The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-06

new 1 0rk, ABOUT the middle OF september, In
order to determine upon some common course
Of action to save us all from q sectional, ag.
| gressive, abolition administration, which may
precipitate us at once into the bottomless abyss
of disunions
| The Syrian massacrc-Ths Druses and
| Mnronites.
| The alleged peace said to have been con-
cluded between the Maronites and Druses in
Syria is, in all probability, temporary and
merely patched up affair The hostility of
race and religion which occasionally finds
vent in such bloody scenes as those recently
enacted in Syria is not easily allayed. But it
is evident that the Powers of Europe are not
going to permit the affairs of the East to re-
main in their present deplorable Condition.
The Porte Is unequal to the task of controlling
the Wild and half savage elements which COM
prise the Ottoman empire in Asia.
The peculiar polity Of the Turkish govern
ment has enabled those in the distant pro-
vinces who were strong enough to usurp
supreme authority, and control their own dis
tricts with impunity. The scene of these recent
atrocities-the region of Mount Lebanon-has
long been independent of the central govern
ment Although the inhabitants united in
resisting the authority of the Porte or of the
Governor General of Syria, they were divided
against each other. These peoples are two
distinct tribes-one called Druses, and the
| other Maronites. As in the East religion is
nationality, so these tribes were individualized
| by their religious tenets, and not by any nativ
| ty or amor pdtf'i4.
| The Druses, although professedly Moham-
medans, have mystic religion of their own,
especially distinguished by the belief of the
TRANSPORTATION of souls, and certain other pecu-
| liar doctrines, only revealed to the initiated.
Like our own Baptists, who are not Christians
| by birth or christening, but become so upon
maturity and the reception of the rite of i'm
| mersion, 80 all Druses are not considered with
in the mystic pale until they are of age
| to be entrusted with the sacred mys-
teries, or deemed worthy of such conf
| dence. The initiated are termed Ukdls (the
wise) and the uninitiated Jehhals 1.-THE ignsrant)
The other tribe, the Maronites, are Christians of
| the Church of Rome Each of these tribes is 60
verned by its respective chief The Druse po-
| pulation amounts to about 10000, while the
Marontes number 100000. But the Druses,
though inferior in numbers, are q much more
formidable body. They are under the COM
plete control of their Ukdls, who hold secret
councils in their hol,cas Qedges), and regulate
all the affairs. They are brave, and fearless Of
death, which to them is but TRANSPORTATION to
another form of life. On the other hand, the
Maronites have no organization or mutual bond
beyond that which unites them in common
faith.
There has long been strife for supremacy in
the region of Lebanon between these two pow
ers, sometimes one predominating, and anon
the other, 80 that continual broils have been
maintained upon the most Insignificant pretexts
| with reciprocal rapine and bloodshed. The
most bitter conflict occurred during the admi-
nistration of Abdallah Pasha In Syria, some
forty years ago. Abdallah, who had obtained
the government of Syria, thought policy de-
manded that be should side with one of the pro-
minent parties in the mountains The Maronites
were then predominant, under the leader
ship of an Emir Bishir, of the house
Of Shahab-an ancient Arab family d.
rectly descended from the Prophet himself--so
that Emir Bishir was emphatically Mussul-
man. but, whether from motives of policy or
conscience, he became Christian, aud thereby
gained the sympathy and confidence of the
Maronites, whose chief he had already become.
Having also the support Of Abdallah Pasha,
he began to persecute the Druses, and at last
captured their chief, Sheikh Bishir, and, after
having put out his eyes, sent him to Abdallah
Pasha at Acre, who put him to death as a rebel.
This Sheikh Bishir left three sens-Haman,
Said and Ismail Beys-who, being minors, could
not resent the injuries done their father; so that
Emir Bisbir, being left sole potentate Of the
mountains, ruled its inhabitants with rod of
iron, until the year 1910, when, after the ex-
pulsion of Ibrahim Pasha from Syria, he him
self was taken away by the English and sent to
Malta, whence he removed to Constantine
pie, with the view Of effecting reconcilia-
ton with the Porte.
At the same time Ismai Bey-the youngest
son of Sheikh Bishir, the murdered chief of the
Druses-was carried to England. And these
two distinguished personages were retained as
hostages of peace, and the jurisdiction of the
Porte was confirmed over the whole district of
Lebanon.
But after the lapse Of time, the continual dis
cords Of these people induced the Porte to APP
point for each Of them again separate head
Emir Haidar for the Maronites, and Emr Rus |
Ian for the Druses. A momentary tranquility |
ensued; but Emir Haidar died and was succeed |
ed by new Emir Bishir, much against the will |
of the Maronites themselves, who knew him to |
be an imbecile, and wholly incompetent to |
govern or resent the encroachments of the |
Druses. The Druses, on their part, did not fail |
to take advantage of these circumstances The |