Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-02
Foreign Correspondence of the Free Press
LETTER FROM TURKEY.

Dsar Free Press:
The ihickening and pressing eases
AMI duties of my missionary life have too long
kept me from talking with you aud your read
ers. 10 thought l often find myself drifting
across the continents and seas tina; lie between
and ,rayersing the scenes Of my boyhoOd and
college days, not by any means forgetting the
time stood at the case in your printing
office. And although would net exchange my
present position and work, full as It is OF depri-
yations land trials-for the best home and
business in all the world; still as much a. Is
possible by correspondence and kind remem-
brance, I wish always to live in the hearts and
homes Of ny native land. am proud to be
called an American, more than ever 50 since the
triumphant and glorious conclusion other late
war. II I we're to live here thousand years,
never for once setting eyes on my native land, l
would still be to the last, as to my nationality,
an American, citizen Of the United States,
and nothing else.
Well. you are a city now. When saw you
last, you we're nothing but a country village
wonder what visible change this has wrought
Probably something like that which boy IN
dergoes in dofing his roundabouts for the long
coat Of a man. or girl in laying aside her
short dresses and putting on the long skirts Of
woman. Or perhaps you would like the illus
trition better if should say you had exchanged
the froliesome, needless manners Of a boy, for
the thoughtful dignifed air Of self-dependent
man. | dare say should SEE something Of this
change in the countenances Of your citizens,
could walk your streets to-day; indeed fancy
I discover something Of it in the columns
Of The FREE Pass.
congratulate You most heartily on this eu-
/ spicious change. With an honest and Efficient
government, and an sure the intelligent pub
/ Tic spirited citizens Of Burlington would have
10 other sort-your city must soon see far
greater prosperity than 1t has ever heretofore
enjoyed
TIE CIECAssIAS DuGEATiaN-
But began this letter with the intention Of
telling You something about Turkey. You are
familiar with the particulars Of the conquest Of
the Cireassiaus by the Russians and their con-
sequeat emigration to this country. This emf
grafton has been under the direction and the
expense Of the Russian and Turkish govern
ments. Tn, Russian government takes them to
the boundary between the two countries, and
then the Turkish government takes and provides
Tor them until they are finally located and
settled.
The manner IN which this emigration has
been managed well illustrates the stupidity and
sbort-sightein,ss Of this government The EN-
grants come in carts OF On foot OF horseback.
their horses and cattle foraging on the country,
They are attended by Turkish officers who take
from the villages the food necessary for the en-
grants, promising to pay for il. and probably
having government money in their pockets with
which TO 10 50, but prefering to keep this money
for themselves. they barely give anything to the
I villagers. 1T the same time, the Circassiars,
dissatisfied with their ra;ious steal all they can
lay their hands on, So that the poor villagers
are ground as between the upper and neither
mill-Itoues BY the stupidity ofthe government
they we're allowed to come fully armed, brlstling
with daggers, pistols and guns. It also allowed
large bodies Of them TO accumulate at certain
points. 50 that it was easy for them to inaugur-
ate reign Of terror over the villages; and the
cities even we're not free from danger. During
the sumner and autumn all exposed property,
such as hay and unharyesiel grain, required q
strong guard night and day. And even then
the guard was often attacked by these armed
barbArians, and either driven of or murdered,
and the property seized.
Near Moosh, city some hundred miles south
Of this city, are two Armenian monasteries. One
Of them Is built where according to Armenian
tradition, the body (not including the ksaa) Of
John the Baptist was buried. The second Of
these Monasteres, not far from the first, is bull;
on the spot, where, according the tradition, as
the body Of the Baptist was borne along, one Of
the fingers fell and was buried This is called
the Finger Monastery" Both those Monster
les are widely eelebrated-pilgrims visit them
from all parts Of the world, depositing costly
offerings.
The Circassiaus, encampei in large numbers
in the vicinity Of these MOnasteries, could not
fail to coyet their great wealth. They therefore
attacked the Finger Monastery" killed one Of
the Monks and seized a great amount Of booty
This outrage and many others Of similar
nature-the increasing insecurity Of life and
property-at last aroused the sluggish Turkish
officers to DO something to save the country
from wholesale slaughter and rapine at the
hand Of those merciless Wretchts. The Pashs
Of this city ordered them to be disarmed. And
it should be SAID to the credit Of this Pasha
that his order was executed with great skill.
So quietly were all arrangements made that the
Circassians near this city found themselves sur
rounded by soldiers before they dreamed what
was going on. They saw that resistance was
VAN and Immediately Obeyel the order to give
up their arms. In other places where the Cir
clssians we're more numerous and the display Of
soldiers less imposing, they made a show Of re-
sistance; but after being fired into once or
twice they concluded that discretion was the
better part Of yalOr, and quietly obeyed
With ordinary expedition these immigrants
might have reached their destination and been
settled last Fall. But the slow and purpOseless
action Of the government kept them waiting
here and there until winter came upon them,
and shelter Of some kind must be found for
them Immediately. They were therefore placed
in empty houses scattered through the cities
and villages, to live at the expense Of the gov
eminent, or what is worse, en- the poor villagers.
With difficulty will they be able to reach their
destination, which is said to be in the vicinity
of Diarbekir, in Eseason to make crop the
coming season, 50 that for another whole year
they will likely to eat the government ratOns. \
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