Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-23
The War in Syria,

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 aggressiens on the
Druses. The statement seems TO be well
authenticated aud will be read with inter
est.
II seems that the feud in Syria which
has resulted in atrocities so sickening, is of
recent origin. In 1859 an emeute took
place in village called Beyt Mary, be-
tween certain Christians, known in the re-
gion by the name of Maronites, and GER
tain of Turkish sect of idolaters, known
as Druses. The difficulty was arranged
to the satisfaction of all concerned, it would
appear, by the payment of three thou
sand piaslres by the Dru>es TO the Chris
tians. The latter, however, being Chris
tians by the name only, finding an easy
triumph and a willing enemy, improved
the occasion. as they thought, TO stir up
the old crusade against their Turkish breth-
ren, who differed from them in faith
They desired to exterminate The Infdels,
and with this view organized committees,
purchased and distributed arms, and went
so far as to begin the campaign, by march
ing on towards Schweyfat and Aitat-the
places of residences 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
rentless felocity that always characterrzes
religious intestine conquest. The Dru-
ses were signally successfully. At Leba-
non it appears there was some bloody
work, where reinforcements indiscriminate-
ly committed excesses against Druse and
Christian. At Zaleh, the Christians feel
ing strong, committed outrages, and from
this point were exterminated by their oppo-
nents. The troops of the Sultan have Of
fered little service towards quieting mat
ters, and certain authorities charge upon
the Turkish Soldiery the giving assistance
to the Druse side. Meanwhile, panic had
seized the Christian Turks, as many as
$4,000 were said to have sought the refuge
of a Mediterranean port, and had coEgrega-
ted in great numbers at Beyrout. Every
mail brought in fresh rumors from differ
ent quarter of the helpless congregations
of masses of Christians on the one hand,
and their threatned attack by their enemies
on the other. Many French papers were
earnestly urging upon Government the ne
cessity Of cooperating with England and
Russia to coutirm the integrity of the En-
pire, forwards which so much blood and
treasure was sacrifceed four years ago
Others are clamoring for the dismember-
ment and subjugation of the country that
forms the exception TO the progress of Eu-
rope. The Porte has addressed letter to
France and England, while all the muster,
military, naval and diplomatic, has been
going on, in which he promises to restore
peace to the country, punish the guilty par
ties and render Justice 10 all. In regard
TO the inter vention of France aud Eng
land, nothing definite is reported. The
rumors are coufrmatory 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 employ
ment foI the army, and fresh excitement
for the rising discontents in the French ma
tion, will undertake the office of protector
of the faith in Syria.