Washington telegraph., 1855-04-25
Cause of the Present War in the
East.

Last.
Among the Roman Catholics and men,
Z bers Of the Greek Church there has ever
been a great, even suDeIstiiious regard for
the Hoy Land. and, in particular, for places
deemed specially holy: for example. the
places of Christ's birth and tomb Over
each, as it is supposed, church is erected
10 commemorate the event There are
eight sO-called ''holy places" but the church
where was the stable n Bethlehem with a
silver star hung-sood Catholics and Greeks
think-over the precise spot of the Savior S
birth; and the church built by the Empress
Helena over the supposed place Of his tomb
are considered peculiarly sacred. The Ro-
man Catholic and Greek Churches were un-
divided until A D. So. Hence, up to
that time. Greek and Latin Christians to
gether visited the Holy Land. though the
Western nations even before that time had
some difficulty in making their pilgrimages
. TO those sacred places. for the Saracens came
into possession OF them in G37. yet as the
Greeks were so near by, and were ye; pow
erful. they had privileges not accorded to
/. the LatinS,
These difficulties increased more and
more. and the harlships endured by the
Western pilgrims became intolerable so
much so that in 1896 the Crusadcs began
on the part Of the Papal powers to obtain
an open door for their pilgrims to the Holy
land, and to wrest Jerusalem from the inf
dels-
As Is we'll knovR, the Latins took Pales-
tine. and held it eighty years; yet the Cru
sade< continued 120 years after
After the Turks took Palestine from the
Saracens, the Christian pilgrims suffered yet
more Even the Greeks. alter the fall of
COns.antinople, in 1853. Jared badly at their
hands, but less SO ;han the Occidentals.
Frareis /, in 1852. on the part Of the
Catholics made treaty with the Sultan, Sc
curing to them certain privileges This
was the commencement Of Negotiations
after which, France and Austria constantly
insisted on the rights Of the Roman Cath0-
lies The Greeks, however. having no pow
crful patron to plead for them at the court
of the Sultan were entirely at the mercy
of the Turk, until soIE.e seventy or eighty
wears ago, when Russia began to loom up
among the powers Of Europe Treaties
were made at RutschucI,- kanairrgi. and Bu-
ckarest. conceding certaiu privileges to the
Greek Church. both in Russia and Turkey.
In 1929 Russia made 4 more important
treaty with Turkey at AdIianople
In the meantime, up to 1871, the church
es at the holy places. On the holidays. pre-
sented scenes Of the most horrible strife and
violence The Turkish government had to
interfere and regulate matters Sometimes
the Greeks and Latins were required to take
their turns. and 20 in day about or on dif-
ferent parts Of the same dag. Yet Turk
lSh guards and ScIHetars could not prevent
the most di>eracefuI collisions between those
who came TO places deemed sacred, because
once Occupied by the Prince Of Peace. In
the height Of this Christian strife, the silver
star that overhuUg the place of the manger
where Jesus laid was stolen. The Greeks
blamed the Latins with the theft, and the
Latins charged it on the Greeks.
In this state of affairs, France. The never
falling friend Of the Papacy. sent for this
sole purpose an extraordinary ambassador TO
the Sublime Porte, who succeeded in OBJ
tanning grant of special favors to all Ro-
man Catholic pilgrims to the Holy city
Russla learning this. sent an envoy, who in
turn obtained special privileges for the
Greeks
France, dissatisfied with this treaty. i'm
mediately dispatched NJ. I.avalette. envoy
extraordinary to Turkey. with i nine;ygun
ship to menace the Porte in order to nro-
vaE
This was in 1851. AT the instance of Eng
land. this hot-headed man was recalled, the
man-Ot-Ear withdrawn, an La Cour, a man
Oh prudent and cOncII;atOry spirit was sent
70 Cons'antInople, who. with Sir Stratfori
Canning, now Lord RedeliFe, pursued mild
or cOunSelS
on February %. 1858. Menschikoff came
down from Odessa, in large ship-o:: war TO
Con<tantlnop!e, making further demands for
the Ureek Christians To most of these
inc government yielded On the 9TH of
quay In the morning. frmans, or edicts.
we're Issued to secure the fulfllment of that
part that had relation to the Holy DIsc.s
All was supposed to be settled. Tn tho oe
,einOoa OF the same day. however, Menscbi-
Aou' ID order to save further trouble and
.rn's'i'ideFS'andIng an. as to treaties, proposed
.iat another article should be inserted in
'le ,reaiy' stipuia;ing that '1eItaferer ~ ghfs
ana privileges sIt0Hld hereafter be conoet-
ea 10 any Christian secf an TurEeu
usose same rights and privileges s.ouid
Oe oosstdered as Of night to belong to fhe
ol.todoF (the Greek) Church Certainly
so' aa improper request Such stipula-
% ..o1 Inc United States. made with China.
;1a Suu, We believe, with Japan, that any priv
Heges guaranteed to other nations in treaties
~ I.e hereafter shall be considered as grant
~. ~ ~ U.s. or thai our nation be regarded on
the most favorable terms