New-York tribune., 1910-09-04
FROM SYRIA WITH POETRY
Ameen ar-Rihani, Long of Hair
and Soft of Voice, Arrives.
TELLS OF COUNTRYS PLIGHT
On Mission to Induce Powers
to Make the Turks Behave
May Lecture Here.

Aneen ar-Rjhani arrived at the Hotel
Belmont last night from Syria on a mis-
sion combining politics and literature
which has been tried before. both in Eng
land and Indiana But Mr.. ar-Rihani left
most Of the political end of his game in
Paris and London, and brought TO this
country his long hair and soft voice, with
which he threatens 10 lecture.
The literary ambition of the Syrian poet
is devoted to the Arabian renaissance, and
with this end in view he has produced
several volumes in Arabic. These have had
their largest circulation III his native coun-
try But for American consumption he
has translated some of the works OF Ara
bian authors and has produced some poems
OF his own in English. He has written
also drama of ancient Islam, and hopes
to write more
The political end concerns Turkey and
the province of Mount Lebanon, which lies
about one hundred miles northeast Of Pal
estine and has many mountains and some
sea s1lore The physical measurements are
five GAYS horseback ride from north to
south, and two days from east to west,
which in Arabic is the equivalent OF tWen-
ty-one thousand square miles. One million
persons live on the sides of the mountains
In the revolution of 1860 Mount Lebanon
secured a partial autonomy, but thirty
years ago Nahoum Pacha. who was then
Governor began to undermine the Hber-
ties of the people, and the work has gone
on steadily since, and so effectively that 1t
is an open question if there are any lib
critics left. The province is supposed to
have d Christian Governor, chosen by the
Porte. with the advice and consent of Eng
land. France, Italy and Austria; but the
Christian Governors Mount Lebanon has
had all practised the Mahometan religion.
There is supposed to he a parliament
elected by the people of the province. But
when they start to hold a party corven-
ton and nominate candidates the governor
denounces the club and they have to 60
10 Beirut to meet. And that means that
the convention is called off. Another sign
Of liberty is that conscription is illegal in
the province. But Mount Lebanon has
been furnishing Christian soldiers to march
beside the Turks ever since the time OF
Nahoun Pacha.
The eliminating feature of the oppres-
sion is the taxes. The province is due TO
receive yearly from Constantinople ST. 800
to pav the expenses of running the gov
err1ment But for twenty years the sub
sidy has been missing, and Mount LED
anon has been called on to send money 10
the Porte.
The Druses a mystical religious sect,
started a rebellion against Turkey in Syria
last spring, which has caused Turkey 20
send an army of thirty thousand men into
the country. and this has given an idea
TO the Lebanonites. They think that with
their mountainous country they can worry
Turkish army 4 good deal. and they
are preparing to try It. But first, Mr..
ar-Rihani has paid visit to Paris and
London TO see if the powers cannot be in
lerested in making the Turks stand by the
agreement with the Lebanonites. He thinks
it will be worth while for Mount Lebanon to
send a delegation TO Europe, and that will
be tried this winter.
If the delegation is unsuccessful Mr.. ar
Rihanf promises an interesting summer to
the Turks next year.