O Shaykh!...The State
officials, considering the secret progress of the Extended Cord have, from
every direction, incited and aided Mine adversaries. In the Great City
(Constantinople) they have roused a considerable number of people to oppose
this Wronged One. Things have come to such a pass that the officials in that
city have acted in a manner which hath brought shame to both the government and
the people. A distinguished siyyid, whose well-known integrity, acceptable
conduct, and commercial reputation, were recognized by the majority of
fair-minded men, and who was regarded by all as a highly honored merchant, once
visited Beirut. In view of his friendship for this Wronged One they telegraphed
the Persian Dragoman informing him that this siyyid, assisted by his servant,
had stolen a sum of money and other things and gone to Akká. Their design in
this matter was to dishonor this Wronged One. And yet, far be it from the
people of this country to allow themselves to be deflected, by these unseemly
tales, from the straight path of uprightness and truth. Briefly, they have
assaulted Me from every side, and are reinforcing Mine adversaries.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Epistle to the Son of the
Wolf’)
