Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-08
09io Statesuran,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
The Ohio Statesman Company,
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE s
A Nation Exterminated.

For twenty-five or thirty years the noble
Circassian race, inhabiting the mountainous
region extending along the northeast coast
OF the Black Sea, has maintained an unequal
strife with the whole power of the Russian
Empire; but at last letter from Constanti-
nople Informs us of the capitulation OF Var
dar, their last stronghold, and that the en-
tire population is seeking an asylum in
Turkey. Here is a people which, like Po-
land, Is stricken from the Ii 1t of nationali-
| ties, and the Russian Gar is the instrument
by which the work is accomplished. In
this connection brief retrospect of the his
tory of the Circassians may be timely. A
Russian estimate few years ago gave the
total population as about 100000; but as
nearly as can be Judged from the number of
refugees now claiming the protection of a
friendly Government, something like 100,-
600 must have since perished In the despe-
rate encounters which have crimsoned ev-
cry valley of their mountain land. Being
warriors from choice, and agriculturists
only from necessity, and evincing pas
sionate attachment to their native rocks
the Russians have retired before them in
many a contest. The struggle to effect
their reduction has been unceasing since
the year 1900. when Georgia was annexed
to the dominions of the Gar; but it was
Molat, aided by the youthful Shamyl, or
ganized u formidable resistance. At the
end of ten years Kasi was slain at Ilimri.
which was taken by storm after every one
of its defenders had perished. The brave
Shamvl was elected his successor, and con =
tinucd the conflict with varying fortunes.
He was one of the most remarkable men
that the world has produced. Uniting in
himself the characters of Il warrior and a
priest. he commanded the vencratiOn, while
he welded the passion of his people. They
loved. revered. and obeyed him implicitly.
His loss was their death blow. since from
the day of his capture dates the downfall
to final suhjugation. Shamyl. with his fam
ily. occupies palace in Russia. still under
military surveillance, but enjoying the pre-
rogative of noble captive.
The scenes attending the arrival of the
Circassian refugees on the shores of the
Euxine, destitute and tamishing. are de-
scribed as exceedingly painful; and not less
narrowing is the desperate frenzy with
! which they crowd the few transports sent
! to their resclr-choOsing to risk Il direlul
pestilence on shipbOard. rather than remain
longer with the hated opprcssor. 1t Is men-
toned that ont of 600 who took passage OH
Il steamer. after voyage OF three days.
only $40 arrived mt their destination. III
'rrebizOnde alone. 27.000 of these wretched
people have already sought shelter, and
these are but the vanguard of 100000. seek
ing transportation to the Turkish coast. sc
great is the demand for vessels. that thr
Sultan contemplates disarming some of the
men-of-war, Unemployment in this service.
| A CORRESPONDENT of the London Times at
Constantinople says:
Il do not wish to excite unnecessary h0r-
rOr by a faithful description of the awful
visitation which has fallen upon the Crcas-
sian race: indeed, no description, however
minute and accurate, could convey sense
of the fearful sufierings of this now pro-
scribed people; but should be falling in
public duty if l did not put upon record
the dreadful calamity of which have seen
abundant evidence. / have been appealed
to. moreover, from every quarter, to give
publicity to this awful state of things, as q
means of concentrating attention on SUBJ
iect the present and future Importance OF
which is great, and in the hope, also, that il
may elicit some manifestation of public
| sympathy"
The Turkish government is doing all in
| its power to meet the pressing eAigency.-
The Sultan has given from his private purse
tie munilcent sum of S250,000. Others
give according to their ability. 1t is also
proposed to draft some 10000 men into the
army; and as further relief. large num-
bers ultimately may be employed in the
culture of cotton. So there is fair pros
pect of the whole, after some delay and in
describable suffering, finding a home among
those who, though strangers. profess the
same religious belief and worship witt
their faces toward Mecca. II e disaster
which has thus plunged an entire nation
into pauperism, with its concomitants o.
famine and disease, is fearfully aggravated
by the suddenness and completeness of the
overthrow. For the moment every resuur
is overpowered. History presents few sui
examples.-JOm Of Commerce.