New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22

an even half OF the population. Everywhere
they are outnumbered by the Moslems-Turks OF
kOnrds
The crimes OF Moussa Bey have call,d atten-
ton in Europe TO the state OF the Armenians, pGt
the thofny side Of this question is, in fact thle
there cannot be supplied remedy oh-hahu:
Were the three provinces concerned, or any one OF
them, or the half of any one OF them 10 ~
erected into an autonomous pnncIpfHty, INC
Government would still be Alo.lem Government,
for the Moslems are as has been SAID, IN over
whelming majority and prefer the MOsiem system
of Government to any other.
The Porte is thoroughly aroused ~ last to tho
political necessity Of doing sOmetbln 1Of Tug
Armenans: and il the Western Governments OF
Europe maintain steady pressure, douDfesS
something will be done to give the people peace
and safety from the kourds. But tlr line OF
improvement lies in the direction Of putting anie
and honest men into office in these three provinces
while able and honest Governors for the sn iler
posts are not TO be had in Turkey for the mere
asking And only under constant p'essnre RON
the Wc.tcm Powers Of Europe car the Turks BE
expected 10 make any real progress m aIayns ule
disalection which they have been duped 'n'o
cultivatng in order that Russia may proht oy ~
in the impending European war.
MOUSSE Boy, the K0u'd. is still here a"alnns
the issGe OF the tcal Of the cont liant. ashniso
lin. Forty-sevcn Armenian VILLAGERS from mo
province of Bills have come on 10 TESTIFY %
his crimes The Turkish Government has doIe
fairly by them in helping them 10 come on, ana
in protecting them against tha KourdS by hs'NY
display OF mit2ry force. But nov t1pt me-
people have come he.e, they find their own people
afraid to do anything for them Hardly have
they been able 10 find lawyers who are Wiling 70
venture to prepare their case for the trlDuhl.
Last May the Sultan expressed 70 the EneliSn
Ambassador the belief that the outrage ascrlped
TO MouSsa were impossible, because MoHSsa a
piOus Moslem and pious men do not do sucn
things II were well if so sanguinc view ot t.e
case based on intimate knowledge OF tne
dOings of pious Moslems. But this expression o,
opinion has caused the impression 10 go ABROAD
that whoever has q hand in trying n prove Mous'a
guilty in spite of il will be treated as the enemy
Of the Sultan
The tale of one of the witnesses against Moussa
Bev has all the elements OF romance OF ING
Middle Ages She was carried off by MOUSSE, ana
after some time she through the one narrow
window near the ceiling Of the room where sne
was kept the top of the hat ~ IN Armenian priest
She cried ont, begging him n toll her mother
where she was imprisoned. The priest demurren:
not Knowing who might he sre1kng 10 HIM out o.
q long ringlet with q sickle which hung on the
wall and threw il out TO the priest as mems 0i
Identification which her mother at least woun
recognize As a result the Armenians called on tho
Government 10 set her free. living the answer
that she had turned Mahometan. But tne
Armenians were urgent, and three times lurtIsn
officials visited the girl to ask her II u were luz
that She had accepted Islamism. She replied
Zach time that She was Mahometan, fearing
death and knowing that her friends were working
to save her. At last the officials sure OF their
Ctonnd called the Armenians to a public meeting
where they might hear for Themselves that ,he
girl had accepted MOUSSE and his futh or h.r
own accord. There the question was fofmaIly p.',
and then the girl. seeing her fnendS reauy 20
protect her answered No. ] am Christian.
The excitement was tremendous and she was M
danger Of being torn limb from Ilfnn. buU sns
WAS ut last safely conveyed 10 the Artnehl'h
Church and restored to her parents. She now
comes here 20 tell the story Of her obducI,oh alu
forced conversion TO !SlamiSm by MouSsa .Bey. 10
is to the honor Of the Turkish Government thho
hearing Of n plot OF the Kourds TO murder her on
thc road il gave her bodyguard of forty mounted
police to protect her on the way TO the coast.