The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10
A MOsLEM ON THE NEGRO PROBLEM

A MOsLEM ON THE NEGRO PROBLEM.
The New York Tribune publishes letter
from a Moslem. who signs himself Mo-
hammad Maulavie, which takes an entirely
new view Of the negro problem No ques-
ton has been more discussed In recent
years than what to do with the negroes in
the South. The experiment of investing
them with the suffrage and the rights of
citizenship has not worked as well as the
friends Of that policy hoped it would,
though 1t has not had fair trial and does
not seem likely to. 1t has been proposed
by some to reduce them to a system of
practical serfdom and make them a serving
class. Some have proposed their colonial
ton in Liberia Mexico, though as the
negroes show no disposition to be colonized
it is not quite clear how this plan could be
carried out. Others have proposed prac-
tically their determination, though this
plan presents more difficulties than coloni-
cation. The Booker Washington plan of
educating them to become self-supporting
mechanics and farmers, and trust to time
for recognition of their civil and political
rights. is the best plan yet proposed. but
that will take a long time.
Our Moslems suggestion Is to make Mo-
hammedans of them-not by compulsion,
but by missionary work. He says that
Islam, being universal religion, does not
admit Of either racial or color prejudces.
1t destroyed them root and branch more
lieve in one God, and their only religious
prejudice is against those who believe in a
triune God. Otherwise they have no preju-
dice against race or color. At the present
time there are about 800. 900 Moslems in
the world, inhabiting different continents
and belonging to various races, including
the negro race. Recent religious statistics
place the number Of Mohammedans in the
world at lie. S34.372. of whom 6,229,oOo are in
Europe. divided between Russia and Tur-
in Africa and To-, 535,5S5 are in Asia. Their
distribution shows that Moslemism does
not recognize any distinction of color For
that matter neither does Christianity, but
some of the leading Christian races do.
The color problem, the color line and the
question of the superiority or inferiority of
races is the creation of the Anglo-Saxon
race. In view of these facts and of the ap-
parent insolubility Of the negro problem in
the United States by other means, Mo-
hammad Maulavle proposes that they be
converted to Moslemism. He says:
The only solution Of the color problem
which suggests itself to my mind Is this
that as Christianity. after the trial of CEN
turtles, failed to soften the heart Of the
white and ameliorate the condition Of the
black, 1T is time that Islam should have a
chance to try its influence over the negro
race of the South. American philanthrop-
lists have spent millions of dollars by this
time in sending missionaries to Moslem
countries to convert the unitarians to the
trinitarian faith. but in vain. Now, let the
Moslems return the compliment by sending
Moslem missionaries to the negroes of the
South to convert them to Islam. When
once a unitarian and total abstinent-for
Islam forbidS the of alcohol in any
shape and form-the negro will have no
reason to envy his white fellow-citizens !;
nay, he will feel sense of superiority in
his simple faith and sober conduct. As
Islam in its pristine purity was democratic
and progressive, the negroes OF the United
States democracy will become model
Moslem community in the world. and there
is no wonder If in course of a short time
the plan may be changed into "the edu-
Gated blacks should act as teachers the
whites as pupils"
The suggestion is entirely original and
has obvious advantages over the plan Of
DISCRIMINATING the negroes or lynching
them out of existence. AS Moslems they
could still remain in the United States as
productive citizens. This plan would be
cheaper than colonizing them, and no doubt
any patriotic colored American would
rather remain in this country as a Moslem
than go to Liberia as anything else. Per-
haps flank movement of that kind
against the Anglo-Saxon prejudice against
color would lead eventually to recognition
of the negro's civil and political rights In
the South.