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Religion still the Key to History 241 Western Christianity. The European sent to Asia or Africa to govern a subject race finds himself separated from it by an aloofness which he cannot conquer. It does not proceed from him. He is often anxious to overcome it, in the native. But it is the inevitable fruit of antipathetic relations, springing from religious differences. The religions of the West rule the religionist. The religion of Islam rules every Mohammedan, be he saint or sinner ; and in case of war all are faithful to the commander of the faithful. Lord Cromer, a few months ago, received a warning letter from one pro- fessing to write in the name of his people of Egypt, and whose stately periods remind one of the Hebrew prophets. It was ad- dressed to " the Reformer of Egypt." He must be blind [said the writer], who sees not what the English have wrought in Egypt; the gates of justice stand open to the poor; the streams flow through the land and are not stopped at the order of the strong; the poor man is lifted up and the rich man pulled down; the hand of the oppressor and the briber is struck when outstretched to do evil. Our eyes see these things and we know from whom they come. You will say: " Be thankful, oh, men of Egypt ! and bless those who bene- fit you ;" and very many of us — those who preserve a free mind and are not ruled by flattery and guile — are thankful. But thanks lie on the sur- face of the heart, and beneath is a deep well. While peace is in the land the spirit of Islam sleeps. We hear the Imam cry out in the mosque against the unbelievers, but his words pass by like wind and are lost. Children hear them for the first time and do not understand them ; old men have heard them from childhood and pay no heed. But it is said, " There is war between England and Abdul-Hamid Khan." If that be so, a change must come. The words of the Imam are echoed in every heart and every Moslem hears only the cry of the faith. As men we do not love the sons of Osman ; the children at the breast know their words, and that they have trodden down the Egyptians like dry reeds. But as Moslems they are our brethren ; the Khalif holds the sacred places and the noble relics. Though the Khalif were hapless as Bajazid, cruel as Murad, or mad as Ibrahim, he is the shadow of God. and every Moslem must leap up at his call as the willing servant to his master, though the wolf may devour his child while he does his master's work. The call of the Sultan is the call of the faith ; it carries with it the command of the Prophet, blessings, etc. I and many more trust that all may yet be peace; but if it be war. be sure that he who has a sword will draw it, he who has a club will strike with it. The women will cry from the housetops, " (lod give victory to Islam ! " You will say. " The Egyptian is more ungrateful than a dog. which remembers the hand which fed him. He is foolish as the mad-man who pulls down the roof tree of bis house upon himself." It may be so to worldly eyes, but in the time of danger to Islam the Moslem turns away from the things of this world and thirsts only for the service of his faith, even though he looks in the face of death. May God (His name be glorified) avert the evil.