Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-31
TURKEY AND SYRIA.
THE GOVERNMENT EXCEEDING
LYJEALOUS OF HER POWER.

EeHt n INC
all Over the Empire.
DAMASCUS, March 1.-The Turkish
government is exceedingly Jealous of hel
power in Syria. Experience has shown
that whenever Turkey is threatened by a
war the mongrel population Of'Syria be-
come FESTIVE. During the late war with
Russia the Porte felt obliged to SEND
TROOPS to BeyrOut and the officials were
charged to be unusually watchful. just
at present there seems to be something OF
the same tear on the part of the gov
eminent. Although about 10000 sol
diers have left Syria for the scene of the
troubles in the Balkans and Macedonia,
a quantity of arms have been transferred
to important centres in Syria, and all the
garrisOns and barracks have been IN
creased in efficiency. The Moslems have
been for the past few months showing a
fiercer spirit than usual. They exhibit
great suspicion Of eYeryt hing foreign, and
imagine every Frank to be an intriguer.
An amusing instance of this has lately
occurred here in the Syrian capital.
Capt. Burns, of the English army in In
dia, was granted furlough and permits
sion to visit England. He undertook the
Gus. Arriving at Bagdad he excited the
alarm Of the officials, who Immediately
imagined that he was come to spy out the
land. AS soon as he started on his in
land journey a full description Of him and
OF his supposed mission was sent on to
Damascus, with the injunction that
be should be carefully watched. A
Spy was accordingly deputed TO
await his arrival aud to dog his
footsteps. In due course of time
be appeared at Damascus, aud during
every moment OF his stay he was followed
by this official in citizens clothing. He
naturally visited the house Of a mission
airy friend, who was accordingly looked
upon with suspicion. This missionary.
Mr.. Conner, went with the Captain to the
market to sell horse. They were both
proclaimed TO be spies who were attempt-
ing 10 ina out the weak points of SYRIA
for the benefit of the English government,
Damascus in fact with its 100000 in
habitants, mostly MOhammedans, is quite |
as fanatleal centre as there is in Syria |
Here occurred some of the most disgrace |
full scenes IN the massacre OF 1860. Chris
tlans are not safe at any time. A short |
time ago it was impossible to buya KOr an |
in the bazaars if it were known that you |
were Christian. 1t is not an uncom- |
mon thing now to be received with indig- |
mites. Children shout at the Christians |
IN the streets and even throw stones at !
them. Aged Moslems will angrily spit on
the ground and show other signs of dis
gust. OF late there has been an increase
In their social outrages.
| was talking the other day to one OF
the missionaries who went through the
massacre In 1860. / asked him whether
it were possible that such a thing could
happen again. He shook his head doubt
fully and said that time made very little
difference In such matters; we might ex-
pect as great calamity any day. The
followers Of Islam grow more fierce as
they lose their power. The progress OF
Christianity only aggravate the wrath of
the Mahammedans. 1t is only the watch
tulness OF the foreign powers that keeps
the Moslems quiet. 1t is not probable
that there will be a recurrence of blood
shed in the Lebanon district, but the
danger in Damascus Embarrassing.
Within ike last north the missionaries
have been driven out OF the dis
trict south Of Damascus in the
Hawran and east of he Jordan Rev. Mr.. Il
conner, OF whom l lave spoken, had es-
tablished himself quietly about thirty
hours south Of Damascus. He opened a
school in his own louise, and held relg-
tous services there several times in the
week. He made an excursion down to I
Els Salt. The Moslems took advantage of !
bis absence to enier his house and shutup
bis school. When he returned he found :
himself locked out OF his own residence.
He was called uIoD for his firman. When Z
be showed his English passport he was in
formed that he could not travel in Syria /
without a special permission from the !
Forte. He was ordered back to Damas-
Gus and informed that he must not leave I
he city. He fell under still further sus- !
)iclon by welcoming Capt. Burns to his :
house, as l hare already remarked. 1t r
Ieems almost as though affairs were r
ettling back intO the methods of the an Z
'lent tyrannical rule, when Christians +
we're not allowed to ride in the streets of +
Moslem city, or to possess a horse at I
III. speak now of such places as Da- !
nascus and HUNS and Klamath.
All this is, however, but a small partO of n
he grand plan conceived and promulga- n
ed at Constantinople. The officials in +
yria say: 1--WE can do nothing about n
his except to obey orders; our hands are ,
led; you must seek redress at CONSTANT 4
Ople; we can do nothing for you" The \
act is, the government is just at present q
laying very characteristic Turkish r
anne. The object is to put a stop n
0 all Christian work in the Turk v
'h Empire, whether it be I'M i
er the auspices of the Greek, :
.Oman, American or Protestant churches.
nv uCsiSu Is 10 leFel cnufCueS, SCHOOLS, II
ospitals and Orphanages. TO do this a Il
ouble game is played. The orders come ii
ON headquarters with every appearance n
courtesy on their face. Every church, :.
chool or hospital must have a special -
rman from the sultan. But no schools. n
&C., have such document; the officials 4
zen say that the thing TO do is to apply
" hrman In the usual way, and until It
lmes the school, ETC., must be closed.
he usual way" is to carry the 50
pplication up through several lower
Noes, then TO the Wely, or Gov
'nor and finally to the Porte. But with
ne general order from ConstantinOple Of
mich was so fair in appearance, came n
le secret orders to every Official all along =
le tortu0us road TO Obstruct the way as ei
luch as possible. The lowest official was te
make every possible objection and a. re
'mpt to nip the project in the bud. II he III
.ued The next higher was to do his best. ~
perehapce the petition for a tirman got e.
nlgh as the governor he must vote it, for ~
was united that II was as much as n,
ans head was worth 10 allow the petit "
on TO get as far as COnstantinople. a.
a strong protest against this procedure ~
Is arisen all over the empire. The Pro- ~
stants, through the Evangelical ALT az
ice, have appealed 10 the great Protest -
lt powers Of Germany and England. IL ~
axes an American blush TO consider ~
Nv little power the United States has TO y,
Y tnat her citizens are protected in the :.