New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-15
UNQUIET SYRIA.
SPARKS AT DAMASCUS THAT MAY BE FAMED
INTO A GREAT FLAME OF WAR;
LrnoM Az occAsIoNAL connEsroSDEsr OF rnE TnLDUSEl

lTROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE
BEYROUT, Syria, March g.,
Recent events in Damascus connected with the
invasion Of the French Consulate by Turkish OIL
Gals and the forcible seizure of certain Agerines
claiming French protection have turned out more
serious than at first expected and may yet
lead to unpleasant complications unless the Turk
ish Government makes prompt and ample apologies
IL will be remembered that when the French took
possession Of Algeria in ls47, after a long and de-
sutory war; the patriot leader Of the Arabs-Abd ell
Kader-with "a large suite of Agerines, was taken
forcible possession of and carried sway prisoner.
At first he and his followers were kept in severe
custody in France in way not at all creditable
to the Government of Louis Philippe. In 184S.
after the revolution, the President-Prnco Louis
Napoleon-released them, and when they had
sworn upon the Koran never again to disturb
the peace in Africa, special arrangements were
made with the 1Grkish Government to enable
them to live in country governed by their CO.
religionists. At first they were located at
Brusea, the old Ottoman capital Of Asia Minor,
not far from Constantinope. In $50 o terrific
earthquake drove them away and for o time
they were at Constantinople. Later they were
sent to Damascus, where they became finally
established under French protection-Abd ell
Kader himself being French subject. All his
followers although devOut Moslems, were ex-
empted from military service Their presence In
Damascus has given importance to the French
Consulate at that place From the first jeal-
ousies began to arise between the Turks and
their western coreligionists, and the French Gov
eminent has had at times q delicate task on It's
hands.
The world will never quite forget the heroism
of Abel ell Kader and his Agerine followers during
the massacre Of 1860, when the Druzes Of the
Southern Lebanon were abetted by the Turkish
garrsOns in their horrible butchery of their hered
itary Christian enemies. That tragic affair
reached its elimination when the Christian quarter
Of Damascus was Quilted and fired by the fanatical
Moslems under the very eye of Achmet Pacha
and large Turkish garrison. On that fatal
9th Of July, 1860, when fire and sword were de-
vastating the city, Add ell Kader called together
his handful of faithful Ag rincs and boldly sal
lied forth to rescue the defenceless Christians.
Snatching them from the hands of their would
be murderers and viOators he sent them in de-
tached bodies under strong guard TO the castle.
Before the dav 10000 Deople, Of all
ages and sexes. were thus saved. Even European
consuls sought the protection Of Add ell Kader's
house. He so universally respected for his
holy and upright life that none dared withstand
him. When at last the Moslems, banked of their
prey, advanced to attack him, he prepared him
self for battle, mounted his horse, gathered about
him his guard, some Of whom had been with
him in the battle of Moulaia, whore, with $500
men, he had routed an army Of 60 900. and charged
upon the fanatics, denOuncng them in the bit
terest terms. Single-hsnded he cowed the large
Turkish garrison and the still larger rabble, and
saved the 10000 Christians. For this heroic
service he received special tokens of honor from
the leading governments Of Europe.
1t can be easily seen that, although modicum
Of justice was dealt out by the Turkish Govern
ment under pressure of the Great Powers, and al
though the surface all the officials commended
the heroism Of the Algerines. vet deem down in
the heart of the Mosem rabble an ancient crudg1
was only increased by this act of Add ell Kader
which put the Turks and the Syrian Moslems SO
thoroughly in the wrong Yet to the day of biz
death he was the recipient of every honor which
in his dsinterested simplicity he would receive.
He always looked gratefully to France and to
Louis Napoleon and offered his service when tho
Emperor was hard pressed by war He left behind
him a son, who is blind as the head Of the little
Mgerine colony at Damascus. This son is a
French subject.
This brings us TO the present difficulties It
seems that there were Algerines in Damascus
before the advent of Add ell Kader and his suite.
and since his coming Others of his old companions
in-arms, who found life in Algeria under direct
French rule too burdensome were attracted thither
to spend their last days in the cOmpanionship
of man who had become saint in their eyes.
between all these Algerines have
considerably complicated matters so that it has
proved very difficult to determine just how far
the French consul could extend his protecting
Besides, Add ell Kader and other
Algerine leaders could have but nominal in.
huence upon their countrymen, who, being under
special foreign protection, and to q certain sense
outside the jurisdiction Of the local Turkish Of
fcials, naturally allowed their independence TO
go to the verge Of lawlessness. Hence it is that
the Turkish Government claims that certain Al
gerines, having committed numerous crimes have
escaped punishment. For some months the
officers have been on the track of certain man
Of this description Some time last month he was
seen. on the streets in company with other AL
gerines The officers pursued them The AL
yerines fed in the direction Of the French consulate
The French official at the time was said to be sick
In bed. After the affair was over he autographed
in great wrath to the Ambassador at CONSTANT
nople to the effect that the Turkish police had
chased the Algerines into the consular premises,
forced their way past the guards and seized their
victim. ALI this the Turkish authorities persist
emily denied. They claimed in their official organ
that the prisoner was seized outside the prem
ses and that he had no right to seek French |
protection. They said he was under arrest for
lozen or more crimes The immediate result was
hat the French consuls in Syria made strong |
The ambassador demanded repara-
ion, and two officials, French and Turkish,
we're sent from Constantinople TO investigate the |
matter. The Paris newspapers made sensa-
.onal demand that the French squadron should |
proceed to Beyrout. Everybody cOnversant with |
he fracas expected that after little French
)luster tho affair would blow over and the Turks
gain their point. But the matter has been COM
)licated seriously by recurrence OF the event, !
md that too, in an aggravated way This time !
L.llt he l4fa