Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-02-07
YER since Italy made her sud-
den advance on the last Mus
sulman possession in North: Az

pOoScSoaOA al 4NOAt al
IL RIGA, European Christendom has
been wondering with no little
apprehension. and some conscious
guilt, whether the act may not evoke
a great sympathetic outburst on the
part OF the Islamic peoples, number
ing some two hundred millions, and
including legions of the tlercest tight
ing men in the world. Such notion,
however, Is the merest nightmare.
For nothing is less possible than
union OF the Moslem for an attack
upon the rest of the world or any
part of it. The lslamic danger, OF
which l am not denying the existence
in certain forms, is practically con-
fined to Africa, and between modern
lslam1c sentiment In Asia and Africa
there is great gulf fixed.
In Asia the inspiration of twentieth
century Islam is a desire for cultural
progress. Among the Mohammedans
of Asia, whether In Turkey, Persia,
Afghanistan or India and even In
Arabia. general consensus OF the
UCSI 0AO AAOoS enlightened opAAA1O~A
holds that the future power, 1nilu-
ence and continued existence OF Is
lamic races depends upon their as
simflatfon of western learning, science
and even social systems.
But in Africa Islam exists on a
much lower mental level, and, while
still inspired by the fires OF agrees
sive fanaticism, nevertheless lacks, as
yet, the cohesion necessary to make
it really formidable. But it has never
lost it's sanguinary possibilities or dis
carded its hope of supremacy by the
sword. This lively militant faith, In
which we may discern an Islamtc per-
il, is enshrined In a number OF secret
sects or confraternities. These at
present are for the most part bitterly
at variance with one another. and In.
capable OF common action even
against the Christian. Should, how.
ever, one Of these confraternit1es sue
coed in obtaining a dominant power
and influence, a general attack upon
white interests from the Medlterra-
mean to the Zambesi might become a
much more serious possibility.
1t is in this contingency that an
Islamic peril lies, and its menace is
essentially African. AS yet this union
of sects under one leadership. with
one cooperative impetus, has not
been achieved, but it is even now
threatening, and there is sufficient EVIL
dence that there are those who are
working with secret but undaunted
persistence for the eventful triumph
of Islam in the Dark Continent In
fact, so extraordinary has been the
success of the Senussi Brotherhood
that all the signs would seem to point
to the ultimate adhesion of the mil
lions of native Africa to this great
militant organization. It's keynote is
uncompromising resistance to Euro
pean aggression, and a revival Of the
earlier fighting spirit Of Islam.
A disposition is evinced by occa-
sional writer's who are not conversant
with its persistent propaganda to be-
little the Senussi power and influence.
But it is otherwise with those who
have passed many years in close touch
with the peoples of North and Gen.
trail Africa, and with the pulsations of
unrest which are forever passing up
and down through the veins and ar
teries of the Dark Continent Many
an officer of British and French colo
NAL levies has encountered the signs
and tokens of a systematic organiza-
ton which it would be foolish to ig-
more. 1t is from these men that the
following particulars come. and their
story is an interesting one.
About six hundred miles south OF
the Mediterranean and 500 miles west
of the Nile, encompassed by bowling
wastes of desert, in which the wells
are sixty and seventy miles apart. lies
the Saharan stronghold Of the Senusst.
the town OF Joffo, in the oasis of ku-
fra. Here is the headquarters of that
able and mysterious parsonage re-
ferred to as Senussi, who Is regarded
oy the myr1ads of his devoted follow
ing as the true mahdi. and in this
place, they are told, he is watching,
planning, and preparing for the great
day when the green standard shall be
unfurled over Africa and the, dark
race shall rise and fight for the land
Of their Inheritance.
An officer In Nigeria was recently
told by native sergeant that he be-
longed to the Senusst Brotherhood.
Asked what 1t all meant, he replied
quite frankly, when all is ready we
shall drive all the white people out OF
the land. But the time is not yet. :"
From this man the ofhcer ascertalned
that two-thirds Of the men in his COM
mand we're likewise members OF the
sect, and several Of them actually
priests Or mullahs.
These latter, who are the secret en-
iss.ries of the organization. are
trained at Joffo, and are dispatched in
thousands throughout Africa. coming
and going almost invisibly. For q
|. long time past. however. the British
authorities have kept them under .
certain degree Of surveillance. COM
pelling them to carry q passbook.
which they must get signed By the
onicer commanding II they wish to
stay In any British station. It u m
iaterestins proof q thsar ubiouity tha&