The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-06
The Last Of the Circassians.

The extirpation and virtual humiliation
Of a'people by foreign arms, constitutes
one of the most revolving acts of tyranny
on the part Of the oppressor, and the most
touching act Of humiliation in an oppressed
and depressed people, which the student of
the march and decadencc of nations is
compelled to contemplate. The senti.
ment Of nationality and the national home.
stead isas natural, permanent and useful
rs the strongest OF the natural affections ::
not to feel it is to be an migrate; not to
rncpant il ito ha .-rahla-0- Id L..
been called the Niobe of nations. But
another people, at thehands Of the Autocrat
power, has been more terribly mutilat d,
and at last annihilatsd. Cireassia is no
longer a nation; the brave Circassian race
exists no longer as a people, save as flying
fugitives from their native soil, seeking an
asylum in Turkey and elsewhere. This
people, it will be recolected, inhabited the
mountain region extending along the cast
Of the Black Sea-. They were military
people by inclination, but agriculturalsts
from necessity. They were rude sons of
the mountains, bold, daring and free. They
were scrt of North American Indians.
only in a little more advanced stage of rude
progress.
"A few years since their estimated nun
bers were some 100000. The struggle for
their subjugation, and their wars in defence
of their rights, commenced as far back as
the year 1900, when Georgia was wrested
from the Circassians and made an appen-
dage Of the Russian Empire. The great
era Of their defence commenced, however,
inls23, when Kasi Molot and Schamyi
united their strength, and summoned, as
with the voice of a trumpet sounding
through the mountain ranges, the energies
Of the people for the protection of their
firesides and their homes. In 1888 Kasi
Was slain in battle at Himri. Schamyl
succeeded to the command, and made a
brave defence for many years, but was e.
nally captured, and is now paroled pris-
oner of war in Russia, with the pala,ial
privileges of his rank conceded to him.
More than 100000 of the population are
said to have persisted in the defence of the
national dominions, bat, alas in vain. By
the recent surrender of the only remaining
stronghold, at Vandar, the last hope Of
Circassia has perishcd II national spirit
is not broken, the cohesive spirit OF nation
atty has been routed out, and the entire
population are quitting the country to find
rest in foreign lands.
So has come at last the end Of brave
and heroic people. The only ground on
which wise man can read Of such nation
n crimes, against the sacred Law Of ma
tionality, without denouncing the race Of
man, and losing faith in the moral govern
ment Of the world, is the assurance that
there. is an oyerruling Providence, who
tempers the wind to the shorn lamb and.
IN the event, turns the destruction intend
cd for the weak upon the head Of the guilty
oppressor Of nations. Poland and Circas.
STA may fall before superior foe; the Pole
and ,C;rcassian may become the Wandering
Jew Of nations. But the great Northern
Bear cannot always hope to range uncheck-
ed through the forest. Exccsses of tyran-
ny beget excuses Of retribution. The law
of retaliation is the law of nature towards
tyrants. History is crowded with demon
stations Of the certainty Of that law. Time
sets al things right.