Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-18
THE ARMENIAN AND THE TURK.

The Geographic dispatches speak of a
very recent attack by Armenians upon
Turkish barracks and the killing of most
of the Turkish soldiers at the place
by the vietors of the struggle.
The after-piece of this tragedy is looked
for in the form of renewed Turkish cruelty,
and the executions Of innocent Armenians,
for the offense of their fellow -countrymen.
This brings to the front more promi-
nently the state of affairs in the Armenian
provinces. In those parts there is, and for
several weeks has been, a great deal Of
trouble, and many conflicts between the
people and the representatives of the
Porte. We are told that in the Armenian
capital the butchery of people has been
going on without any attempt upon the
part of the Turkish Government to check
it. Brutality and heartlessness are the APP
parent essentials for subordinates of that
Government in their dealing with people
over whom the Turk rules
Thus the Armenians and the Turks are
in a state of bitter hostility, and the Cross
and the Crescent rage again against each
other. The antagonism. according to all
reports, is of the bitterest character, and
results in martyrdom on one side
and merciless barbarity ON the other.
Even at the Turkish capital, we learn
hostility is open and violent. AS far
back as July last, demonstration was
made in Constantinople by Armenians
that led to the resignation of the Arme-
MAN Patriarch. The Porte at that time
promised the Armenians immediate re-
forms. But when did the Turk ever keep
a promise made to a people he has subju-
gated?
Under the promises and fair words of
the Sultan the Patriarch withdrew his
resignation for three months, the Sultan
solemnly agreeing to put stop to perse-
cution and to institute reforms.
But when that people heard that the
Sultan would do as demanded of him, as a
matter of grace and favor, their blood
mounted and they declared that what
they asked was "of right" and not a
prayer for mercy, and the antagonism
took on more violent character.
This situation in Armenia inspired the
Greeks smarting under Turkish rule to
also prefer demands for relief. The Turk
ish reformers, who are in opposition to
the weak and merciless administration of
the Sultan, encouraged these revolts and
declared that if need be the party would
unite with the Armenians, not against tie
Crescent but against the mal-administra-
ton of the Sultan, who is seconding the
effort of his officials to blot out the Arme-
mans as people, and to that end is in
stigating the Kurds and the Circassians to
raid Armenian towns, butcher the men
and children and carry off the women.
It is said that so true is this complaint
of the Turkish revolutionary party, that
the proof is furnished that Turkey has
supplied these foragers with arms, ammu-
milton, clothing and money, in order to
urge them on to their bloody work, and
that all loyal Mohammedans in Armenia
have weapons in plenty furnished by the
Government for the purpose of carrying on
the work of determination. The fields of
the Armenians have been fred, their cat
tie have been ham-strung, their villagers
dare not venture from their homes upon
the highway, the trading caravans have
ceased to move, and stagnation has set in,
with worse threatening.
1t is said that two of the provinces
have been made over by the Sultan to two
infamous Beys, with the understanding
that they may do precisely what their
hatred and their passions suggest to the
Armenian population.
This is mere outline of the situation.
The Armenians are now appealing to the
powers privy to the Berlin treaty, and
especially to England, to intervene and