Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-10-21
Horrible Massacre--Destruction of the NestO-
rian Christians by the Turks.

The pure and upright HISTORIAN ChflstidhF,
dwelling in primitive simplicity and happiness IN
the mountain Businesses, have been sought out by
the bloodhounds of Mohammed, and doomed to
nnnihiiation. The circumstances connected with
this sad event are melancholy IN me extreme,
and ire detailed by q correspondent Of The London
Morning Chronicle (wrltng from ConstantinopIe
under date Of The 17th of Augns') as follows
You have been informed Of The combna ton
between the Pacha Of Mosul and several power
ia! Kurdish chiefs for the determination of the
HISTORIAN Chris tIans, or Chaldeans. Letters
celved the day before yesterday contain a deplo
rable account Of The results OF the attacks of the
United Troops. They had penetrated the centre
of the Tiyuree district, burnt the villages and
churches, destroyed The crops, and put the lnhab-
itan,s of bo'h sexes to the sword. Three, or &C
cording 10 other accounts. five brothers Of the
Patriarch have been slam, his mother cut in
half, and his sister horribly mutated. The Pa
,fiarch himself hau fled to Mosul, and taken re-
fuge with the British vice consulate. Thus a
sect which had preserved It's independence du>
ring centuries, and had resisted the prosecuting
sword of Islam, when welded by tho most pow
erfu and most intoiefant OF the followers of No.
hammed-" which, IN Its simplicity and isolation,
had maintained the doctrines and forms of pr.
miiive church for above fourteen centuries, and
which had escaped the corruption of religion, of
morals, and Of character, conspicuous in all
other christian sects Of the Elst-has now, in the
weakness Of Mohammedsm and in the strength
Of European Christianity, been delivered over TO
destruction.
Although the Turkish authorities merit the
strongest condemnation for tho part they have la
ken IN this massacre, yet there are others con.
cerned who arc almost equally respons Ibe for the
results. The history OF The fall OF The Nestori
ans n example OF the Consequences of
system pursued by foreigners in the East, which
we cannot con emplaie without the utmost indg-
nation. An those who have been the direct
indirect instruments of their destruction altho'
they may not have anticipated a result Of
rious nature TO their intrigue, and although they
NAV now shelter themselves under the cloak Of
religion have been guilty Of great crime a.
ganst humanity. LIS their mountain Businesses
the Nesorians had retained their Indepe ndencc
TOR centuries. The first western trave er who
succeeded in penetrating INTO them, was Dr..
Gran, American missionary. His object in
visiting them the establishment Of schools
and other means of instruction. NJ sooner had
DR. Grant met with some success in the noun.
tains, than The Roman Catholic missionaries at
Mosul, supported by French political agents, en-
deavored To couuteract 1t. The English High
Church also ioaons Of Atnecican eucroach>
in the midst Of sect s'ItI venerable IN
EPrscnpacy; and additional fre-brand
thrown into the country last auturnn. III the per-
son of the Rev. Mr.. Badger Daring last winter
the three partIes-thc Anerican the Pose ylte,
and The Roman Caholic--have wnged open
warfare among themselves. The Americans,
who had been FIRST in the field, Only acted the
defensive; the influence they had already acqni
red among the HISTORIANS, enabled them, without
much difficulty, to retain their position. The OBJ
isct Of the two remaining parties was 20 tJect
The Americans. and to establish their own nii'
ence They did not act in concert, for their mu
tual enmty eqnaled their hostility TO the Amer
leans No means were left untried to Effect their
object. The agents of the Church of Rome re
ceived the earnest co-operation--in !act, became
the tools--of the French political agents. Mr..
Badger enjoyed the support OF the British local
authority.
A report began to prevail that the Americans
were assisting tho HISTORIANS build forts IN
their mountains. The ignorant inhabitants OF
the surrounding country, and their Governor, the
Pacha of MosuI, readily believed the assertion -
For sometime access to The mountains, from the
west, denied TO the American Missionaries.
Mr.. Badger and the Romanists renewed their
separate attacks. Both had interviews with tho
Patriarch and both believed that they had estab-
Iished their influence. The suspicious of the
Pacha of Mosu were excited; from both parties
he received accusation. against their respective
ndversaries, tending to increase his alarm. Mr..
Badger pont ted out the danger of Roman Catho-
licism and French influence IN the mountains
the French in return The danger of English lutlu-
ence. AT length the combination we have de-
scribed was formed, and those alone who were
innocent have fallen victims to the intrigues Of
men who announced themselves tn them a their
only saviours--,he ministers Of Christ, and the
teachers Of civilization.
Strict justice compels Us to slate that the Anne.
ricans are IN this instance without blame They
established themselves frs, on the mountains.
and their efforts successfully directed to the
Improvement of the Inhabitants, without any ul-
terror political design. We believe tina, had the
Church Of England zsalously co-opera,ed with
them as Protestant Christians, iastead Of opoo
sing them hereticai enemies, The disas,er We
have described would not have occurred; as i, is
one of the most ancient and most interesting
sects IN the mountaineering from its origin.
from its language. and from tho purity Of its
Chr'stanity--has been sacrificed TO The religious
quarre's OF American Independents. English Pu,