New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-23
An AMERICAN IN THE EAST.
on..ponasrs. ofrhs ny. Tnbans.

the disastrous ravsges OF the choiera last Au'
tumn. The inhabitants have returned from the
i,lands Of the Argen and the inland toWns'
whittier they were urged to fee, and even sup
plied with the means Of conveyance by the Gov
errment. when as a Greek expressed II, "a
"eopsumipg angel waved his flaming sword
mov.r the City Of Minerva" Never since the
reign Of Percles has such visitation fallen
upon Greek city. On the breaking out OF the
cholera in October u, 600 persons Aed in three
day,, and in short time a population of 90, 900
BECAME reduced 10 5000, Of whom 1900 fell
victims to the fearful malady in the course of
siI weeks. All business ceased; the schools
and different branches Of the University closed
many Of the Government officials shared in the
general fight, and even cOiFin-makers and grave
digeers suspended their usual avocations. There
was but one shop in Athens where bread and meat
could be purchased, and that one was kept open
hy the police Physicians, when summoned, would
look in at the door or window, give h1sty pre-
fcription and then fly as from death itself Even
the Queens pbytican refused the summons Of her
Majesty 10 make professional visit. All affection
seemed TO be lost for in nume<ous cases when one
of family was taken sick the Others closed the
house and consigned their companion to solitude
and death A single apothecary found forty FIVE
| dead bodies thus abandoned. The dead became
/ too numerous to be buried and many were thrown
] into caves.
/ Ii reminds one Of what ThUcydides says of the
/ Plaque in .he time of Pericles The temples, in
(Which they had erected tents for their reception
/ "were full Of the bodies of those who had expired
"there for 10 calamity Outrageously violent, in
universal despair things cracular and holy had
quite lost their distinction. Nay, all regulations
\ a l.4, nj
conioundt d. since every one buried wherever he
"cOuld find place. Some, whose sepulcbres were
"alresdy filed by the numbers who had persisted in
"their own families were shametully compelled 70
seize upon those Of others They surprised the
funeral piles which others had built for their
friends, and burned their dead upon them; and
some, while ole body was burning on pile,
tossed another body they had dragged thither
"upon il and went their way
For time the Greeks felt it bitterly, but no
ticed on their Christmas Eve that the streets of
Athens were full of revelers and animals innumer
able lad been slain the same day to break the long
fast which precedes tie Christmas holidays. In
temperance is shOckinely on the increase in
Athens and when mountain robbers become high
officers of State and prisondoors are opened to
let cuprits escape it may easily be imagined that
vice and crime stalk boldly in the streets
While speaking of the Greeks cannot refrain
from a word relative to the Consular agents OF the
United States in the Leyant. That there are rad
zeal defects in our pOmatlc system, if the clumsy
apparatus be worthy of that name, every person
il aware; but at the same time il is equally
true that our Legations abroad should be made the
rada,iDg points OF opinions and principles supposed
10 be peculiar TO Americans Ii may be that
newspaper editor or stump orator, ignorant of
European politics and languages, does not blaze ont
at once brilliant diplomat it may be that his at
tainments Lis graces &c, Justly become the sub
o,1c
representatives Of sixth rate powers; but ii he
must be ushered into the presence of kings aud p0-
tentates for having ridden this that Presidential
hobby with success, why let him carry with him
moiety Of the dignity and honesty that ought to
be inherent in every American, that at least his
fellow citizens abroad need not blush at the name
Of their country. Time has been when the Amer
lean traveller in the leyant was as proud to be
called an American citizen as a Roman ever was
of his country but is not the case now. They
Justly regard us as the scayenger Of nations, and
the glory and honor OF belonging to the great Re
public" to the foremost nation of the globe
are become baubles cheap and worthless as to be
traflcked for few piastres or pounds sterling
among our government stock Obbers IN this part
of the Orient. OF our excellent Consul at Athens
Of the gentlemen connected with the American
egatiOn in COnstaninople, l have not a
word to say. But from MaTseilles to Cairo,
and generally through the LeyaDt, have sccunu-
lated few facts, which it may be well to give, GA
the ground that partial evils are not untrequently
a general good There is almost any number of
italian and Greek adventureTs travelling and living
in the East under American protection wko have
never had the slightest intention of becoming
American citizens. Cases may doubtless arise in
which the protection of our government should be
thus extended; but that Consuls should in1scri-
mnately baptize the scum of Greek imposture aud
villany TO the high position of American citizen
Ii l.. Al =
tive Their business is to maintain the dignity OF
their country by watching over the interests of its
citizens, not to gather into political fold the
ohscOurDgs OF eastern Civilizations. They have but
one excuse: It pdyS-an excuse however, which
adds insult TO injury. They have caught the spirit
Of the Orient, for here b0oksheeSh accom- plishes
miracles. Ii introduces one before Pachts and
Princes, turns the keys of sacred places, and un-
wells the face of beauty. Alas that il should be
able TO extend the egis Of American protection
over the refuse matter cast up by the surgcs or
Eastern politics | give no names, but l have
" consular authority" for stating tIat $50 is not
an unusual price for an American passport in the
East Why not initiate the RUSSIANS aud make it
$500 $50 is often spoken as the figure but the
talismanic number, TAirty.One certainly never
nprerRS tausiEs among the tucients, is generally
given as the sum required. Livery stripe and star
ought TO be worth al least one dollar when con-
ftrred upon descendant Of Plato or Diogcnes
An American gentleman Has not long ago dining
at a hotel in Malta, " hen, as often happens among
EDglikhmeD, the cOuyer alton related TO American
characteristics. such one remarked john
Bull, referring TO an American Consul in the Le-
/ want q sells passports for $3l." you are mis-
taken replied the John Bull ris-a-cis, can Aneri-
cSn passport costs these Greek aud Italian ad-
deptureis but Ct cents and for that sum they can
I he procured at most of their Consulshipsn They
/ tltu proceeded to give cases in point Under
"a.