The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-28

President Adams. -sss-.-- ~
BEIRUT, Syria, Dec. q, 1866.
The exciting topic in Syrian circles still con-
Times to be the Jaffa colony. The financial
month. the new expressions and exactions of
the Turkish Government seem for the time for
gotten, and all eyes are turned to the STRANGE
phenomenon of the American invasion of the
sacred soil OF Palestine. 1t is curious to hear
the quesuons OF the Syrian population as to
the origin and objects of this remarkable colo
ny. Some inquire whether they are Chris
tans or jews. When told they are Christians
they ask whether they are Protestants or
Greeks, for say they, they baptize by immer-
sion as do the Greeks, and yet reject infant
baptism which the Greeks accept. Another
will say, we have heard of Moslems turning
Christians, OF Greeks turning Protestants,
Maronites turning Greeks, of Druses tnrhIns
Moslems. but we never before heard OF Sn 1ts.
tians turning Jews for we understand 'ni1
these "Americanees" say that they are OF the
children of Ephraim, and, therefore,, nneai oe
scendants of Abraham Others ask whilt oheil
business is, for, say they, we near thsat some
are blacksmiths, some are carpenters, farmers,
masons. doctors and clergymen. One man |
asked me whether it was true, as he had heard,
that thew were Southern Rebels expelled by
the Government of the United States for trea-
son. Another man came to me and remarked
that the conduct of the coionlsts hiled him with
amazement. for, said he, the older American
residents in Syria have high character for
prudence and caution in all business affairs.
but these colonists have expended an enormous
sum of money in purchasing land at an exor-
bitant price, whereas by leasing the land for
term ofyears they could have saved their capital
to expend ON improvements and the support OF
the powerful. "
Those Of us who know Syria and the Syrians,
and have lived long in this trying climate
foresaw from the outset that an enterprise OF
this magnitude, based on religious enthusiasm
nINd kaIx>
broad and liberal views and who was inexperi-
enced in Eastern life and unwilling to ask or
accept advice, must end in inevitable disaster.
Letters and protests OF the strongest charac-
ter were sent by various parties in Syria and
Palestine, both to the public Journals in the
United States and to the Home Government,
setting forth the difficulties in the way and the
certain disappointment awaiting all who should
embark in the enterprise, and begging all So
ber-minded men and women to count well the
cost before risking their earthly all in such a
Quixotic scheme. The State Department
communicated some of these letters to Presi-
dent Adams. the ruling spirit of this strange
religious sect, before the departure of the colo
ny from the United States. The reply of Pres
ident Adams was in the form of ridicule, and
the language of his newspaper at the time,
with reference to the United States Govern
ment was what might have been expected of
Brigham Young or DANTE elder The colo
ny came, and saw, and it remains to be seen
WueCner Un6y Will COuQuer Or Dc COuquefeu.-
The last news, however, from Jaffa, indicates
that the word "vici" will never be written
on President Adams's escutcheon.-
The plain fact is that the colony is already
breaking up. In three months time one-tenth
of their whole number have died. Of the sur
vivors, large part are in actual suffering
Dissatisfaction, of which spoke in my last has
greatly increased, and, as then predicted has
necessitated the interposition OF the United
States Consul at Jerusalem. This gentleman,
nj Lost foo+ r. Grnr ~
at the battle of Cold Harbor, and, though but
four years resident of the United States he
spent three of them in fighting for Union and
Freedom. He is brave and honorable man,
and of a generous and humane disposition, and
American citizens in the United States who
may be so unfortunate as to have friends and
relatives in the Ephraimitic fold of President
Adams may rest assured that our Consul at
Jerusalem will leave nothing undOne to fur
nish all the assistance and relief in his power
to those who would otherwise suffer from want
of the necessaries OF life. During the past
week this worthy gentleman has spent several
DAYS in Jaffa receiving the evidence of these
poor people with regard to their wrongs and
sufferings. 1t fills one with sorrow and indig-
nation to see his own cOuntrymen in foreign
land, where the climate, the elements, and the
native population are equally to be dreaded
made the victims of the rashneSs and ineffic-
iency-not to use a stronger term-of their
own leader and spiritual head. 1t makes us
