New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-05
THE AMERICAN COLONY AT JAFFA.

To ne Editor Of The TRIBUNE
SIR: In your issue of the 18th inst, III the letter
of your Constannorc correspondent reflections are cast
unop worthy and widely known gentleman of this city,
and the accredited agent of Government to nvest
cate and report in relation TO the affairs of this colony
which seem to his friends to be gratultOu5 and unfair
In the letter alluded Secretary OF state Is cehSuc
for choosing unfit agent, and the agent himself anu
his work condemned, while yet no report mas beeh
made by him. and official statement OF INC ic'S VI Ho
case been given 10 the public.
While our newspapers have contained various and con
cting reports regard to this colony its history ana
prospects, and the character and antecedens oil ADAMS
its founder and chcfmanager not much information thaV
is trustworthy and consistent has as yet come before inc
nuc One fact known TO some and recognized by your
correspondent ought not to be overlooked IN the absence
Of Trustworthy and full data for impair tia Judgment
and that is that fierce quarrel early arose between
Adams and our YiceCOusul at Jaa each accusing the
other of gross misconduct and each striving to create
publio sentiment in favor Of himself How far all these
adverse reports reference to Adams and the interests
of the colony originate in this personal quarrel IL Is not
for the writer to say though it is known that the wee
Consul has been busy in vaety of ways to damage ana
IN break III, the colony 1t IS also known that while tho
colony is OutwaTdy prosperous 70 all appearance my
fallen into seriOns internal dssensons, ana ~ oN1u
two factions, one for ana tho othef against "r
Your correspondent says:
parties appealed everybody within re,eh 20 the co.'al at
Beyoot the Minister Conssn,nope the Turkish Goy9of At eIa
. aSeI MT f Biss Of d '' E 5
s % b M motifs has nov ordered Mr. johnson
u Beyo 50 iaaa and look ,ato ae Whole @ INK NJ
gentleman who knows the county si Who dsers to have
eeiyed at tru and very singular that Mr seward d nc'
appoint a on b. n R+ Of s ss Ss q
in protesting beforehand ssn any report which Mr b"eH maj
make Dc., that Ii, investigations have been confined chiefly to
dining drawing Of Dir Adams and that he bases bis estimate
O. Soc Of The PSpBet Wbat would have been thought
Neworans Investigating Committee y ey ssd gee q e
nT dge ma, ae[ 1 I Sa1s ss rtpo
and has verbally e5pd very nHYn conclusions 9 whe cone %
Scotch cn that he found only young woman sho vas a0 per
/ fcv coHtentel and happy"
The gentleman whose Official mission Is thus, both In its
methods and results, summaTy condemned, is the Rev
Walter H. Bidwel Of this city for the last 20 years Editor
and Proprietor Of The Eclectic Adgase and other porod
calls gentleman OF intelligence, proDity, and wide and
varied experience is appointment to this mission was
msOught by him. Few Americans have Travelled
oftener more extensively abroad than he and just
he was about to embark IN February last Tor tour IN
the East lac was surprised TO receive an Official appoint
ment from Washington to visit and examine into the AZ
fairs OF me jazz colony In % o. s Ggct ne
public meeting Of ne c0OiSs he put to them these ques
tOns Are yOu dissatisfied with your prospects 7" DO
you wish to return T. when every soul present voted NO
except one old woman who WAS "homesick ana wanted
to so back" This part Of the investigation not made
any magic influence which Adams had cxcrtcd over
the agent. The next morning he rode out to
the extensive fields Of wheat and other grain and cereals
which bid fair to yield a speedy and abundant harvest
with Mr. Bidwel, present al this public meeting and
his signature in the public newspapers confirms
subsequently, Mr.. Bldwe spent an entire week in
Cooking into the whole NATTER and then found ncces
could finish the work and satisfy his own mind. The
Consul absent and he had TO wait some days for his
return And this delayed his report which has not yet
been given TO the public Nothing s known Of the re-
suits Of his humane mission, for which the Government
deserves the thanks OF the nation, as well as OF these
poor coonsts and all American travellers to and residents
in the East aud what contained In private let
ter Immediately
As friend OF Mr. Bidwe complain that it Is palpa
bly, unfair TO arrign such mission before the bar OF
public opinion and condemn before he has been heard
In the TO protest beforehand against any report whch
Mr. BtdceH may make, is 10 violate every maxim Of law
and justice which rule in such candid mind Will
suspect and Justly the anmus OF writer who thus seeks
to PREJUDICE the case in the public mind His report viii
soon be made and then tho public can form their own
honor the judgment OF Mr. Seward in his choice OF
agent, and not accuse an honorable and well-known
Christian and fellow Of utter want Of com
mon sense and common fairness IN the discharge of
humane public trust. Adams may be and very likely Is
aregious imposer and lying decoiver and the colony
may come to grief because Of his deception and rascay;
but one who has known Mr.. b. intimately for years
is slow TO believe that he will do aught TO cover up his
niquy or conduct his Investigations any other prn
ciple than that Of fairness ana Justice.
do not understand me charging your correspondent
with Intentional unfairness. COnstantinOple a good
course and the agency which has actively sought
TO prejudice and fOresta public sentiment in NewYork,
may have done the same In ConstantnOpe.
For one, am glad to the interest widely felt IN
the fate of this colony. loath to believe that II Is
plant her colonies the shores of the Mediterranean.
and infuse her industries her living Christianity and
civilization into the dead life OF the ORIENT Great
changes are rapidly occurring that part of the world
The Turkish Power and the MOslem Faith which, for
many centuries, have ruled and cursed all that fair
gon Of earth are ready to fall TO pieces and in the
order Of things 1t will not be strange If the principle OF
rejoice 10 sec this great Western Republcthe epitome
Of modern thought and civilization and religion, and
social life and material pr0spery-taing tho lead In
such work. j. NJ. SHERWOOD
THE FREEDMAN's UNION CoMMIssToN.-The fol-