The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-06-24
lnN chas. W AbIngtonl

tBy chas VI Abinston)
From remotest times different races
Of earth have found their way into
Africa IN ssrge numbers, prominent
among vh0m were perslans, Greeks,
Romano. ews and members Of the
Spanish and salvoDic races. but we
are to concern ourselves IA this article
with the modern occupation Of that
country BY alien peoples, those who
are now The masters OF the Dark
Continent And pause 70 say, that
Isl win be well Tor tho readers Of
these letters 10 give them consider
alton chat they may not be mislead
Into the idea that all we have 70 do
lis 90 70 Africa ana take charge Of
just such part or parts o. Il as one
may feel disposed The man who Is
ladvertising himself over the country
as the Provisional President Of Az
rica' is but praying upon the igno-
rance Of those Of us who never stop
to inform ourselves about the real
conditions That portion OF Africa that
Eis at present under Negro rule is glad
TO welcome the American Negro that
has money and worth there as citi-
zens but not as rulers--they are just
aa Jealous " their positions as the
white ruler. Returning TO the sub
ject IN hand. we discover that any
by modern nations finds the Arab 50
persstcntly crossing ones path that
he Is forced to turn aside and con-
slider what was his position In this
most important change IN human af-
fairs fraught WIKI such far reaching
consequence While II Is my pur-
pose TO treat the religious phase OF
the African situation IN separate ar
dcles there Is an indissoiuble link
that binds the advent OF The ARAB and
fairs Of Africa that cannot be passed
over at this point II the article is to
be Illuminating. ] should state here
that the words 'sIslam. 'Moslem'
and "Mohammedanism" are used inter-
changeably- MosleIn. being the word
used by Mohammedans themselves
the other two by writers generally
not Of the faith. This doctrine has
more than. passirr interest for us
when we consider the fact that mil
disciple OF the prophet Mohammed.
This most unique character lived A..
n. 570--620. In 623 Mohammed, who
was a native OF Western Arabia. was
a bandit possessing marked qualities
OF leadership and at this time placed
himself at the head Of a company Of
men Of his stripe, who made their
diving by robbing the caravans Of
travellers and traders who passed
through the country which they in
Tested. Mohainmed became also mis-
tic OF renown and set himself the
task of working out and promulga-
ting a new system of religious faith
Which was based very largely on the
Jewish Scriptures; Incorporated many
ideas from Christianity and is deep
Of All MI ~
STA. He opposed belief IN many gods
which still fingered in that country
II is said the rapid growth and
spread Of this new doctrine was due
Mohammed--the magnetism of his APP
pearanee reinforced by his gift of
pouring out ideas OF God and religion,
gobbled verses of the Hebrew Bible
and strong points OF the Christian
doctrine BY an Industry that elicits
blned under religious belief and leg
ist all classes Of fighting men in
Arabia, and gradually made himself
master OF the whole. In search Of
larger spoils than his impoverished
country could afford--he marched for
ward to the conquest of the Roman
world and the great Empire OF Per-
STA and TO make them converts TO
his new faith. Strikingiy like Moses
he died just ON the threshold OF the
while OF his death (6S4) the Arab
armies under his leadership had not
only smashed byzantine power In Sy-
ria but was pouring into Byzantine
Egypt and we're rapidly bringing I'M
der Mohamnedan rule the Southeast
and Southwest Arabia and was push
Ing It's conquest over the whole King
dom Of Persla--and penetrating into
the very heart of Asia. The faith suf-
Tered e. g shock at the death Of the
founder but in 640-2 Amr-bin-al-As.
an early opponent OF Mohammed, but
later convert to the faith took up
the work where II was disposed to
lag and pushed his way on into
Egypt from there, he or his lfuten-
ants extended the victorious conquest
on into Tripoli and fought with the
byzantine Governor known to history
as Greagory the Patrician, who had
Just rebelled from the Byzantine rule
ana proclaimed himself Emperor Of
africa, with the seat OF his govern
ment in central 1uniaia Affer a hot
battle which lasted many DAYS Greg
DRY was slain. his army scattered,
many OF the fragments Of which talk
ing refuge IN jungles near the heart
OF the country. while Islam's armies
pushed their way on even into AL
geria. Finally for the payment Of 500
Quintals In gold the Invading army
agreed 70 evacuate Tunisia, notwith-
standing the victors left a represent
ative to keep watch over aff airs-and
from that day to this the osntry has
or came peen free Of Arabians. Just
! $3.50 mis- time AIohammedanlsm sur
ed quite q shock from within, when
there arose a party who conteDded for
the equality OF all good Mohammedans
land demanded the abrogation OF here
bitterly prosecuted many of whom
found refuge In the island of Jerba--
but their doetrine spread across the
North OF Africa ind soon appeared
on the Atlantic coast Of Morocco. AT
ter tie year 100 A. % this new form
OF Mohammedan,sm became the Ma
tional Religion OF the Befber tribes
as contrasted with the orthodox Mo-
hammedan fafeh.1n 669 the Arab In
Yaslon Of NORTH africa was resumed
It's way even into Spain but naat
another check which stunned it's pro-
gresR. II should be stated here, that
1 f.om the middle OF the 9TH to same
period OF the 18th century. the Asah
/ element In NoitA Africa was quite
lof fightert few thousand religious
teachers and statesmen. wAo in q
way that has never been explained
| forge1 eheir religion and 10 rulte q
lar extent their language end rule
over 4 popElatioh Of many million
man. Greek. and Gothic origin and
! more than 100000 Jew8 rne ac-
lcomplishment stands perhaps unparal-
lelled In history. But carly III the
1 18th century fresh Arab invasion
/ began which swept down like Nigh
lty flood over the entire territory o.
4 North Africa--ie Is TO that fact .ha'
| Islam has to this time dominated thai
I part OF the continent, In 1045 tws
| Arab tribes Benl-Hllal and Beni-Sa'
Helm who had been deportea from theil
loriginal home In Central Asia TO Up.
lper Egyrt whore they RI manned FOL
1 quite q willie. hut by their sntrignel
They so weakened Che hands Of 1hs
| rulera OF that cosiatfy that they per-
1 suaded them TO Invade the north