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


They are appealing to their countrymen
in whatever land they may dwell, to plead
their cause with civilized peoples that
they may have aid and sympathy in the
effort to cast off Turkish despotism. So
desperate is their strait that it is believed
they would welcome the rule of Russia
again as deliverance. But the Armenians
dream of free government self-rule, and
have given ample evidence of their ca
'pacity in that direction. They are few but
brave; their soldiers have won distinc-
ton, their statesmen inspire univeral re-
spect, their people are tillers of the soil,
virtuous, industrious and frugal.
In 1888 they proved their spirit by an
open attempt to promote national regen-
Grafton and the establishment of the
ancient kingdom. The Turks were too
quick for them, however, and by murder,
torture, imprisonment, search of houses
and Punishment, suppressed the move
ment. The Armenians appealed Sir
William White, the British ambassador,
and he sent note of inquiry to the Sui
tan. The reply was that the Armenians
were promoting an in direction against
Turkish authority. Thereupon England de-
clined to interfere, unless the other signatory
powers to the Berlin treaty would act with
her in warning the Sultan. There the
matter rested until July last, and now all
Armenia is again in the throes of incipient
revolution, and suffering from the mailed
hand of the oppressor, the Turk.
Armenia is in Asiatic Turkey, and ex-
tends to the dominions of both Russia and
Persia. Its grand divisions were Armenia
Major, and Armenia Minor, the first being
east of the Euphrates, and the latter west
of that stream originally; but what we
now know as Armenia is the east side.
Five great rivers flow through the coun-
try. 1t has mines of gold and silver, lead,
iron and copper, and great deposits of salt.
1t has table, valley and mountain lands,
rich pastures, and grain, tobacco and fruit
lands. Erzeroum is the chief city, but Van
and Armavir were the ancient capitals.
The Armenians proper are in minority
in the population. They trace their de-
scent from Noah, through the line of
Japhet and Conner. Their ancestor, Haig.
they say, was one of the builders of the
tower of Babel, who lived to the age Of
400 years. and gave them their best laws
and was their earliest King. His dynasty
gave them ffty-nine Kings and the sew
enth was contemporary with Isaac and
Jacob. Tigranes I. they recall as their
greatest King, and he was contemporary
with Cyrus.
After the conquest by Alexander the
Great. the Armenians were for 164 years
subject to the Macedonians, but under
Roman influence they set up new king
dom about 100 years B. c. Passing much
of the obscure and traditional in their
history, it must suffice to say they were at
times subject to the Romans and at times
independent, and again under the rule of
Persia, as the ambitions and conquests of
mighty chiefs determined.
In 637 the Arabs descended upon Ar
menia, and in 500 the Mohammedan Court
set up tributary dynasty in one part Of
the kingdom under the cloak of the Bag
ralides of Jewish origin. A branch of this
dynasty reigned atKars, and third power,
the Vashburagan, ruled at Van. The
three made up a power Of great wealth
and strength. In 1919 the Turks de-
scended upon the land, and the local rulers
yielded and departed.
In 1890 Tamerlane devastated the coun-
try, and following him the Turcomans,
Kurds, Russians and Persians, and finally
the Turks have possessed the country.
There are in Turkish Armenia some
100000 Armenians, and in other lands
some 100000. Everywhere they adhere
to their religions-of which there are sew
eral branches-tneir language and Gus
toms, and are enthusiasts in devotion to
their native land. Those abroad are
nearly all engaged in commercial pursuits
and trades; those at home, in agriculture
and manufactures.