The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
r II Il e 4 8 r.
A Curious Chapter Of Recent
Turkish History.
The '6s Syrian Hilibustering Fiasoe- svria a.
side Question Of French Diplomaey-story Of
the 0Rsilly Revolt in Syria and Its Los.
scns-A Speculative Revolution-Mus-
tapha Fszil Psoha as Its Pro.
posed Figurslead- Scheme
Ruined by a Fiirtatione


am going 10 tell story which Is not particularly
hey-that Is to say, nearly all the facts which give
" point aud interest TRANSFERRED nearly year and o
hal ago But any story is new until It Is narrated
aad THIS one, although II may have been fully dis
oassed In certain interested diplomatic circles,
has never hitherto appeared In anything like q
complete shape In the columns Of a newspaper,
aud yet 1t possesses considerable interest," II not
from the intrinsic importance OF Its Incidents at
any rate from the curious and instructive manner
IN which 1t throws light upon the real condition or
seTurkish empire. The world is frequently assured
Shat the ''slck mani IL recovering his health and
Chat the various domntons OF the Sultan, however
widely difcring in the origin the religion and the
separations OF their Inhabitants are being welded
together into a compact mass. But this story shows
chat The tie OF union Is still SO weak that mere al
venturer In full possession of tsAenses and with
clear perception OF the chances OF success and failure
can dream OF wrestling province like Syria from
Tue immediate grasp OF the sultan, and OF forcing
the latter to recognize 1t as semi-independent
State. This story suggests, too. II 1t does not
demon strate that France still cherishes the project
which, II she had dared, she would have enforced in
1851 Immediately after the Syrian massacres, and
While her 'anny OF occupation" still held the north
rrn portion of the Holy Land-the project OF erect
ing syria into special goycrnment-whch, even II
~ Shculu HoluiHauy Iemuln CHuer the POrt should
b directly answerable to the Christian Powers for
ihe security and good government Of Syrian Chris.
tians.
HISTORY.
some four or five years ago one OF those restless
unscrupulous, daring spirits that, attracted by the
disorder ana CONFUSION Of Turkish government flock
from every country in Europe 10 Constantinoplo
1ound himself in very unpleasant position. An
ishman by BIRTH the son, Or according to some the
Drother OF Dublin attorney, this man, named Colonel
Ohelly, had been, in early life, private soldier In
sne English army, and had served through the Cr.
mean campaigns. At the close of that war, having
RISEN to the grade OF sergeant-he highest promotion
possible for non -commi> soned-oflicer and being
heartily disguised at the tamencss OF the career
open before him, he obtained his discharge ana ac
copied commission from the Sultan. In the Turk
ssn army he steadily worked up to the rank OF COLO
mel, winning by the way credltabe reputa.i lon as a
soldier. well as several decorations for dlstin.
guished services The disgust of such man as this
may be imagined when he discovered that hostile
vaccinations against him not only barred the
way to future promotion, but even imperilled
the position he had gained. He had saved
tas little money, for the pay OF the
Turkish 'natafre is not excessive, and 1t was alb
SoUtely necessary that he should do something for
his future livelihood. Looking around for con.
genial field In which to exercise bis talents he saw
In the condition Of Syria a chance which In the
hands Of a resoute man might be converted into
splendid fortune. He conceived, indeed, what he
nhiyely terms IN his confession the idea OF specu-
Valve revolution" in that province.
AT the present time the enlightened and energetic
administration Of Reschld Pacha has brought Syria
into O reasonably orderly condition; the Bedouins
are kept on the east sae OF the JORDAN, and neariy
every road III the province is toleraby safe. But
only three yeais ago there was very different state
OF affairs. The Bcdouins, innamed but not
cowed by tile efforts made to restrain
shem were ripe for mischief and in
every nook and corner of the country there were ele
n.ents OF lawessness aud disconteat, which might
reasonably bc expected 10 gather round and
strengthen an insurrectonary outbreak 1t was
ciear, therefore that II O'keiily could contrive to
muster somewhere In Syria the nucleus OF revolt
ne might soon draw round his standard, by promises
OF p.under, large army. Abundant rey olutionary
material exis ed IN the country. Ii 1t could only be
aggregated together IN G. impact mass much, very
much, conid be accom- lished 10y Its aid.
