| 344 humanity would revolt at it, and Republicanism would hide its head in disgust.
We make these remarks for the purpose of drawing the attention of our brethren to this subject, both at home and abroad; that we may fix upon the man who will be the most likely to render us assistance in obtaining redress for our grievances-and not only give our own votes, but use our influence to obtain others, and if the voice of suffering innocence will not sufficiently arouse the rulers of our nation to investigate our case, perhaps a vote from fifty to one hundred thousand may rouse them from their lethargy.
We shall fix upon the man of our choice, and notify our friends duly.
MASSACRE OF THE NESTORIAN CHRISTIANS.
The massacre of a great number of the Nestorians, as reported by a former arrival, is unhappily confirmed by the papers brought by the last steamer. This interesting people, who have latterly been visited and instructed by American and other missionaries, were found to have retained the religion of the Bible in a great degree of purity, although surrounded by Mahometan tribes. It seems that the hostility of their enemies was excited towards them by the too zealous labors of the rival Christian missionaries. Nat. Intelligencer.
A Constantinople correspondent of the London Morning Chronicle, under the date of August 17, states the particulars as follows:
'You have been informed of the combination between the Pasha of Mosul and several powerful Kurdish chiefs for the extermination of Nestorian Christians, or Chaldeans. Letters received the day before yesterday contain a deplorable account of the results of the attacks of the united troops. They had penetrated into the centre [center] of the Tiyaree district, burnt the villages and churches, destroyed the crops, and put the inhabitants of both sexes to the sword. Three, or according to other accounts, five brothers of the Patriarch have been slain, his mother was cut in half, and his sister horribly mutilated. The Patriarch himself had fled to Mosul, and taken refuge in the British vice consulate. Thus a sect which had preserved its independence during centuries, and had resisted the persecuting sword of Islam when wielded by the most powerful and most intolerant of the followers of Mohammed-which, in its simplicity and isolation, had maintained the doctrines and forms of a primitive church for above fourteen centuries, and which had escaped the corruption of religion, of morals, and of character so conspicuous in all other Christian sects of the East; has now, in the weakness of Mohammedanism and the strenght [strength] of European Christianity, been delivered over to destruction.
Although the Turkish authorities merit the strongest condemnation for the part they have taken in this massacre, yet there are others concernened [concerned] who are almost equally responsible for the results. The history of the fall of the Nestorians is a new example of the consequences of a system pursued by foreigners in the East which we cannot contemplate without the utmost indignation. All those who have been the direct or indirect instruments of their intrigues, and although they may now shelter themselves under the cloak of religion, have been guilty of a great crime against humanity.
In their mountain fastnesses the Nestorians had retained their independence for centuries. The first western traveller [traveler] who succeeded in penetrating into them was Dr. Grant, an American missionary. His object in visiting them was the establishment of schools and other means of instruction. No sooner had Dr. Grant met with some success in the mountains than the Roman Catholic missionaries at Mosul, supported by the French political agents, endeavored to counteract it. The English High Church was also jealous of American encroachments in the midst of a sect still venerating Episcopacy; and an additional firebrand was thrown into the country last autumn, in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Badger. During last winter the three parties-the American, the Puseyite, and the Roman Catholic-have waged an open warfare among themselves.-The Americans, who had been first in the field, only acted on the defensive; the influence they had already acquired among the Nestorians enabled them, without much difficulty, to retain their position. The object of the two remaining parties was to eject the Americans, and to establish their own influence. They did not act in concert, for their mutual enmity equalled [equaled] their hostility to the Americans.-No means were left untried to effect their object. A report began to prevail that the Americans were assisting the Nestorians to build forts in their mountains. The ignorant inhabitants of the surrounding country and their Governor, the Pasha of Mosul, readily believed the assertion; his suspicions were excited; from both parties he received accusations against their respective adversaries tending to sirease [increase] his alarm. Mr. Badger pointed out the danger of Roman Catholicism and French influence in the mountains; the French, in return, the danger
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