The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-04
Jcrusalem--Prosent and Future.

Crutn tnere may be IN the late report
to which the European correspond
ents at Belgrade have given currency
that while the Turkish council were
considering by what means they
might obtain money to defray the
expenses of the Sultan's visit to
Paris, proposal was made by one
of the high officers to sell Jerusalem
to Russia. and that Turkey is be-
lieved to be willing to sell both Jeru-
salem and Jaffa for 100, 100000 of
piasters. Even if the report be true,
which we are inclined to doubt, the
Western powers, upon whom Turkey
depends for protection against the
aggrandizing schemes of Russia,
would have something to say before
Russia would be permitted to obtain
possession of the Holy Land, and
Europe, which fought SO hard to ex-
pei the Turks from Jerusalem, might
fight rs hard again to keep them
there. Besides, the Sultan is, after
oil, only the nominal owner of the
land, for the Rothschilds, Monte
flores, and other wealthy Jews of
Europe, have liens upon it for money
loaned to Turkey to greater amount
than the finances of that Government
can ever repay. 1t is not likely,
therefore, in view of their equitable
ownership of the soil, that the Sub
lime Porte will undertake. to transfer
the property to Russia or any other
purchaser, or that, if it does, such
proceeding will be submitted to.
Whether the report be true or not,
we cannot but observe how often. OF
late, some event or circumstance is
mentioned i'll the European journals
calling attention to this most remark
able and interesting of all lands.
Ovcrrun successively by Assyrian,
Persian and Roman, and afterwards
subjected to the rule of the Saracen
and Moslem Turk, it has been, for.
the last l 800 years, destitute of ply
sical or moral fruitfulness, while vet.
the religious influences which pro
ceeded from it have survived the
lapse of ages, and live so strongly in
the hearts Of mankind that the men
ton Of Jerusalem has, to the Chris
tlan world. all the interest of house
hold name, while the children of
Israel, wherever scattered, will never
forget it till their right hand forgets
its cunning. There are some note
worthy facts in connection with mo-
dern Jerusalem, which give reason
for hope that something of its former
prosperity may again be restored.
There are numerous steamers plying
the Mediterranean, and putting into
Jaffa, good seaport, anciently called
Joppa, and, we believe, o railroad
from Joppa to Jerusalem, so that q
man can travel by steam from ali the
great commercial cities of tho world
almost, if not quite, to the walls of
the Holy City. The pecuniary inte-
rest which the Rothschilds and other
wealthy Israelitish capitalists have in
the country will form powerful i'm
pulse to efforts on their part to i'm
prove its condition and increase its
population, which is their only
chance Of realizing their investments.
These az two facts, taken together,
which give color to the idea that
those efforts will not be entirely with
ont success. Thus, we see, on one
hand, powerful influences desiring to
attract immigration; and, on the
other, dispersed through MI lands,
are people whose identity has been
mlraculously preserved, who abso-
lutely refuse to amalgamate with
other nations, who have no geopra-
phlcal ties which cannot be readily
relinqnished, and who, industrious
and prosperous, with their wealth in
n portable shape, and prevalent
conviction that their race will one
day return to their fatherland, stand
in an attitude of readiness, and,
many of them, of willingness, to aid
in restoring to its former prosperity
q land which is capable of recupera-
tion, and which was once the plorv