New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-24
SYRIA.

qTIr
EsTANT COLLEGE
Prom our Special Correspondent . 80,
BEIRUT SYRIA Dec. q, 1863
TIE exciting topic in Syrian circles still continues
20 be+be Jaffa colony The financial crisis in Beirut
the meteoIic shower Of last month, the new oIPIeS
sioDs and exactOns Of the Turkish Government
seem for the time forgotten and all eyes arc tuii,ou
to the strange phenomenon OF the American III 'lOD
of the sacred soil of Palestine. 1t is curious 10 near
the questions of the Syrian population as 10 inc
origin and objects of this remarkable colony ooihe
INQUIRE whether they are Christians or jews "neh
told they are Christians they ask whether tney "le
Protestants OF Greeks for say they they OaPuAo ~
immersion as do the Greeks, and yet IeJocC iii'nV
baptism which the. Greeks accept AnOther VIII Say
1vo have heard of Moslems turning Christians, OF
Greeks turning Protestants, MarOhltoS 'uinine
Greeks of Druses turning Mosems, but we never
hoard before Of Christians turning Jews for we I'M
derstand that these Amercanees" say they are Oh
the children of Ephraim, and, therefore, hneai
descendants of Abraham. Others ask what their
business is for say they, we hear that some are
blacksmiths some are carpenters, farmers, masohs'
doctors and clergymen. One man asked me whether
il WIS true as he had heard that they were Southern
Rebels expelled by the Government OF the united
States for treason Another man came to me ana re-
marked that the conduct of the coloniSts filled him
with amazement, for, sad he, the older American
residents in Syria have o high character for pru-
dence and caution in all business affairs, but these
colonists have expendedan enormous sum oil money
in purchasing land at exOrbitant price, whereas
by leasing the land for term of years they could
have saved their capital to eXpend on improvements
and the support of their families.
Those of lis who know Syria and the Syrians' ana
have lived long in this trying climate forcsaw from
~. If
based ON religious enthusiasm and engineered by
man not characterized by broad and liberal views
and who was inexperienced in Eastern life and
unwilling TO ask or accept advice, must end III
inevitable disaster. Letters and protests of the
strongest character were sent 10y various parties IN
Syria and Palestine both TO the public journals III
the United States and to the Home Government, set
ting forth the difficulties in the way and the certain
disappointment awaiting all who should embark IN
the enterprise and begging all sObcr-minded men
and women to count well the cost before rsking
their earthly all in sech QuiXotic scheme. The
State Department communicated some Of these let
ters to President Adams, the ruling spirit OF tins
strange religious sect, before the departure OF the
colony from the United States. The reply Of Presi-
dent Adams was in the form of ridculc and the Ian
guage of his newspaper at the time with reference 10
the United States Government, was what might have
The colony came, and saw and it remains TO be seen
whether they will conquer or be conquered The
last news, however from Jaffa, indicates that the
word "vici" Will never be written on President
Adamss escutcheon. The plain fact is that the col
ony is already breaking up. In three months time
one-tenth of their whole number have died. OF tho
survivors, a large part arc in actual suffering DIS
satisfaction of which l spoke in my last has
greatly increased, and as l then predicted bns
necessitated the interpOstiou of tho United States
| Consul at Jerusalem, This gentleman, Col. Beau
! boucher lost a foot in Grants army at the battle
| of Cold Harbor and, though but four years resi-
dent of the United States, lie spent three OF thom
in fighting for Union and Freedom. lie is a braye
and honorable man, and of a generous and humane
disposition and American citizens in the United
States who may be 80 unfortunate to have friends
and relatives in the EphIamatic fold of President
Adams may rest assured that our Consul at Jerusalem
will leave nothing undOnet to furnish oil thc assistance
and relief in his power to those who would otherwise
suffer from want of the neccssaries of life. Daring
! the past week this worthy gentleman has spent
several days Jaffa receiving the evidence OF these
poor people with regard 10 their wrongs and suffer-
ngs 1t fills with s0TIOw and indignation 60 see
his own cOuntTymen in a foreign land, where the
climate the elements, and the native population aro
equally to be dreaded made the victims Of the rash
/
their own leader and spiritual head Ii makes us who
| are Americans and are proud Of country and our
| name long to hide our heads with shame when Turks
and Arabs report to us with sneer tho sclndalOus
stories which current with regard TO tho state of
things in the Jaffa Colony. / hope TO send you in
my next letter detailed report of the testimony IN
| this most melancholy affair Many Of the families
are crying for bread and begging fox Government aid
to secure them some cheap means Of transportation
home to their native land There has been disgrace
| full and outrageous msmanagement somewhere.
! Who is responsible for all this wrong aud suffering
will appear whenever the report Of Consul Beau
boucher shall he made public. No one can envy him
/ this most nvidiOus task No complaints can be more
bitter and no dissatisfaction more intense, than those
arising among the disappointed victims of a colonial
scheme in far distant land; and VIII bespeak for
Consul the sympathy aud 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 can do will be to advise them 20
return TO United States soon possible, and if
their means prove TO be actually exhausted, it will
become the imperative duty of our Government TO
provide them with the necessary transportation is
done IN tho case OF sailors shipwrecked Oh foreign
shores.
1t has been distinctly announced by members OF
the colony in Jaffa that many more OF thor cOre-
giOnists expecting soon to join them 1t IL to be
hoped that sober reason may reach them before they
take so rash step In the name OF our common NJ.
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 bust
TO be passed lightly II is serious for the
deluded victims who come to Palestine expecting TO
find it land flowing with milk and honey, and u
will be serious business for our Government, if
Obliged TO furnish home transportation TO starving
colony OF Its citizens in foreign land.
That colony founded on sound principles, and
managed with justice and economy, might succeed
at Jaffa Is possible. Tho soil is rich. the fruits of
the earth abundant, and although there alo many
poor throughout the East l have never heard of a
single who starved to DEATH and 10 can ONLY bo
through folly knavery that r. company Of able
lioIN Nor. Hn Il