Oi course, any such outbreak could be easily SUD-
pressed II the whole military power OF the Porte and
tho hostile influence OF enthe Europe were directed
G. its suppression. But Colonel O'iiey did not ex-
pect or Wish 10 let, matters run 50 far as that
He did not hopo 10 erect syria into INDEPENDENT
State. He merely desed 10 kindIe SO extensive
revolt that the Porte would Willingly paw
highly Tor its voluntary eXngushment. And he
soon found prospective price Tor such submission,
Which would bring him honors As well as money,
Siie It would gam for MS scheme the sympathy OF
least one European Power. This was the erection
OF syria into vice.royaly on the Egyptian model,
tributary TO the Sultan, but seifgoverning anu per-
haps available in possible contingencies against lin.
Let IL be once announced that TINS was the aim OF
te enterprise aud the sympathy Of France secret or
avowed, would be thrown Into the scale In favor OF
the revolu lonary programme. am nov. supposng
that Coonei 0kei.ly ana the man who was TO be
put forward us Niceroy were Matching this scheme
entirely by themselves. Later ] shall saow that
although there is nothing but suspicion to support
the charge. the belief entertained by twothids OF
the people OF syria that France even al this eary
stage OF the affair, actually encouraged It, and even
xnstigsted some OF its details, lswell possibly,
But VINO was to be the vlceroys Not Colonel
Q Reilly himself OF course; he could only aspire to
power behind the thrones OF the proposed king.
dom. AT this period, however, Muslapha FAIL
Pacha, the most cunning and the least scrupulous
OF Turkish politicians, and the brother OF Ismail
Pacha, was in exile ana, after little tempting ne
agreed to nrihsh tue money Tor the expedition, While
If 1t should have reasonable chance
OF SUCCESS he would openly accept Its leadership.
II the revolution were strong enough to warrant the
demand Mustapha proposed to require, as the price
o. peace, not only his immediate Institution as Vice.
Coy OF Syria, but also a recognition OF his claim to
s'e throne Of Eg pt upon the death OF the Khedive.
THE PLAN AND HE MEN.
Having thus ASSUMED complete and finished
form in the minds OF Its projectors the scheme
seems to have dragged slowly along for some lime
cution. After while the sultan went to Europe
and probably in view OF the coming struggle with
VINO thcreupon not fled Colonel O'ReIily that he
should have nothing more TO do with the proposed
expedition. O'Reiliy, however seems still to have
cherished hopes VI Inducing him to enter into It, or
In default OF Rus apha, o. finding some other 1gure
head for the enterprise, and IN the beginning OF 1868
furnished wih funds from some mysterious source
began TO make the necessary preparations for putting
his plans Into execution. The next stage OF the
IL his advent In Syria, In the summer OF Che same
year. at the head of large expedition, The avOwed
object OF which was the construction Of railroad
from Lalakia or 1rpoli to HONS, and the surv ey OF
an extension OF the same line from HONS to the
Fuphrates The Colonel took care to let every one
see that lie In possession OF ample funds, and
tile merchants OF Beyrout readily enough believed
81 at the lo.g-noped-for mlliennun Of steam road
to tho interior had at eng arrived. 1t was noticed
o. singular that Okelly seemed TO keep al0o as
much as possible from the C0nsus but this WAS put
down to pers nal dsa8 reemens or to The abundant
AMOUNT OF WORK incident to the expedition.
MATERIAL
The personnel Of the Colohes stat he describes In
The confession, which give below. There were two
persons among them WAC claimed American citizen
6lip-Coionel Roiner and Mr. Garfield, otherwise