The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-24
IMPORTANT DEMONsraArroxs IN PAL
ES1INA
France Preparing Z. A.se. Syria.


Syria and Palestine do not now possess some
interest for your readers. II Is certain that the
day Is not far distant when they will. The in
fuence Of ovonts here differs from TINT which
attaches TO politics In any other country. In
that 1t Is inseparably connected with tho re-
lgion Of tho whole civilized world. People In
America may be comparatively Indifferent To
the fate OF Constantinople or Cairo. or even
Athens. but the associations which cluster
round Jerusalem can neSer loso their fascina-
ton. and the destiny Of tho land which gavo
birth to the Founder Of their religion must ever
DO matter OF the most profound interest to
oil who revere His name. not to mention the
vast number both of Jews and Christians who.
In one sense or another. attach Importance to
the prophecies contained In sacred writ which
have reference to the future OF the land which
they agree to call Holy.
As we arc about to onter upon a new political
phase. which may shortly develop into one OF
thrilling interest, I think tho moment oppor-
tune Tor calling tho attention OF your readers
to tho present political situation here and to
tho circumstances which have conspired TO
produce It. The virtual substitution Of British
for French influence In Egypt. which has been
tho result OF tho military occupation OF that
country. and the loss which French prestige In
the East has sustained In consequence OF its
timid policy in Egyptian affairs rendered
display Of renewed political activity necessary
on the part Of the French Government In some
other part Of the Sultan's dominions. The
province to which. by historical association
and military achievement French influence
most strongly attached was Syria. Ever since
the Crusades France has especially championod
the cause OF Chrlstendom In the lands where
the best blood OF her sons was then shod.
The crusadtng King Louis OF ptous memory
granted to the Maronites Of Mount Lebanon
600 years ago solemn charter In which they
were declared to form a part OF the French
nation. Francis l.. Henry w.. Louis XIV.
Louis XIV. awaited them selves OF various OPP
portunities to draw closer the bands which
were regarded rs attaching the Maronite nation
to the mother country. Bonapnrte. when lay
Ing siege to Acre. sent his secretary to greet
the Maronites as French citizens from time
immemorial;" and when the outbreak Of 1860
occurred. In which the Maronites were the ag-
gressors. and which ultimately led to massa-
Gre OF them by the Druses. French army OF
occupation landed in Syria. an International
commission was assembled at Boyrout and
Lord Dufferin was sent out as the British
dinlcpty which should not involve perma;;
In doing but sort. Of Constitution was given
to the Lebanon. and. although the French! pro
sVcIoiNIc WAS HcNeE OiuClHIy TScORnlZ6u. inc
projectors willis. their f,vals. the Druses.
Of S f by nhe he sn
clerical tendencies Of tho French republic. its
withdrawal from the Egyntan, question. and
Goyernor-General.w were nli tending to under
mine French influence when y new departure
Se and ny lS pss h sSr se
been straining every nerve to reassert their
The opportunity for doing this occurred when
two months ago. 1t became necessary for tho
Porte to appoint new Governor-G General for
nomination could not he made without the con-
sent OF tho European powers who were parties
10 thu aS% Pha had
he refused to be their tool; but no had gov
erned with Justice and Immortality and a great
pretensions and ecclesiastical domination to
have him reapnointed for third term" This
Of the European powers but there was a'U gem
eral disposition not to oppose the wish OF
France. on various grounds. The Germans
enough in the the hoEe that she will hang herself
Germany d not Mediterranean 1 powell WS, it =
b 70 5 10 nRa M
other bowers IN The a.temPt. The russians d ii
France. Moreover France and Russia were
endeevoring to unite in their Eastern policy to
Germany in the West England did not oppose
her partly because she hopes to purchase the
In Egypt by not thwarting French designs in
Syria, and partly because She believes that the
bring her into collision with Russia.
,n was was, TO meet the danger OF Joint action on
Which might essend ito to tho Vest that Bis.
marck formed tho triple alliance with Austria
and Italy. and y IL from the same motive that
England Is wilfuly shutting her Dyes to the
attitude which France has taken in this Syrian
question. The Porte however. had no motive
mate Nasri Pasha. the candidate put forward
by the French Ambassador In Cons antinople
VSros 1srs
Ambassador had recourse to threats. and u
rupture OF diplomatic relations seemed immi.
any position in the Ottoman service was named
for the post. which must under the convention
name Wasss EfYendi, was agreed to. whose &C.
Quaintance l made some years ago. when he
was advocating the cause OF Albanian nation
phlet which no had written on the subject The
question which, is now aSitating mems minds
to DO made an instrumenI Of intrigue on the
part Of the French. who depend upon him for
in arTear as AGAINST sx Drases. and long list
OF claims to DO satisfied. in which they arc sup
satisfied without producing 2 collision. There
are more priests in proportion to the popua-
tIon in tho Lebanon than there are In any
other country In the world and the ecclesiasti-
cal bigotry and superstition which they repre-
sent SCI, has inst cemented q cordial alliance with
former. 30 long as they can be supreme in the
Lebanon. are quite ready to avail themselves
which expols priests from its soil at home and
the latter 9re too glad to take advantage OF
that clerical influence which they despise and
RerseSute at. at nome. provided that they may
aiming at. which is none other than the annex
alton OF the country from Carmel to Alexan-
drettni They have. therefore. doubled their
Consuls in different parts Of the country and
have recently had political agents travelling
through thrp + preparing mems minds for the
rumor; only week ago was gravely asked
by an Arab II 1t was true that the English army
had been driven out OF Egypt by the French,
and that French troops we're on their way here.
religious establishments are under French pro-
nts,eson ana their schools are attended by about
number OF girls. who are all taught French
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