24: THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. race and bj presenting a base ideal, makes progress in morals or civilization impossible. Whether Moslemismbe examined by the lights of its sacred books, or historically, by the light of its practical working, it will be found to be baneful to the race which adopts it. I have suggested some of the teachings which make it a hinderance to progress, and which would lead an observer to condemn it a priori. I am willing to admit that thousands of Moslems are better than their creed. But, judging such creed historically, looking over the centuries and avoiding individual cases, if the practical rule, " By their fruits shall ye know them," be applied, the conclusion cannot be evaded that Moslemism is a mischievous creed, and, except on its first adoption, is a distinct hinderance to progress in a nation.^ ^ Wliat I have said on the sensuality of Moslemism results partly from my own observation during residence in Turkey and partly from the ob- servations of a crowd of writers on the subject. Sir William Muir has many remarks on the subject. He errs, in my opinion, in taking too charitable a view of Mahomet's personal character, as I trust that another great Oriental scholar, the llev. Mr. Koelle, will shortly prove. But he says : " Polygamy, with the barbarous institution of servile concubinage, is the worm at the root of Islam, the secret of its decadence. By it the purity and the virtue of the family tie are touched; . . . the state it- self too often crumbles to pieces." — " Life of Mahommed," p. 60. A very thoughtful paper in the British Quarterly Heview, April, 1882, on " Mahommedanism and the Ottoman Turks," from the pen of one wlio has had exceptional opportunities of forming a right judgment on the practical w^orking of Moslemism among the Turks, and who is known to me as a cool observer, calls special attention to the deadly effects of the sensual teaching upon the Ottoman Turks. He concludes that the Turks " will become extinct as a race," and adds that " the most potent cause" of this extinction "is the inherent corruption of the people themselves." lie believes that "the sensual character of the Turks is derived from and nurtured to a very large extent by their religion. He (Mahomet) was a sensualist, and his religion is a sensual religion ;" and again, " Tiie an- tipathy of the Christians to the Turks is due more to the dread of their sensual passions than to mere religious animosity. No Christian likes his children to associate with the Turks ; especially is he careful to pre- vent his sons remaining alone wMth them." This writer specially calls attention to the terrible prevalence of one form of sensuality. Dr. Hamlin, the founder of the American College on the Bosphorus, says ("Among the Turks," p. 349) : " The fourth and worst attribute of Moslemism is its
