BARAKArULLAH.
NEW YORK. June 8.