Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-12-30
AN ARMENIAN REVOLT.
The People Are Clamoring for Re-
construction.
Priests Declare That tho Day of Deliv-
orsnco from Moslem Rulo II
at HAnd-A Proud But
Broken Race.

tells in Nouvcllcs Ge~ographiqueS of q
remarkable movement III that country
in behalf of the political independence
of the hrmenians. Armenia is we'll
known as the Poland of Asia. The
country, once q powerful kingdom, is
now divided between Russia, Turkey
n Persia, and the Armcnians have no
existence as Il distinct nation. Mr..
Lccointc says that many of thcm believe
their nationa lity will 500 be restored
and this idea is particularly popular in
Persian Armenia, where, strange to
say, preparations are being openly
made for the event.
The Town of Urmia is the head con-
ter of the revolutionary feeling. a
committee is supported there which is
planning for the reconstruction OF indie
pendent Armenia. This committee is
known Us the Socictc Bibliophilc. 1t is
no surprising that it has Il French
name, when VIC remember hat French
Is the only foreign language that is cul-
tivated in Persia, and that not n few
@ubjecCs OF the shah speak it with Gle
gancc..
The Armcnians in Persia Of recent
years have had considerable reinforce
mcnts from their Russian and Turkish
brethren who have gone to Persia to
live to escape the cxactions to which
they are subjected in their own coun-
try. 1t is among these immigrants that
many Of the most active promoters of
Instruction arc found. They travel
openly from village to village preaching
u crusade against Mohanncdan3,
whether they be Turks or Pcrslans.
They advise every adult to procure guns
and to prepare for the coming uprising.
The priests in the churches Of Urmia
declare that the day Of dciivcrancc is
approaching and that every Armenian
should be willing to sncrii:c his prop
crty and lay down his life, if need be,
for the national cause. Accommodations
of firearms have already been made,
and every week many Armcnians arrive
at Tabriz to buy guns, pistols and
knives.
There is one great difficulty, how
ever, in h way Of tho reconstruction
OF tho ancient kingdom of Armenia.
The people are themselves divided into
fdctions. There is no people in tho
world who nave become moro disunited
by internal fcuds than the Armcnians.
They, therefore, do not have the advan-
tagc of q single leader of authority.
They yield obedience to rival commit
tees which arc promoting interests that
have nothing in common SO far as the
whole country is concerned except tic
one issue of tho final reconstruction of
h kingdom. Split up into factions,
as the Armenians arc, Turkey and Per
6ia do not seem to think 1t worth while
tn tnlrn InnnCr1rncf , c,,nrrooc fho ,@1~E
ting that is going on. a day for the
general rising was fixed for May ID last,
but the event was postponed.
Persian Armenia is the northwestern
part OF Persia, adjoining the Armenian
possessions of Turkey and Russia. 1t il
an elevated country, with q cool eli
mate, q fertile soil, abundance of rannc,
and numerous gardens and fields whose
products arc renowned in Persia. It's
chief town, Urmia, ncar the big lake of
the Samc name contains about fortv-
tive thousand inhabitants. Most of tho
population arc Chaldean or Armenian,
though there arc u good many Kurds
and some PCrsinnS and Turks. The Ar
n"nla;i population numbers about
seventy thousand in this district and Il
low thousand arc scattered over the rest
OF Persia Ut is u prolific and q hand
some race, but the people arc not very
well liked by their neighbors on ae-
count OF their arrogance and faithlcss-
ness. They do not seem to think it ut
all d~ishonorablc to break their word.
Tho Persian Arinonians, Mr.. Lccointc
says, are the happicst subjects Of the
shah. lie gives them absolute liberty
~, f-t1ininfto n,ntt1-- o.-1 - -
Mohammedans to treat their priests
and churches with respect. They arc
exempt from military service and their
taxes arc comparatively light, in which
respect they offer n striking contrast to
thc misery Of their neighbors, the
Turkish h%rincnians. For one cause Or
another the Russian Armenians seem to
be rapidly dying out.
ETiL' once manfully fronted, ceases
to ~ evil; there is generous battlc-hopc
50