The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-05
THE BARBAROUS TURK.


TEXT OF THE INsuRoENT MEMORANDUM
HANDED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMIT
TEE-A TOUCHING APPEAL TO THE CIVILIZED
woRLD-HoRRoRs OF IsLAAIIsM
The Herzegovinian insurgents have made known
their grefs against the Turkish government from Met
kovitch in a memorandum submitted 10 the Inter
national Commission II a significant document and
reads as follows:-
HoSoRABLg REPRESENTATIVES, EUROPE
For four the Christians Of the Herzegovina
the miserable pitable rayahs have been plunged into
mourning and ailicton Unable 10 longer endure the
barbarsm the rod OF the prosecutor the violence the
Turkish system Of oppression, the rayahs have this
year revolt In order 10 prove that, IN thus nine
teenth century, and IN the face Of enlightenment and
civilization IN Europe, Is shame TO permit the bar
barous TURK garroIe the unfortunate SclAve popua
| ton of Herzegovina and continue 10 keep II in
Ignorance Gentlemen, we understand that the great
Powers have sent youto give an account OF our cond-
ton and OF the motive which has led US TO take up
arms These then, the true reasons:-
l. 70 commence with the aga QaadordL The un-
fortunate small farmer who takes piece OF land TO
cultivate is compelled to give at least one-hAf Of all
proceeds 10 the aga If the aga comes TO visit the
farmer which happens three or four times year he
brings all his relatives and the farmer has either
keep the aga his friends their horses, or be beaten
and thrown into prison.
z In the Turkish empire they only demand a tenth,
but the farmers concert with the State officials
der TO exact from the peasant ten times than
prescribed by law. The rayahs must pay; ii they
complain they are held to account in the courts
q The rayAn5 pound also 10 pay customs dulles,
the personal and toncier duties and military
4. From our earliest recolectons the system OF
counting cattle has been infamous Turks do the
counting they excuse their corehBlonsLs, but they
thirty against poor Christian when he has but
ten in order that the Christians may furnish the
whole tax to the aga the district Before whom
shall the Christians complain Turkish justiceS
s. II Christian brings Turk INTO court, II the
Christian Is brought into court b. Turk, the Chris
loses his unless he has two Turkish witnesses
and in any he is nearly to be put in prison.
q The Turks employ violence TO overcome our wives
and daughters and force them to accept the doctrines Of
lslamism.
l. II Christian has the misfortune to win a case
against Turk he Is sure TO be killed within three
days.
s The Turks hold In contempt priests, our
churches, our bells our images OF santsthey insult
anu abuse them publicly
O. We pay taxes the Sultan and support the hume
rous officials placed among US but IN return we not
gwen any education We have no schools and II any
among 10 ask for them, he would be cast
INTO prison and pay Tor his audacty with his head.
10 In of coruee, the rayah is compelled to alb
gent himself five days distance from his house,
and to work without food pay tor eight days. Tho
Turks, on the contrary, are exonerated
II. If horses are needed for transporting the families
and goods OF Turkish troops the zapris gendarmes
swarm the villages seize men ard horses and take
Them on on journeys lasting fifteen or twenty days
without paying them either in goods or money.
II How could we obtain fun justice from Tur-
ksn tribunals while they composed OF large
majority of Turks with only two Christians among
them, the latter themselves being compelled to sign
the death warrants Of the most honest Christians
IL. II Christian is requested 70 lend his horse
that his work will not permit him to go away,
or that lie has sickness in his house, the gendarme
comes Immediately, beats him, often leaving him
half dead and often mareatng him badly that death
speedily ensues.
IA liza Turk makes complaint before court for
debt the Judgment is soon rendered III Christian
makes complaint on the other hand, and commences
suit he might wait till doomsday at least unless he
could buy the judges decision tor the value
oi the claim for which he
15 No security under the Turkish government
10 II The aga comes 10 see you, he continues 10
md sinh anna hn nfYYa ulfu md
church.
IL. When the Turks give themselves acts Of vio-
lence they know moderation For Instance, Ismall-
Aga-Saharicz, who is judge AT Stolatz recently
PEELED the rayahs 10 drain the Lake OF Kuzat him
lie made report the eject that the rayahs ut
work on the public highways and never gave cent
the laborers. But not he alone-a the Turks do the
is. The Turkish government exhibits no iairness
their employees receive poor pay anu necessity impels
them 10 all kinds or illegal acts and violence
l9. The Turks should longer possess the power
Illegally condemn the rayahs. The conducted
in the Turkish language, which the rayahs do un
derstand, and the Turks act and decide according TO
their good pleasure
10. A large swamp yarda- avica and Glavica.
Kozarca belonged TO the peasants OF these districts
They drained T. then cultivated II. Down came the
Turks-Mu Aga Mehemetbasic. MulA-ali, Mehemct-
basic, Agi-Aga hemetbasic Derwsh -Grebo Agi-
Beg Besanic, MemsA Aga Cibcr and heme skovtch,
and took It from them. They had sown the whole or
this land about loo acres.
Gentlemen, Europe has accomplished revolu-
tions before now. She has precipltated kings from
Their thrones, and princes and emperors, animated
with noble and Christian sentiment and yet TO this
day IN this century Of boosted civilization you hold
the barbarous Turk IN high esteem. Gentlemen, we
cannot and Will not longer endure the Turkish lash.
We arc men, not beasts II you cannot bring relief
you cannot force US 10 return to slavery. What
want is liberty true, tull and permanent Alive
shall never fall again into the hands Of the Turks
MErKovIrcH, sept IL, 1915