The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04

VIC CounOt 20 D6ck Oh IL.
These are religious dogma, says q
United States vice-Consul in Turkey. in
one OF his official reports, (which will never
alter, unless the whole fabric OF their re-
ligion passes away and another institution
Is planted in it's stend.
Il have opened the subject before the
doctors Of the law, and they assert: These
are religious dogmas based on, religious
principles. and II his Majesty the Sultan
wishes to order anything contrary, the
Mohammedan population collectively vii!
not obey him. And they might have added
that such a step might bring ON an in
surrection.'
What the faith prescribes must be obeyed.
Outside Of that, the Mohammedans say,
they are remarkably tolerant, especially
In the Turkish dominions.
It is usually assumed by Western states
men and Western newspapers that the
Sultan OF Turkey is an autocrat who can
rule as he wishes. whose fiat means the
slaughter or the sparing OF Christian vii
lagos and Christian peoples within his
domain. Nothing Is further from the fact,
says the Mohammedan.
In theory the Sultan may be despotic,
though even that il doubtful in the light OF
Moslem OWL and religious law. In practice
he is even more hampered Dy ecclesiastical
And public opinion is a more powerful
force In Turkey and other Mohammedan
countries than Il is in the Western civiliza-
tions. The Sultan dare not move step
without the sanction Of his myriad CO.
reNgionists and his fellow rulers Of the
Mohammedan world. He may be the
Caliph Of Islam. the theoretical head of the
faith, but he only holds that position while
he pleases Islam.
The Mohammedan conception Of an ac-
ceptable ruler Is very different from that
Of the Westerns. The articles Of belief
composed by the Sheikh Najm Ad-Din
Abu HATS Umar ibn Mohammed ibn Ahmad
an-Nasnfi, q famous Mohammedan theo-
Logan, say that the Mosems must tn, hav "a
enforcing Of their decisions"
1t Is not condition, says the gentleman
with the long name, that he should be
protected by God from sin, nor that he
should be the most excellent OF the people
OF his time; but it is condition that he
should have administrative ability, should
be a good governor and be able to carry
ordinances OF Islam and to protect the
wronged against him who wrongs him.
And be Is not to be deposed from the leader
ship on account Of immortality or tyranny"
Tho restrictive ordinances are those
which deny civil rights to the Christian.
II the Sultan does not enforce them he Is
liable to be deposed.
Tho Sultan Abdul Harnid Is In constant
correspondence with the Ameer Of Afghan
istan. the Shah Of Persia, the Sultan Of
Wadai and other great Mohammedan
rulers. Their opinions influence his deal
inRs with Christian nations at crises like
the present. But beyond and above these
temporal princes he is forced to consider
two spiritual monarchs, the sheikh-ul-
Islam and the mysterious head Of the great
secret order of the Senussiyah.
The Sheikh-ul-lslam, who lives In Cairo,
h practically the supreme religious au
thority OF tho orthodox Mohammedans.
In effect. he is the Pope Of the Moham-
medan world. holding somewhat the same
position toward the Sultan as the Popes Of
Rome held toward Christian monarchs in
the Middle Ages.
II the Sultan were to extend real reforms,
In the Western sense OF tho word, to the
Christian peoples under his rule, he would
violate the cardinal principles upon which
the Mohammedan civilization Is based.
The Standardization probably WOULD feel
from their allegiance in tho name OF re-
ligion.
Mohamnedsns do not admit the superb
ority OF Western civilization, even when
they have lived under it. They prefer
their own system, and think II Is the better
one.
Here Ia the ono benefit of Mos!em civ
H.
Indian woman by an aged Hindoo fol-
lower OF tho Prophet. The old man had
known some CT the glor1es OF the last Mogul,
before the English riveted their hold upon
India.
The woman tried to convince him that
these old days Of blocdshed and Drigand-
age were bad days when compared with
the present era of peace and liberty unde.
British rule.
-Nowsdays," she said, you can reap
that which you have sown. You cor gather
your wheat into your gamers. You do
not fear that your wife will be stolen from
you, or your children slain. while you work
in your fields. Your homes and occupa-
tions are secure now.
Yes he replied. there 10 all that
And what is there not' What is lost
which you regret"
There is no longer chance for q man.
said the old Mohammedan. heaving a re-
gretful sigh. in olden days, before the
Christians came 20 rule over US the beSgar
II tho King did but smile upon him
And equally she replied 'his head
might be cut OF II he failed to laugh at the
Kings last joke
we liked to take that chance said
the Mohammedan.
There is the secret Of tho hold which
the Moslem political system has upon its
The career Is open to the lucky and the
gifted as 1t Is under no other social organi-
cation.
Americans are fond Of dwelling upon
the rise OF poor boys to positions Of afflu-
ence and dignity in the American Com
monwealth by sheer force OF native merit.
There are thousand stories In Mohamme-
dan lands which parallel the progress Of
Lincoln from log cabin to White House.
But the possibilities OF advancement
in q Mohammedan civilization immeas-
other Western country. Here the truck
man may become a millionaire. but there
the base-born slave may become an En-
peror welding sway over millions Of SUBJ
The spirit OF "The Thousand and One
Nights" dominates the Mohammedan world
to-day, As II, by the rubbing OF Aladdin's
lamp, a mans fortune may be changed
in the twinkling Of an eye.
Take the case Of Rabah. Tho Black
Napoleon OF the Soudan.' He started
life a. a slave Of Zebehr Paoha. tho great
Central African warrior.
fanaticism so thoroughly that when his
master died he was able to take his place
and WELD absolute sovereignty over
millions Of warlike tribesmen. Nobody
rule over us?" he was the strongest man
In sight, and he naturally ruled In a de-
mocracy OF physical force, until eventually
his power was broken by tho French In
West Africa.
A Mohammedan feels that what Rabah
and dozen men like him have done, he
conditions under which he lives, he may
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