Haifa; or, Life in modern PalestineOliphant, Laurence
History
Haifa; or, Life in modern Palestine
Oliphant, Laurence
Palestine -- Description and travel
The fact, however, that foreign questions are constantly arising at
Haifa, either out of French pretensions or the claims of the German or
Jewish colonists, and that no such questions are possible at Acre, where
there is but a limited Christian or foreign population, has rendered it
desirable in the eyes of the Governor-general of Syria to suggest the
removal of the governor of the district to this place. The change has
not yet been sanctioned at Constantinople, and the inhabitants of Acre,
where property will suffer an immediate depreciation, have been pouring
petitions into Constantinople to protest against the change, urging as a
reason that they, who were loyal and devoted subjects of his majesty,
will suffer; while the population of Haifa, composed principally of
Christians and foreigners, will benefit. It is just possible, however,
that the government may consider that the loyalty and devotion of the
petitioners form the best reasons why the governor should be moved to a
place where the loyalty and devotion of the people are not so assured,
and should therefore be watched. At all events, there can be no doubt
that the change, should it take place, will cause an immediate rise in
the value of property here, and that there will be a considerable influx
of people from Acre to this town, which has the advantage in summer of
being a much cooler and more agreeable place of residence.
Meantime, advantage has been taken of this opportunity to remove the
present governor and replace him by a more intelligent and active
functionary, a change which has caused great satisfaction, both to
Moslems and Christians, as, in spite of his fanaticism, he had contrived
to make himself very unpopular with the former, while he altogether
failed to keep the peace at Acre between the rival sects of the latter,
who, though very limited in number, were constantly engaged in broils.
Moreover, it is not the habit of the Turkish government to retain its
functionaries, under any circumstances, long at the same post.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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