Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-01
w. ID. WALLACH.
Affairs In Syria.

particulars Of the state Of affairs in Syria, and
the details are most narrowing. Nearly the
whole Christian population, or at leest the
male portion Of it, have fallen victims to the
bloodthirsty yindictiveness and animosity of
the Druses Reports are even said to have
reached the British Government that the city
OF Damascus, the oldest inhabited city in the
world, and one Of the most populous of the
oriental capitals, which was known to be
threatened, has been sacked by them, and that
500 Christians there had been massaered in
cold blood, the Dutch Consul being among
them, and an American being counted among
the wounded. To this attack upon Damascus
the Druses were doubtless prompted by their
horrible successes in other places, achieved
sometimes by the direct aid of the Turkish su-
tnonues and by their sympathy and conni-
vance IN all cases. -......-
The reported butcheries at Zahleh are
abundantly confirmed. There, and in the sur
rounding villages, the survivors of I6 900 fam
lilies are reduced to homelessness, nakedness
and famine. The carnage has been fearful
At Hasbeiya equal atrocities have been COM
mitted. The place had Christian population
of about 5,000 belonging not alone to the Mar
onite community, bat TO the orthodox Greek
Church, and to various Protestant denomina-
tions. OF the latter there were about 200,
having native pastor and church of their
own. letter from Beyrout has stated that
OF the 200 only two men now live, and of their
vive, while the fate of their wives and children
Is worse than uncertain. At Rasheiya, at the
foot OF Mount Hermon, there were about 1000
Christians, two-thirds Of whom perished by the
swords Of the Druses and the bayonets of the
Turkish soldiers, to whose barracks they fed
for protection, but whence they were inhu-
manly driven by the troops. Even Beyrout
itself is scarcely protected by the English and
European vessels of war lying there, which,
however, had afforded refuge to the frightened
Christian population. In all or nearly all the
massacres that have taken place the Turkish
troops have taken more or less part. One sc-
count states that 0ttomon soldiers from Da-
mascus enabled the besiegers to take Zahleh;
another says that the Turkish Government, or
the local Turkish Governors, have lent the
Druses men and cannon; and the details we
have from time to time laid before our readers
abundantly confirm this view of Turkish per-
hdity and cruelty. What scenes of horror
were enacted at Damascus, and what will fol-
low the sacking Of that most fanatic of cities
1t makes one shudder to contemplate.
The latest foreign dispatches intimate that
now, when the massacres have been completed,
the Sultan is making q show Of concern about
his Christian subjects, and that commissioner
supported by an armed force, has been sent to
the scenes of slaughter. After what has trans
pired, no one can place any confidence in either
the Sultan or his commissioner, and it is not
to be expected, or to be desired that this tardy
Pretense well satisfy the Christian Powers of
Europe, many OF whose quasi subjects fell VIC
Tins TO the blood thirstiness of the Druses and
the Turkish soldiers If the tenor of the dis
patches received by the English Government
Is correctly stated, our own Government is also
immediately interested in the matter, and we
will not believe that England will permit any
petty Jealousies respecting the influence of
those Powers in the East to tempt her to shield
Turkey from the punishment so justly merited.
She at least ought not to connive at such afro
cities praetised upon Christian people. 1t is
reported that the Emperor of France has al
ready through the Minister for Foreign Affairs
formally apprized the Government Of the Sui
tan, that, in concert with other Powers, he
will without loss of time and directly interfere
TO stop the carnage If the report be true,
Napoleon III merits high commendation for
his promptitude in the cause Of humanity. The
IN the matter. England appears to be slow to
act, although discussion in Parliament indi-
Gates that she cOntemplates some movement of
the kind. Most probably the three powers
will unite IN demand that every Druse sheik
who has taken leading part in these massa-
cres shall be expelled from the Sultan's do
miniOns; that the whole country of Lebanon
shall be placed under q Christian Governor
that the Pashas who have connived at the car
mage shall be punished that indemnity shall
be paid to the surviving Christians, and better
guarantees be given for their safety hereafter
Such demand would be moderate The diff
Guilty would be in the nature of the guarantees
70 be given with respect to the future-Ne.c
York Com. AdV.