Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-21
ABDUL HANDS, DIARY.
Danger of Western laeas-Fatalisr
Denounced.


the second instalment Of ex-Snltan Alb
dul Hamid's reflections on his times,
which will appear in the German mag
azne Nord and Sud. and which show
how clearly the late ruler of Turkey
recognized that the infusion of Western
ideas would end in completely running
the spirit and traditions of islam. On
this point Abdul Hamid writes:
Religious liberty is more respected
by Moslems than by any other race.
Hospitality is also better preached by
us, who received the Spanish Jews
without q country and the Poles. even
at the risk of war with Russia Allsonr
misfort,iness arise frein our ,empirennet
heing he mogeneous with al sipBlei ra-
| iigious Element. and from, l1fhHing, so
many Christians amongst JUS, This unr
ayoidably creates disunion. A diversitN
of religious beliefs in the same coun-
| try is an evil. IL we would find our old
| selves recover our ancient power and
resuscitate our former splendor, We
| must remember the source of our
| strength. 1t is not by mimieking the
so-ealled European culture-dangerous
plague spots thai we shall be saved.
We must revert to the holy law of the
Koran
The eX-snltan's remarks on fatalism
show an intelligent comprehension very
different from the usually accepted
opinion held in Europe.
met-Kismet-what fatal word!
What disasters has it already brought
ON our headsi | cannot find fatalism
taught in a single page of the Koran,
| and only in the course of the last CEN
| tury has idleness and stupidity gradual
! " developed it To it's present noxious
form. Our Inshallah' cIf God wills) is
| very convenient for cloaking Incidence.
/ Mohomet ordered submission to COO,
/ hut not in the sense of foolish fatalism.
| Great is the goodness of God, but he
! cannot look after the individual needs
of everybody in the world, and every
man should think and work for himself.
/ Who does not SOW shall not reap, nor
/ shall he who does not work have breadl
tn eat hut unfortunately we Turks
have not been able to grasp this truth.
The Syrian and the Arab do not let
i everything slide in the same way, ana
the t-aifsti.ins Have a better coneep-
/ tom The Bible also says FAKE no
| thought for the morrow. for the LORD
| shall provide, as for the birds OF the
| air and the beasts of the field yet the
Christians work and progress, Whilst
we remain behind"
1t would be interesting to know the
dates when these notes were written
for instance when the ex-Suiton re-
fleeted. Whatever happens Is always
criticised, especially by young eitenais
All our governing classes, civil ana
military are afflicted With incurable
pessinIlsm, and by recriminatng anu
finding fault with everything they ar
rest and hinder the onward march-they
are cur greatest evil. The young blame
the cd and Nice-versa; nobody allows
the other his place and rank. Urged
by infantile vanity and Jealousy, the
effendls .eciprocally weave the most
abominable intrigueS. Enend.s a Ia
frarka' are the worst of all. God De
praised our people do not share this
pessimism, For every good Moslem is an
optilnist.
Abdul Hamid proceeds to point out
tina. the root of all mischief is that no
0smanli will work, but prefers to play
he lord and master, leaving others 10
sweat and toll. In vain schoolboys are
taught that work is agreeable to Allan,
The rising generation only dream oil
becoming officers and functionaries.
why cannot the Turk become a mesrr-
chant. n skilled technical expert or Or a
wornman?'" he asks. Il myself nave
shown good example by earpentse1l1lnllgs.
How difficult is it to dissib4fe sven
prejudiees, and how pitifql that, y
should be so,'' IT a,
| In another passage the ex-5Snitan
saws Il have no great confidence IN inc
Red Crescent. in which form we were
| admitted to the Geneva Convention
| and / fear that in case of war Tue
| Christians would not respect H. we
have, spent much money, but we iaeN
| the help of women. In other countries
women lend precious assistance against
| the horrors Of war. but with us tue Id"
which forbids them to mix IN any puss
! ness closes to them the doors Oh NUS
| pita!s and ambulances.