New-York tribune., 1921-09-18

HE NEW WORLD OF ISLAM Nv
Lothrop stoddard. Published by Charlie,
scribners Sons. So.
NOR many centuries Mahomet
~ anism seemed to bear con-
notation of fatalistic passivity
While European industry and com.
merce were being revolutionized by the
discoveries of the eighteenth and nine
teenth centuries, the Moslem countries
of Asia and Africa were scarcely
stirred out of their old ruts. The ex.
panding West forced it's trade and its
political dominion upon the backward
East. Matters had gone so far by the
beginning of the twentieth century
that of all of the Mahometan nations
only Turkey, Persia, Morocco and
Afghanistan retained any semblance OF
independence. France and Spain divid-
ed Morocco between them, while Eng
land and Russia attended to the parti-
tion of Persia. The decadence Of
Turkey was obvious, and it seemed
quite possible that the autonomy Of
the last Moslem state would soon be
snuffed out.
But very powerful force was work
ing against the apparent destiny Of the
European powers to pre-empt and ap-
propriate the last bits Of Asiatic and
African territory. This force was moth
ing less than a Renaissance Of Islam,
stimulated by the continued aggres-
sions of the Christian powers, and ex.
pressing itself at once in revitalized
religious faith and in quickened racial
and political consciousness.
This Islamic Renaissance has al
ready exerted a powerful influence
upon the course of events in the Near
East. 1t has intensified the difficulties
of French and British colonial admin
istrators. 1t has already compelled a
revision of many of the Oriental set
Elements which were drawn up at the
time of the Versailles treaty. 1t may
easily prove to be an event Of first i'm
portance in human history.
Mr.. Stoddard's Interpretation Of tlis
rcbirth of Mahometan racial and re-
ligious consciousness is both scholorly
in substance and brilliant in style,
His erudition is noteworthy: the book
contains an abundance of documentary
material illustrating the scope and
strength Of the Manometan tide in
countries as far removed from each
other as China and Morocco, Egypt
and Afghanistan.
One of the most important keys to
the strength of the movement is the
solidarity Of Moslems all over the
world. This solidarity is strengthened
by that famous institution of Mahom-
etan faith, the pilgrimage to Mecca,
which yearly draws together multi
tudes of pious devotees from many
countries, and by the religious secret
societies which bind believers in the
Koran still closer together The Ma
lometan world is far more cosmopoli-
tan, less strictly national, than the
Christian. An attack upon one Mahom-
etan people is resented as an outrage
to all.
OF course, there have been wars be-
tween Moslem races; the fighting be-
tween the Arabs and the Turks in the
recent war is an example. But under
the pressure of the Occidental powers
these internecine quarrels tend to sub
side. The secret treaties which pro
vided for French protectorate over
Syria, for a British protectorate over
Mesopotamia and for the carving up
of the whole Turkish Empire into
Western spheres of influence have
United Turks and Arabs in passionate
opposition to what they regard as the
imperialism of Western
.xploiters.
The Islamic renaissance has found |.
wo main intellectual currents of ex-
ression: PanIslamism and PAN -Turan-
SIN. an-Islamism, as the name i'm
lies, aims at closer union of all
fahometan believers. The aNthor de-
cribes the work and personalities of
everal we'll known prophets of this
ause, which numbered the former Sui
an Abdul Hamid among its most ar
ent supporters.
Pan-Turanism, a grandioss scheme
or uniting all the peoples Of Turanian