try and our name, long to hide our heads with
shame when Turks and Arabs report to us
with sneer the scandalOus stories which are
current with regard to the state of things in
the Jaffa Co ony. hope to send you in my
next letter detailed report Of the testimony in
This most melancholy affalr Many or the fam
lilies are crying for bread and begging for Gov
eminent aid to secure them some cheap means
of transportation home to their native iand-
There has been disgraceiul and outrageous
N a m SOmpyharp Wbn 10
sible tor all this wrong and suffering will ap-
pear whenever the report of Consul Beaubouch-
er shall be made pubic. No one can envy him
this most invldious task. No complaints can
be more bitter, and no dissatisfaction more in
tense, than those arising among the disap-
pointed victims of colonial scheme in fan
distant land; and 1 will bespeak for our Con-
sui the sympathy and forbearance of all up-
right men, IN his endeavors to secure even
handed Justice for the members OF this Colony
The best and kindest thing he cando will be to
advise them to return to the United States as
soou as possible, and if their means prove to be
actually exhausted, it will become tine impera-
tive duty of our Government to provide them
with the necessary nspOrtation, as is done
in the case OF sailors shIpwrecked on foreign
shores. ~ l-e i- i
1t has been distinctly announced by mem
bers OF the colony IN Jaffa that many more of
their co-relgionsts are expecting soon to
join them. IL is to be hoped that sober reason
may reach them before they take SO rash a
STEP In the name of our common humanity,
1 entreat the editors of your journal to lift up
the voice OF warning. At least, let me urge
any who cherish this plan to wait long enough
to hear both sides of the question. 1t is too
serious business to be passed lightly over
1t is serious for the deluded victims who come
to Palestine expecting to find it land flow
ing with milk and honey, and it will be a
serious business for our Government, fobliged
to furnish home transportation to starving
colony of its citizens in a foreign land. Goo
That colony founded on sound principles
and managed with justice and economy might
succeed at Jaffa, is possible. The soil is rlch
the fruits of the earth are abundant and
although there are many poor throughout the
East, l have never heard of single man who
starved to death, and it can only be through
folly or knavery that company of able-bodied
New-Englanders should be brought to such
extremity in so short period OF time. One
explanation is that the whole community paid
over their entire property into the hands of
their religious leader or President,as lac STYLES
himself. He has invested it in way to suit |
himself, and while the colony have possession of
a large tractof land, and have built several
frame houses, they have not the means on hand
for supporting their families until the next har-
vest, which is still i've months distant. Pres-
dent Adams ought to be OBLIGED to raise the
means an once for supporting these so families
fit should become necessary for that end to
sell large portion of their property.
One part of the colonists throw the blame on
Mr.. Lowenthal, the United States Vice-Con-
SUI in Jaffa, and another part blame President |
Adams. 1t is, to say the least unfortunate
that an American citizen could not have been |
found to take the office of Vice Consul at Jaffa
at this critical juncture But none were to be |
found, and the Consul at Jerusalem, to whom |
the Vice-Consul at Jafta is subordinate, had to |
make the best use Of the material on the |
ground. Mr.. Lowenthal may be & BOD man |
for all 1 know, but his official position will not |
shield him from a searching examination if the |
evidence in the case snail require it. Consul
will see that justice is done,
come what may, .and it is to be hoped that the |
government at home will abundantly sustain |
MIN at this hour of complication such as no
Consul in the East has ever before been called
to deal with.
THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE ITALIAN Gov
Italian Government says a
Florence letter writer, is one of the greatest
publishers in Europe, and this is the time of |
year when volume after volume of imposing
magnitude, ample margin and portly type issue
from its press. Official persons, senators, dep
uties and others to whom all these publications
ire sent, need a set of bookshelves ON purpose
or their storage. The thing is done in a most
LIBERAL way, with great profusion of paper,
md it is said that about 60000 900 francs are an
1ually expended in government printing and
publishing. Possibly means might be found of
siI Ia ~ |