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


is Russian frigate. Far be 1t from us to
lay such heavy charge at the door Of any
civilized government as that Of completely or
positive connivance in these atrocities bat
such are some of the circumstances and the
facts which inspire doubts on the subject.
Both England and France have long been
concerned in the internal affairs of Syria.
1t seems to be policy of modern diplo-
macy to create a partisanship in those lands
where interest gains foothold. Thus, France
having common bond of sympathy with the
Maronites, by means of common faith, gained
much influence in the land, which the English
could not brook, because their own Indian pos
sessions lay in such close proximity. Therefore,
the English merely with the view to the just
balance of power, took the Druses under their
own special patronage and protection, with the
assurance that there was community of feel
ing and association, since they both claimed the
same ancestry-for the Druids and the Druses
we're identical. Whether the Drxses began to
love the English because of their common FORE
fathers, or because they were a powerful ma
ton, or, still more, for the substantial succor
they received during their warfare with the
Maron ties, need not to be told. At all events
the English have attained great power over
the Druses, so much so that an order from the
Sultan is treated with contumely, but note
from the English Consul is never for moment
disputed.
A Druse Bey-Saaddin by name-having on
one occasion used disrespectful language to-
wards the English government, Mr.. Wood, at
that time the English Consul at Damascus, takes
umbrage at the incident and writes to the
Druse chiefs for the immediate chasdsement of
the delinquent Thereupon the chiefs assem-
Bile, hold special conclave and resolve to
give up the offender, though one of their
princes, to the tender mercies of the English
Consul. Saaddin is accordingly sent TO him in
chains, who, on his part, forwards him to Con-
stantinople. Even at this day Druse will
bully his enemy with the comprehensive threat,
II will have my revenge on you in spite of
even the English Consul himself"
The question now arises: If the English have
so much influence over the Druses, why did
they not prevent these calamities or how was
it that the English Consuls, hitherto so power
full among the Druses, manifested such mas
terly inactivity" while the people were de-
liberately massacred before their eyes,
and all kinds Of atrocities committed?
It is true that Kassem ell Yussef the factotum
Of Said Boy, the most powerful of the Druse
princes, was invited on board the Wildfre,
and there solemn promise obtained from him
r H. &c k@~x I,,k
the moment be turns bis back upon the vessel,
still greater atrocities are perpetrated, without
mourning the ire of the English officials. Is it
because the English have all of a sudden lost
their influence over their proteges? If so, how
are we to account for the fact that only a short
the Dutch Consul was killed, the American Con-
sui wounded, the French, Russian and the Aus
trian Consuls took refuge at the house of ADD
el-Kader, but the English was unmolested in his
own dwelling? Moreover, it is notorious
that Prussian merchant on his way to
Beyrout from Damascus, had the ingenuity to
pass for an Englishman, and had the salts
faction of being told by Druse that g had he
not been an Englishman he would have met his
deserts at their hands,"
We are aware that there is frenzy Of enthu-
siasm which swells and surges till 1t spends
itself upon rock or strand. The carnage and
rapine in the recent occurrences were rendered
more excessive by the assistance Of the Be-
douins, Mutwalis, and other fanatical robbers
and assassins, who are always on the look out
for plumber; yet, as we have already stated,
these same Druses are superstitiously obedient
to their chiefs, at whose single word, "Peace,
be still" all the Infatuated elements would have
become calm as the sea of Tiberius. Why did
no English Consul promptly and energetically
force the wild Druse, his quondam friend, to
issue such command? Instead thereof, the
whole blame is laid at the charge of the SUI
blme Porte, which is said ''to exist upon suffer
ance' 1t is well known that Ibrahim Pasha
himself could not conquer these wild mountain
GERS, even at a sacrifice of twenty-five thousand
men, at the lcahrd of Koran; much less could
a sick man" be expected to effect a purifca-
ton through his invalid officials.
IT, then, the English can show 50 much apa-
thy, what can be expected from Mussulman
populace, so opposed to Christians, both by
race, fanaticism and interest.
To what, we repeat, are we 10 attribute the
strange part which the English seem to play in
this bloody drama. Is il in reality with intent to
hasten the dissolution of the "sick man. or Is !
it with the hope Of diminishing the power of |
France in Syria, that this massacre of Chris |
tians is winked at by the most philanthropic, |
humane and civilized people of the age and of |
the world? Ifso, in both cases there seems to |
be perfect success; for Russia is already in
ecstacy at the Development of her plotting, |
and the Chriatian world will have little need
TO waste their sympathies upon their Eastern
Of whom none will be LEFT. For,
even now, out Of the thirty millions Of Arme-
ninua nna-oal. e.. .o.aa;. ax.1 II ~.-lI.~- IN