The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-03
THE CIRCASSIANS.
Their Cruel Oppression by the Russian Au-
thorities-Habits and Peculiarities.
From the Chicago Tribune.l

From the chicago Ir1Dune.l
The Turkish army contains a small
auxiliary force of Circassians, whose
valor is almost as well approved as that
of the Montenegrins. There is one regi-
ment of Circassians in the First Army
Corps, stationed Mt Constantinople, and
scattered squadrons of cavalry in Ar
menia and the Balkans but the bulk
of their fighting men may be found in
the ranks of the Bashi-B azouks, or ir-
regular volunteers. The circumstances
under which the Circassians became
faithful allies of the Turks are unusual
and romantic. They dwelt in the noun
tain regions of Caucasus, and were alter
nately under the dominion of the Turk
and the Russian. They were not good
subjects to either Government, paying
no taxes and recognizing no authority
which did not seem to them convenient
In 1929 the Caucasus fell into the hands
of Russia for the last time, and thence
forward the hand of that Government
pressed upon the Circassians with con-
stantly- weight. They were
rebellious, and the mountainous nature
of the country which they inhabited
made them troublesome enemies to con-
tend with. After thirty-five years ex-
perience of Circassian craft and prowess,
the Government of Russia determined to
settle the Cirsassian question, at once
and forever, by expelling them from the
country which they had so long pos
sessed, and which they cherished with
the deepest affection. In 1903 they were
ordered to pack up and move off. On
their refusal to do so, and the continu-
ance of hostilities, the policy of indis-
criminate massacre was adopted by
Russia. This last stroke overcame even
Circassian contumacy More than 300,-
900 emigrated, leaving their homes and
their native land to the spoiler. OF the
whole number of emigrants about 200,-
900 settled in Bulgaria, along the coast
of the Black sea, and the remainder in
Armenia.
The cruel expulsion of the Circassians
by the Russian authorities has scarcely
parallel in history. Whole nations
have been transported before, but never
for such insufficient reasons, and never,
it may be said, on so large "A scale. The
French driven forth from Nova Scotia,
whose hardships have been celebrated IN
verse by our own Longfellow, numbered
barely Is, 900 souls. The Huguenots OF
France had at least the alternative of
staying i'll their homes and abandoning
their religion. The Moors in Grenada
were themselves aliens and invaders, in
theory. at least, and were driven away to
their own kindred and the land OF their
faith Not so with the Circassians. They
loved their mountain homes as passion
ately as the Montenegro or the Switzer.
They imbibed in the clear atmosphere
which surrounded them the same uncon-
querable spirit of freemen. Russian
oppression was to them an impossible
condition OF existence, and they resisted
to the last, even when they knew defeat
wasinevitaMe. When they yielded, they
chose to become subjects OF Turkey
rather than Russia; and hatred of Russia
became for them the controlling principle
of their natl Onal life. Travellers tell of
meeting Circassians I'D Europe and hear
ing male children asked by their parents:
How many Russians will you kill when
you are man?" The present war is
therefore an opportunity for the Cncas-
sians-the first they have had since their
expulsion from the Caucasus and if they
do not use it to the full il will not be for
want of desire on their part. They are
already famous Tor their exploits in the
Yanks of the Bashi-BaZouks and, though
their mode of warfare is not, like that OF
she Montenep nins always honorable, it
is none the less terrible and harassing.
In the long run it will prednce results of
importance; and, in case OF a Russian
yetreat or disaster, the Circassian contin-
gent would be likely to pay off old scores
by frightful vengeance.
The Circassian has some pecuharities
which unfit him for becoming an object
of European and American sympathy to
any large extent. Though not a coward
by nature, he prefers to fight in Indian
fashion, and to kill his enemy with the
least possible risk to his own precious
person. Moreover the Circassian scorns
to tell the truth when he can possibly
avoid it, and theft is with him a cardinal
virtue. The Circassian boys are taught
to steal by their parents, just as the
Lacedemonian youth were and the
celebrities of the nation are the persons
who have learned to- steal blankets from
the sleeping owners thereof, or horses
out of stables in which the master peace
fully reposes. Obstinacy is another
characteristic of the Circassian. They
brought their slaves with them into Tur-
key, and, although often admonished by
the Sultan's officers that slavery was
contr ryto the Komn, they refused to
make any proclamation. Many times
they fought in defense of what they con-
sidered their rights in this respect, and
have proved perhaps as troublesome
subjects to the Snltan as they were to
the Gar. They are good Mussulmans,
too, having been converted during the
Turkish rule in the Caucasus, from the
peace of Bucharest in 1912 until 1929 !;
but, as may be imagined, they do not
acknowledge the authority of the Koran
in matters of opinion so vital as the slave
ry question. In like manner, they sell
their girls for use in the Turkish
harems, esteeming it high honor to
have them there, and being seconded IN
this respect, it must be confessed, by
the young women themselves. In spite
of the depletion of numbers and blood
from this cause, they remain rugged
and adventurous people. The men are
short and slender, but broad across the
shoulders, and possessed of wonderful
powers of endurance. They are masters