Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-02
MoHAMMEoANs OF INDIA
Show Excitement Over Turkish De-
feat in Balkan War.

Show Excitement Over Turkish De-
feat in Balkan War.
It seems far call from the Balkans
to India, and although the foreign
press here religiously reported by ca
BILE the progress Of the late war in
the Balkans, its true significance as an
alleged Christian movement to drive
the Moslems out Of Europe has only
now been conveyed to the Mohamme-
dan mind by pilgrims returning from
Asia Minor and the Levant, writes a
correspondent from Allahabad.
Unknown to the authorities, either
British or Hindoo, the agitation thus
started has lain dormant in Moham-
medan quarters at Cawnpore until
stirred into action by the destruction
Of part Of a mosque to make room
for civic improvements. A year ago
this would have passed unnoticed, as
the portion Of the building pulled
down was used merely for ablutions,
Mohammedans entering 1t retaining
their shoes. But now, with the men,
ory Of the defeat Of the arms Of the
Faithful in the Balkans, 1t has war
like anti Moslem significance, which,
unless the authorities act with firm
ness as we'll as tact, may develop into
a Holy war.
A few years ago the corporation In
Cawnpore decided that a new street
had to be cut through the quarter Of
the Fish Market, and this innovation
required the modification Of the land
of a Mohammedan shrine, but not Of
the shrine itself. But in this case, al
though there was some agitation, there
was no revolt.
History has not repeated itself. No
conceivable religious policy or tradi-
ton has been harmful of the proposed
realignment of the Mohammedan
property In the Machlin mosque. Moth
ing sacred was ever threatened. The
outer court, in which the prescribed
ablutions are carried on, Is no sacred
part of any Moslem temple. A man
may wear his slippers there. Upon
the sanctuary itself no man may In
trude booted, and the continuous policy
Of British administration in India has
been that religious prejudice Of every
kind, 80 far as 1t Is reasonable and
does not patiently conflict with the
public veal, shall be respected.
No one could wish that the religious
animosity Of the Mohammedans
against the Hindus should be permit
ted any more than that the immolation
Of widows among the Hindus, or hu-
man sacrifice among the Khonds.
should still be sanctioned. But In
such case as this, when no religious
principle has been even remotely In
volved, when the guiding spirit Of the
revolt has been, and still is, purely
political, 1t is time to ask the Moham-
medan authorities to intervene. If the
pledges they have repeatedly given
have any real meaning.
Three years ago It was the boast Of
Mohammedans in India that they had
neither part nor lot in the hystericaI
sedition raised by a small percentage
"a very small percentage-of the
Hindus, who somewhat fatuously be-
lieved that in the partition Of Bengal
there was possible point d'appui for
an Indian revolution.
But there is always a small body in
every race that is discontented and
gullible, and India is no exception to
the rule. The mass of Indian Moham-
medans remain as loyal as ever. The
action of a few malcontents in Gavin
pore or Lucknow, dazzled by the flu
ency of Bengal agitators, is not rep
resentative in any way Of the feeling
Of the steady mass Of the Indian fol-
lowers Of Islam.