The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-20

publican creed, and il is rather too late in the
day for Chevalier Webb to try to substitute
another in its place, when he finds the strong
tide of conservatism setting in against his party
and threatening to sweep it to perdition.
The Armenian Riots ut Constanttnopie-
Russian Intrigue Again Busily at
Work.
By recent advices from Constantinople we
learn that there has been an outbreak in the
very heart Of the capital itself Aud the tu-
multi on this occasion was not excited by Mus
sulmen, but by the Christians themselves
against Christians, and originated in an at
tempt to bury Protestant Armenian in the
consecrated ground of the old Armenian
church, from which the Protestants are seceders
Seemingly this was mere ebullition of Eastern
fanaticism, but it was, in reality, of deeper sig
ni6cance and origin.
The Armenians are very tenacious of their
religion, and being, as it were, community
isolated from the government have made their
faith bond of nationality and union, and
until now have thereby maintained their homo
geneity as people. The Armenian church re-
sembles the Greek and the Roman in many
respects, but has no spiritual head like the
Pope. The form of government is episcopal,
and includes in its ranks archbishops, bishops,
priests and deacons. True, it has a higher
functionary, designated the Catholics, but his
powers have no analogy with those Of the head
Of the Romish church, for there are three who
hold this dignity-one ut Etchmiadziu, the
other at Sis, and the third at Akhtamar. Their
duties are to regulate spiritual affairs only.
The civil head Of the nation is the patriarch,
who is elected by the people from the bishops
and of these patriarchs there are several in va.
rious sections of the country-so that they are
not under the absolute control of the priest.
hood. But the mass of the people, being unedu-
Gated, are swayed by superstitious and tradi-
tional influences. Up to the last century and
half they lived in unity and peace until Catholi.
cism was introduced among them. This not only
aroused the jealousy Of the priesthood, but
touched the patriotism Of the people, who
dreaded the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of their nation
for Catholicism had denationalizing tendency,
Latinizing even the church ritual, to which In
novation some of the Catholic Armenians would
not submit so that even at this time there are
two sects-he radicals, who prefer the Latin
service and disdain even to use their own Ian.
guage in their domestic converse, and the libe.
rails, who retain all that is national and only
acknowledge the Pope as the head Of the
church.
Within the last thirty years Professionalism
has also been introduced through the efforts of
the American missionaries. In the beginning
there was little or no opposition, the missionaries
being well received by the Armenians as friends
Of the people, having at heart no object but
But in time their influence increased to such an
extent that they began to insinuate their sec
tarianism and entice the lower classes from the
church fellowship. The schools which they
established proved mere establishments for
manufacturing proselytes. Sectarian books
where the discussion of abstruse doctrines, aud
Puritan psalm singing, to the tune of Old
Hundred, took the place of the time-honored
church ritual The Armenians displayed bit.
ter luminosity and opposition to these efforts,
and prosecutions followed. But through the
Intervention Of Lord Stratford de Radcliffe an
amicable settlement was effected. and the little
body Of Protestants were recognized as Sc
parate community, with patriarch Of their
own.
This peaceable state of things has been sud-
denly interrupted by fresh outbreak between
these two classes of Armenians--those Of the
old church. and those known as the Protest
ants.
The point in question was whether the newly
formed rect of Protestant seceders from the
mother church had the right to use the baria
ground of the latter. The persistence OF both
parties was unprecedented, and detied the pre-
sence Of the civil authorities and the large body
of soldiery.
The excuse which the government offers for
its passiveness on this occasion is that this mob
really had nothing to DO with Professionalism,
but was got up under kussian Influences. for ,he
purpose OF bringing about u collision between
the Turkish soldiers aud tlo Christian pcpula-
ton of the city. It alleges tia, it the soldiers
rad been allowed to fyo upon ihis mob an i'm
n,ediate insurreo'ion woul3 have broken out Az
over ltc city. There Is every reasea 20 credit
iris s.asemer. Cox Il Is vel brean that Russia