The New York herald., 1850-12-17
The massacre a, Aleppo. rurkey.


suman bigotry and cruelty az Aleppo -
A fanatical Moslem spirit has burst into fury on
TIE Christian population OF this town-such hor-
ribe and altogether unprovoked persecution as one
in your population ought TO hear and England to be
apprised of. In The space of twenty-four hours
several hundred families, comprising the most re.
spectacle native Christians OF Aleppo, and consist
ing OF about 1000 individuals (Rayahs), have been,
under the most alarming and distressing clrcum-
stances, rendered houseless The following is
brief outline Of the facis:- ...
On The night of the l6th OF October, numerous
armed bands OF Mosem people forcibly entered the
dwellings of the Christians inhabting those quar-
tiers of The town called Sulib and Fedda, plunder-
ing every house of what il possessed and, when
ever the least resistance was shown, wOEndipg
and numbering the inmates.
On the 18th the same scenes continued to be per
petrated. The light of the sun was no obstacle
10 these atrocities. Concerned in the welfare of
the America Protestant mission aneS, as well as
other indiy duals in that quarter and also feeling
the Importance of Tearing the real state OF afidrs
put myself at the head of ten armed Moslems,
upon whom conld rely, and sailed out for Sulibi.
The roads everywhere leading to that quarter were
thIonged with Christians Of both sexes. There
were the aged and the infant, the parents of many
children and the eacientes, all huTrying away IN
the terror with which they were inspired by the
burning of their churches, the desecration of their
homes, the despoaion of their wealth, the destruc-
ton of their property, the dshonor OF their wives
and maidens, and in some instances the ruthless
slaughter of their relatives. was soon in the midst
of the commotOn at Sulibi, where saw hundreds of
Mosems despoiling the houses, burning the Greek
and Syrian Catholic churches, hurry ing off with
their plunderall this in broad daylight aud under
the eyes Of Turkish soliery none TO oppose, none
TO prevent these matchless depredatdrs from ac-
conplishin their horrible designs an inoflen-
slye people-oi murder, rape, incendiarism, aud pill
LACE. Three handsome churches, worth upwards of
f25,060 have been burnt; five churches have been
pundered; an invaluable library, containing an
clent Syrian manuscripts, destroyed; three priests
and several other Christians in number exceeding
q. Ia .
Syrian bishop, highly respected octegenarian,
have been wounded, and of whom some have
died, and others are dying. The principal Chris
tian quarters, such as Sulib Fedda, Toomayat,
Haret, u Un habobt, Tudreebee, Bowabet, But
rosse. Bowabel Asset, Essa II Rhul, have been
sacked. The loss of property is estimated at near
million sterling. The motives which have caus-
ed these atrociues will be found in the following
conslderations:-The acts of government, party
spirit, ianaticism.
!. The pasha recently promulgated an edict to
the effect that certain number of Mosems (the
Christians are invariably exempt) were required
Tor the military service, and that, therefore, the
conzcripon should be levied. The populace, fol-
lowing the example of Damascus, and other minor
places, determined upon opposing the measure.
Rather than submit 10 The conscription, they would
take 10 the desert, or remove TO other places and
villages, already, for the same reason. dsatiected
Damascus had recently revolted against tins levy,
and the hill country is now in a state of disquiet
While IL is perfectly legitimate in government 10
levy troops 1t ought 10 be in position, especially
when it s forewarned, as in the case of Damas-
Gus, 10 meet with sufficient force the consequences
of such measure. Ii ought TO be prepared TO
crush every attempt at resistance. 1t was not so
with our governing powers. They had but re-
Gently sent OIL the majority of the troops which
garrison this town to Damascus, to quen dis
tuTbances there. IL was inopportune, therefore,
TO insist upon the conscrption here at this mo-
meni; the few hundred troops which remain are
able town. This fact was Well Sno~n ~ a.
chiefs OF the Two parties which, at this moment,
contest the influence OF the town.
2. This party spirit has for its leader on the one
side the Pasha, or Governor OF the province, and,
on the other, the MossulIeim, or Governor of the
town. The latter officer belonged 10 that defunct
body, the Janissares, is native of ncighboring
village, commenced life as butchers boy here,
but has gradually acquired, certainly not for his
virtues, and Tor many years maintained, consider
able influence in the city. Like Fouche, he kaows
all the misdeeds committed in the town, and can
apprehend all evildoers. He is feared by the ma
jority OF the people. Jealous OF the local influence
which the Mossulleim possessed, the Pasha had
deprived him OF much of his authority, IL being the
Sultan's policy that all power should emanate
from himself, and that none should originate with
the people. Such was the state OF affairs when
this fierce persecution Of the Chistians broke out
IL is easy TO understand that the Mossulleim
would not be H. hurry to quell IT, He would
rather that the storm first vented its fury on the
devoted victims, and then, when the Pasha had
failed TO stop the tumult, he would step In and re-
duoe il; and such is what took place On the
morning Of the l7th, the Pasha hastily removed TO
the military barracks, where, surrounded by the
troops, he remained an almost passive spectator Of
General Bem pledged his life to stop the persecu-
ton IL he were allowed few pieces Of artillery
and five hundred soldiers; but the Pasha would not
grant them, on the plea that they would prove n-
sufficient. lie rather preferred 10 yield TO popular
fanaticism than get Moslem 10 tight Moslen in
defence Of the Christian. He had become OBJ
noxious TO the people by pressing the con-
scription. His life was threatened, and he would
mingled n fcn nd
cisn, allow free course 10 the popular feeling per-
seouton. On this point both parties were Of one
opinion-that 10 tranpe on the Christians would he
an appropriate service rendered TO the Moslcm
faith. The governor Of the town would fan this
spirit from motives OF ambition TO recover lost pow
er. The Pasha would encourage II TO shield him.
self from the vengeance Of the dsafected by turn
ing their fury from himself upon others, TO latter
popular opinion, aud from a Consciousness that he
was not IN condition 10 resist its violence. The
Christian communities became the scape goat Of
the conscTipuon. With the plunder of the Chris
tans the Moslem won ID take 20 the desert.
J. Fanaiicism had its full sway in every Moslem
breast. The Fakeers tsaints,) the Muxzein, and
the Sbieks were not slow TO spproye and TO en-
were hourishing. and one Of whose chiefs had as
sumed inappropriate distinction. The Greek Ca
tholics and the Armenians, the Syrian, and the
Naronites, were IN comfortable condition. Most
OF the families OF these communities had good and
well furnished houses. and they had built several
handsome churches The Greek Catholics had
lately finished church at n cost Of mere than
9l0,0O0 sterling. The Maronites were enlarging
and repairing iheirs. The state Of things had for
some time past attracted attention. and above all
the department Of the Greek Catholic patriarch, |
which was considered extrsvagant and ostenta.
tious. II was remarked that on the 10th, |
when he visited the Pasha, he went on horse |
back in the style Of prince, with silver |
stick and a silver cross elevated prominently |
before him-an exhibition which gave umbrage TO |
hQ Moale oh la all he via
Il will not be surprising, therefore, to know that
when the plunderers commenced their unholy work, |
he Moslem should mount the roof OF the Greek |
Catholic Church previous TO setting fire 10 the ed-
ice, and thence loudly proclaim the doom offthe |
Christians. Fantatacsm was now rampant. The |
body OF one of the priests killed was cut to pieces
that OF another was ignominiously burnt. Poor |
Christians their fate has been dreadfully severe
and totally uhmeried. Ten days have now elapsed
since they fled from their houses, and none have
yet ventufed 10 return to them. The khans in /