The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-27
Persecution OF the Christians i'm Syria.

auu AEdUS. "A correspondent VI InS A|oS
ton Traueller writes from Beirut, under
date of June 6, that he had counted from
his window, on the previous week, from
twenty to thirty burning villages upon the
mountains, within few miles from that
place. and that the flashes and volleys OF
firearms were seen and heard in rapid sue.
! cession. The Christians have suffered most.
On both sides it is war of determination.
The American missionaries on Mount Leb-
anon were greatly exposed, but had suffered
only for want of provisions. The American
Consul had in some cases sent guards for
their protection. Their houses are asylums
for the wounded and the timid. Wherever
the American flag isseen waving, multitudes
flock to it for safety. The missionaries dis
tribute much bread to the hungry. 1t is
estimated at the British Consulate that not
fewer than sixty villages had been burnt !;
and it was believed that these excuses
would call for the intervention of the Euro.
pean Powers.
The Traveller Of the 10th of July has ad-
vices from Beirut, Syria, of June 16. We
quote one paragraph from the letter, show
ing the terrible state of affairs at the Amer
lean mission stations
The fall OF Habeyia, an American mis-
sionary station, would furnish ample mate
rial for book of horrors 1t contains q
large Protestant community and fine
church edi6ce. 1t is situated near the
source Of the river Jordan, and had several
thousand inhabitants. 1t was for some
time besieged, but the contest commenced
in earnest on Friday, the 9Th inst, and con-
tinued for three days. The Druses were de-
feated and driven back, and the town was
wholly occupied by the Christians. Then
came in Turkish treachery to give success
to the Druses. The commander of the
Turkish troops stationed at that place, un-
der pretense of aiding the Christians, in.
duced them to feign retreat towards the
castle, promising to fire upon the Druses
with his cannon. The Christians did as
they were desir ID !; the commander fred
blank cartridges only twice and then ceased.
The retreat became real, and the deceived
Christians sought refuge in the castle. Up.
on their arrival the commander required
them to deliver their arms, which they sur
rendered to him. He then allowed them to
enter, after compelling each one to say,
May God give success to the Sultan" He
gave their arms to some muleteers, under
the pretense of sending them to Damascus,
bat soon after put them in the possession of
Druses. The unarmed were then turned
over to the tender mercies of the Druses,
who butchered large number and burned
the town, including all the American church
property. Several hundreds of the Chris
tians sought refuge with the Moslem Emeers
of Habeyia, who were enemies of the Dru-
ses. They remained in the palace for sew
eral days, when the Emeers were obliged to
surrender for want of provisions. Thirty
of the Emeers were killed, and more than
eight hundred Christians avere led out and
slaughtered like sheep.
The Christians of Rasheya were induced,
by false promises of protection, to surrender
to the Druses. The following horrible
scenes are described IN letter to the Amer.
lean Consul at Damascus, as occurring after
the surrender:
Peace did not continue for more than a
quarter of an hour, when they began to
burn the town, and fire upon US in the be-
ginning OF the night 1t was dreadful
! hour; they killed the men, cut the children
in pieces, throwing them into the fire, vio>
lated the women, and plundered the prop.
erty. If any men reached you, they are
all that remain. They took the arms of the
murdered; we who are still alive are at the
seraglio without food, having no homes, as
! the town has been burned into ashes, and
the Druses come every day and demand the
/ remainder of the women and children to
butcher them. If we do not die of hunger
we may die of fear, if they allow us to live
until Thursday. The soldiers cannot pro-
tee. as there are not many. As for the
| priests, only two of them remain, one oil
whom is blind. As for the men, none re-
main but those who may reach you"
This terrible state of affairs is likely to
continue until the Christians of Syria are
exterminated. The Traveller correspondent
writing at Beirut says:
I Every Consul has bis own policy and his
own instructions to carry into execution
The English are determined to sustain the
Turkish Government, and to sustain the
Druses, however much it may deplore the
enormities perpetrated by them. Its policy
requires that this empire shall remain in the
hands of weak Government, in order that
the British possessions in India may not be
| imperi lied. France and Russia would be
willing to see the country divided. Austria
has but little influence and the policy of
our American Consul is to protect all
American citizens, and to avoid all inter-
ference in the politics of the country other
than that dictated by humanity for the re.
lief OF the starving and prosecuted Chris
tians.
If the same want of unanimity exists
among the Ambassadors at Constantinople
upon this question, nothing will be done for
poor suffering Syria, until Congress shall
settle this vexed question at once and for
ever.