The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-21


The Bissionary Breil Mt ConstantinopIe.
Elsewhere will be found translation of the
correspondence which has passed between the
English Ambassador at Constantinople and the
Armenian. Patriarch, in reference to the riot
that lately took place at the interment Of an
American Protestant in that city
The long standing animosity between the
two antagonistic creeds, Mahomedanism and
Christianity, the representatives respectively of
barbarism and civilization, eliminated to
crisis in the recent atrocities in Syria. When
these two religious elements come into COLI
sion the interests of humanity demand that all
premacy to Christianity but where local dis
putes break out amongst Eastern Christians
themselves, the Intervention of foreign Powers
carries US back to period which none but
fanatics would wish to see recalled.
The policy of the European governments at
the close of the seventeenth century was mark
ed by spirit of exaggerated religious enthu-
siasm, and although our own century is too
far advanced in civilization to tolerate its re-
vival, yet modern European diplomatists appa
rently consider that policy too advan.
tageous to be relinquished. Constantine
pie is the field in which they are
at present prosecuting their rival interests,
under cover Of this pretended zeal for religion.
Russia through the Greeks and Armenians,
France through the Catholics, and Great Bri
tain and the other Protestant Powers througha
new community recently created by the Ameri
can missionaries, Of whom our own Minister has,
1t seems also constituted himself the protector.
The riot which recently took place over the
grave of proselyte Of this sect furnished a pre-
text to championize Professionalism which was
eagerly seized upon. The affair had been, to all
appearance, arranged, when the representatives
Of the Protestant governments undertook to
ressttle 1t. When informed that by the treaty Of
Paris they were debarred from interchangeable
Sultan alone having jurisdiction in the matter
the American Minister declared himself exempt
from its stipulations, the United States not hav
ing been party to it. 1t should be added that
Mr.. Williams Is stated to have assigned as rea
son for the part which he took, that the Off ciat
ing clergyman at the interment was an Ameri
can but we cannot see why that circumstance
should involve diplomatic interference, since he
was simply discharging a Christian duty. II
the account that we have received be correct,
the officiating priest was the Armenian pastor
Of the Protestant branch Of that nationality.
American citizenship had, therefore, nothing to
do with the matter the missionaries having
made use Of this pretext only to intimidate the
Porte through our Minister-their motive being
evident in the demand which they are said to
have forwarded to our government for o man
ofwar.
Such are the facts as they have been reported
to us. We trust that they have been exag-
gerated and that our Minister has not been led
by the persuasions Of these men to forget his
position as representative Of the United States,
whose policy is opposed to everything like ag.
erosion, or political or religious meddling In
the affairs of other countries. When we want o
territory We pay for It, as in the case Of Califor-
MIA and New Mexico, and as we should be glad
to do for Cuba; and when we desire to secure
commercial influence we 60 straight to our
object, as we did in the case Of Japan. How.
ever strong may be our religious sympathies
with our fellow Christians abroad, we do not
allow them to betray us into disputes which our
political system has made no provision for
We are commercial republic, and not an in
tiguing despotism. Our diplomatic text book
Is the ledger, and our primrn mobile dollars
and cents. Our interest In Turkey lies In
her drugs and spices, her fruits, wool and
other products, for which we exchange our cot
ton fabrics, rum, Yankee notions, &C.; and II
we feel any particular sympathy towards the
Armenians, II u because they are the Yankees
Of the East, as well as Christians like ourselves.
Hence II neither COMFORTS with the spirit Of
our constitution nor with our commercial In
terests that we should interfere In the religious
differences OF other nationalities, and strict
watch should be kept over our diplomatic
agents to prevent them being made the dupes
embroil the world for the sake Of making q
single proselyte.
We trust that steps will be taken to remove
any unfavorable impression which the conduct
Of cur representative may have created a. Con.
stan,inope. This should be done promptly.
as the British Minister. Sir Henry Lyttou Bal.
wer, seems inclined to withdraw from any
further action in the affair. /; i important
that the Eastern populations should be made
to understand that the American mission ries
do mo- represent the American people iaas.
muck az they are men Of limited experisrce
little kno xledge OF the world. aud. though
well meaning, dereely bsoted This expla1a
ton l. especially due 70 the Armenian CON.
munl,y and their Patriarch, who uast have
been led 70 form strange opiriors ~ ou-