Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-07
The war i'm srrin.

The account we publish to day presents
the other side of the bloody picture in Syria,
and attributes the origin of the war to the
conduct of the Christians, who, it is charged,
commenced aggressions on the Druses. The
statement seems to be well authenticated,
and will be read with interest.
1t seems that the feud in Syria which has
resulted in atrocities 50 sickening, is of re-
cent origin. In 1859 an emeute took place
in a village called Beyt Mary, between Ger
tain Christians, known in the region by the
name of Maronites, and certain of a Turkish
sect of idolatOrs, known as Druses. The diff
ieulty was arranged to the satisfaction Of all
concerned, it would appear, by the payment
of three thousand piastres by the Druses to
the Christians. The latter, however, being
Christians by name only, finding an easy
triumph and willing enemy, improved the
occasion, as they thought, to stir up the old
crusade against their Turkish brethren, who
differed from them in faith. They desired to
exterminate the Infdels, and with this view
organized committees, purchased and distrib-
buted arms, and went so far as to begin the
campaign, by marching on towards Schwey-
fat and Aitat-the places of residence of the
Druse chiefs. The Druses, who have always
considered their Maronite neighbOrs as no
match for them, did not wait for the attack,
but marched down the Waddy and met the
Christians at Hadat and Babdo. Here, it
seems, the war began, and was carried on
with the relentless ferocity that always char
teriZes a religious internecine conquest. The
Druses were signally successful. At Lebanon
If appears there was some bloody work, where
Druse reinforcements indiscriminately COM
mitted excesses against Druse and Christian.
At Zaleh, the Christians feeling strong, com
mitted outrages, and from this point were
exterminsted by their opponents. The troops
of the Sultan have offered little service to-
wards quieting matters, and certain authori-
ties charge upon the Turkish sOldiery the
giving assistance to the Druse side. Mean
while, panic had seized the Christian Turks,
and as many as $4,000 were said to have
sought the refuge Of Mediterranean port,
and had congregated in great numbers at Bey-
rout. Every mail brought in fresh rumors
from different quarters of the helpless congre-
cations Of masses of Christians on the one
hand, and their threatened attack by their
enemies on the other. Many French papers
were earnestly urging upon Government the
necessity Of cooperating with England and
Russia to confirm the integrity of the Empire,
towards which so much blood and treasure
was sacrificed four years ago. Others are
clamoring for the dismemberment and sub
jugation Of the country that forms the excep-
ton to the progress Of Europe. The Porte
has addressed a letter to France and England,
while all the muster, military, naval and di-
plomatic, has been going on, in which he
promises to restore peace to the country, pun
ish the guilty parties and render justice to all.
In regard to the Intervention of France and
England, nothing definite is reported. The
rumors are eonfrmatory Of the opinion that
the Sultan is unequal to the emergency, and
that the Emperor Of France, who must now
be in want of military employment for the
army, and fresh excitement for the rising
discontents in the French nation, will un-
dertake the Office of protector of the faith in
Syria