Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-31

A NATIONAL DETERMINATIoW

f FOR twenty-five or thirty years the No
, bic CIrcassian race, inhabitinr the n,orr
a tanGouS region along the northeast coas
ol inc tiack Sea, has maintained an une
qual STRIFE with the entire power of tbr
E Husslan Umpire, but at last q letter from
! Constantlnople Informs us of the capitu
latloh OF Vardar, their last STRONGHOLD
and that the entire population is seekip,
an asylum in Turkey. Here is peopll
which, like Poland, is stricken from In,
list Of nationalities, and the Russian CIa,
IS Inc instrumeGt by which the work i,
accomplished. In this oornaofion n briei
retrospect Of the history Of the Circasslans
may be timely: -
a Russian estimate few years ago gave
the total population as about 400, 600 but
as nearly as can be judged from the mum.
Der Of refugees now claiming the protect
ion of friendly Government, some 100.
OOO must have since perished in the des-
perate encounters which have crimsoned
every valley of their mountain land. Be-
ing warriors from choice, and agricultur-
lists only from necessity, and always evin-
eng passionate attachment to their ma
tive rocks, the Russians have retired be-
lore them In many contest.-The strug-
gle to effect their reduction has been un
ceaSlng since $500, when Georgia was au-
neXed to the dominions of the Car; but
It was not until 1923, when chieftain
named hasi Molat, aided 10y the youthful
Shamyl, organized formidable resistance.
Az the end of ten years Kasi was slain at
lIlmri, which was taken by storm after
every one of its defenders had perished.
hroun ,ul "a, Inl l. :,
or, and continued the conflict with the
varying fortunes. lie was one of the most
remarkable men that the world has pro-
duced. Uniting in himself the character
OF warrior and priest, he commanded
the veneration, while he welded the pas
sions of the people. They loved, revered,
and oboyed him implicitly. His loss was
their death blow, since from the day Of
his capture dates the downfall to final
subjugation. Shamyl, with his family,
occupies palace in Russia, still under
military surveillance, but enjoying the
preogatives of noble captive.
The scenes attending the arrival Of the
Circassian refugees on the shores of the
Euxine, destitute and iamishing, are de-
scribed as exceedingly painful and not
less narrowing in the desperate frenzy
with which they crowd the few transports
sent to their rescue-choosing 10 risk a
dreful pestilence on shipboard rather
thessGfn'oin longer with the hated op-
who took passage on stoatuer,' 0EGpp
voyage Of three days only $40 arrived at
their destination. In Trcbizondo alone
$1,000 Of these wretched people have al
ready soughta shelter, and these are but
the vanguard of 100000 seeking transpor-
tation TO the Turkish coast-so q eat is
the demand for vessels that the Sultan
contemplates dsRrming some of tho men
ol-war, for employment in this service. /
correspondent Of the London Times at
Constautinoplo seys:
al do not wish TO excite unnecessary
horror 10y faithful description of the aw-
full visitation which has fallen upon the
Crcassian race; indeed, no description,
however minute and accurate, could con
vey sense OF the fearful suflerings of this
now proscripted people; but should be
failing Of public duty if did not put up
on record the dreadful calamity Of which
| have such abundant evidence. have
been appealed to, however, from every
quarter, to give publicity to this awful
state of things as a means of concentrating
attention on the subject tho present and
tutur importance Of which is great, and
in the hope, also, that it may elicit some
manifestation of public sympathy"
The Turkish Government is doing all
in its power to meet the pressing eXigen-
cy. The Sultan has given from his pri-
vate purse the mnnifcent sum of $3.50, 600
Others give according 10 their ability. 1t
is also proposed to draft some 10000 men
into the army and as further relief,
large numbers ultimately may be employ
ed in the culture Of cotton. So there is a
fair prospect Of the whole, after somo de-
lay, and indiscribaJlo suffering, finding C.
home among those who, though strangers,
profess the same religious belief and wor-
ship with their faces towards Mecca. The
disaster which has thus plunged an en-
tire nation into pauperism, with its con-
comitants of famine and disease, is fear
fully aggravated by the suddenness and
completeness of tie overthrow. For tle
moment every resource is overpowered.-
History presents few such examples
BErA young woman had been convert
ed at camp-meeting The minister had
told her that if she had faith, tho Lord
would give her whatever she would ask in
nrover. Believing implicitly in his words