The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-08-17
Tnc Crsscent against she Gross.

II would seem as II the final struggle betwee
Christianity and the false prophet were sp
preaching. At various and widely separate,
points in the Turkish dominions the hostilit
between the Christians and Moslems has sudden
y and simultaneously broken out, and threaten
tha most serious consequences. There are n,
indications tf concerted movement, but th,
Jealousy Of the Turks seems TO have been aroused
BY the consciousness that their government i
fast falling under the control Of the Christian
nations, and that the supremacy of their faith
| will cease, unless the power Of Christianity i
checked. The ancient rancor against Christian
is therefore revived and prosecutions and mas
| sacres attest the fact that Mahommedanism hal
not lost its old spirit.
The last steamer brought information that Z
serious revolutionary movement against the
Christians OF Syria had broken out, and that
| Tripoli and Latkia were in q state Of lnsurrec-
tion. On the island Of Gambia, in some places,
the Christians have barricaded themselves and
stand on the defensive, while from others they
have taken fight. The Greek population in all
parts of the island, as soon as informed Of the
massacre at Csnea, had taken up arms. Two
| thousand of them had collected with arms at
Cabana, and a.conflict appeared to be imminent.
At the town of Gambia there had also been
scenes of disorder, owing to the arrival of arm.
auce of prisoners The Governor, Hassan Pa
cha, had surrounded the revolutionists, threat.
ening TO fire upon them II they did not disperse,
and had arrested six Of the ringeaders.
The massacre at Jeddah was one Of the most
startling outbreaks that has occurred, and at
tended with the most ruthless and cruel sacrifice
OF life, but the difficulties in the DanuIian PROV
inces are NEST widespread aud most difficult of
suppression Here the Turkish authorities in
many cases united with the mob in committing
outrages upon the Christians. The difficulty be-
tween the Christian aud Turkish populations.
which has just been composed in Herzegovina,
having extended into Bosnia, deputation OF
Christians went to Vienna to ask the assistance
or interference of the Austrian Government.
This excited the indignation Of the Turks, who
at the instlgatiOn of some OF the inferior chief
tains, threatened the direst vengeance, and H..
00J Bosnian Mussulmans, excited to the highest
pitch of religious fanaticism, were organized to
punish the Christians. On the Goth, 27th and
2Sth Of June an attack was made on the Chris |
tian villages in the districts of Unna, Verbas |
and Bosnia. and $50 young girls, between the |
lges OF II and l6, were captured. On the 3OtlI |
of June and the Cd of July these scenes of vio-
erce were renewed, houses and churches were |
oiliaged, and old men, women and children |
ma sacred. The Christians defended themselves |
with all the energy of despair, but, pursued by
ire and sword, were obliged to take refuge in
he Austrian dominions. Having, placed their
wives and children in safety in Kostaniiza and
Fopoia, within the Austrian frontier, they arm
ID themselves with forks and other farming i'm.
lie nen;s, and on the night of the 9th of July
ell upon body of Turks encamped upon an
'pen plain, and took from them quantity of
sms and munitions. On the Sth, the battle
Vas renewed, and the Christians, defeated at all
'o,ts were driven back into Austria. where
more than 5000 of them, suffering from hunger
nd exposure, have found an asylum. The Aus.
rian authorities have undertaken TO supply the
ugitives with food and shelter.
In all these difficulties there is very good evil
euce that the Turks are the aggressors, and by
heir insolence and tyranny have driven the
christians to revolt. All the Danubian proyin-
es appear to be in state of great disorder and
narchy, and there is little prospect OF any thing
etter without European intervention. II the
anatical Mahonimedans have begun war of
upon the Christian citizens of
turkey, the interference Of the Christian pow
RS for their protection is inevitable. The Tur.
ish government has neither the energy nor the
bility to quell these disturbances. The subor.
mate officers of the government are in most in.
lances Infected with the prevailing fanaticism,
nd cannot be relied upon to do justice between
he hostile classes, and if the government takes
lch prompt and decisive action as the crisis
eqaires, it is at the risk of alternating its Mo
subjects. The result of the whole
laiter will be that the Christian powers will be
ompelled to do what the Porte cannot or will Fl
OF do, the Mussulman power will be effectually
rol,en and subdued, and the crescent will soon
e ntirely obliterated. Meanwhile, it is to be
'a,ed, the Greek Christians Of Turkey are des-
ned to much suffering, and the Christian mis-.
onaries from this country and England may be
sposed to severe trials and dangers.-Spring-
eid Repub.