New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
THE TRAGEDY AT BEIRUT

American interest in Turkish affairs is again
made direct and acute by the assassina ton Of
the American Vice-Consul at Beirut. Little is
yet known of the circumstances of the tragedy
or of the identity of the murderer In the alb
sence OF any mint at personal enmity against
the vice-cOnsul. however, it is permissible to
assume that the crime was committed by some
fanatic animated by Moslem hatred of Chris
dans and of foreigners generally. There are
many Turks who have something of the same
mania against Giaours that some Cinnamon
have against foreign devils" and to whom the
killing of a non-Moslem seems n meritorious
deed. emitting its doer to a rich reward in
Paradise Such passions are acutely aroused
and stimulated by tidngs of conflict between
Islam and the Giaours in any part of the world
and so il is reasonable 10 suppose that this
niscrcant was melted TO his crime by hearing
Of the Christian revolt against Moslem rule in
Macedonia Apart from such inspiration there
seems to he no connection between the crime
at Beirut and the troubles in the Balkan 1t is
a far cry from Beirut to Monastfr. and there
las been no identification of America or Ameri-
cans with the Bulgarian cause. Nor does there
seem TO be the slightest analogy between this
murder OF the American NiCe-Consul and that
OF the Russian at Monastr not long ago, or any
reason for involving the United States in the
Macedonian problem on account of this MUIR
der which has occurred in an entirely different
Part of the Turkish Empire
The United States is. however entitled TO
call the Turkish Government 10 strict ac-
count for the crime, and to exact for it the
amplest possible PREPARATION. OF that there
can be question. We have just seen
how Russia has exacted PREPARATION for the kill
ing of her consul. The demand of the United
States will he morally far stronger For the
Russian Consul seems to have provoked vio-
lence against himself by his own arrogant. not
to say rufianly, conduct, though Of course his
conduct was no excuse for numbering him But
there is not the slightest reason TO suppose that
the American Vice-Consul had given anv such
provocat:Cn. The assassination Of him was. so
far as az information indicates entirely wan
ton. The Turkish Government owes # to Amer
lea. TO itself and TO its standing among civilized
powers to make the fullest possible atonement
for the outrage, and there is no reason TO doubt
that the American Government will require II
10 do SO. America has no designs upon the fntee-
rity of Turkey. and no political interest there
such as other nations have nor is il a Marty
70 that concert Of powers which has long been
exercising ftful suzerainty over the Ottoman
Empire. But # does hold Turkey to a strict full
filment Of her obligations under treaties and
under international law, and will doubtless find
an effective way of compelling fuflment OF
those obligations or OF exacting indemnity for
their violation. Meantime. there is no occasion
fer the public to get excited over the matter.
The Washington Government is quite eompe-
tent to settle il in accord with the demands of