The morning call., 1892-06-12
An Armenian.

Turks. but ali Turks are Mohammedans,
other; neither are they Greeks Hor Jews nor
Koords. They are simply Armenians.
Now. as l have made plain what they are
not let MS see then what they are. Two
thousand years before Columbus turned his
attention toward western world. when
the powers of Babylon and Assyrla and
Media and Egypt were struggling for su-
premacy in this eastern world; when Eng
land had vet a decade to its birth, and Ger
many and France and Russia were such
only in pT0tOplaSm, the ArmenanS were
making history in the land of The Urarda
and BiaTra and we're reckoning their gene
al0gies to Noah and Ararat. which stood
within their territory as silent witness to
the truth of their records. Apart from the
Jews, there is no nation that lays claim
with more justice to h0aT antiquity.
The Armeniaus, in their own language,
never refer to themselves as Armenians, in
fact they have no such word. They call
themselves Halk after their first king, who,
their many national histories declare, was
the son of Toganmah, the son Of Conner,
the son of Japheth. the SOC of Noah. The
name "Armemians" was given them several
centuries later, after one of their kings,
Armen, who lead them with great valOr
against the Assyrians. But space will not
permit me to 20 into these details. This
much will c0ncluSiyely prove that 1t IS no
modern lace.
They were strong in war and formed ALI
ances with Cyrus the Great, Darius III,
and later with Rome Itself. The records of
these various peoples, with whom and
against whom they warred. contain much
of Armenian history. But their location
was most unfortunate. On the east was
Persia with its burning desire TO enlarge its
K
ing 10 bring tribute from the Businesses of
the north; on the north we're the Barbarian
hordes, constantly making assaults upon
their territory; later came the Greeks and
Romans from the north; and, finally, the
Arab power from the south and the IurkO-
mans from the steppes of Russia, succeeding
in stamping cut the last spark Of national
life that remained to poor Armenia, and 1t
fell. crushed by superior forces, doomed
henceforih 10 live as remnant or proud
people amid its cOnquerors.
II was the first people as nation to accept
Christianity. In the time OF Christ-so runs
their histoTy-their King. who then resided
at Edessa, the modern O0rfa, only few
days Journey from Palestine, became a
Christian and compelled his subjects to be
baptized. But he subsequently apOstat!Zed
from the faith and prosecuted the Christians
so that they were completely crushed ont.
In Sol A. d., through the eXerti0ns and In
stTumentality OF Gregory the Iluminator,
the King OF Armenia, with great cOncOurse
of nobility, was baptized, and from that day
the Armenian Church has been term CO.
extensive with the nation. 1t mas been
terribly prosecuted, but the blood Of its
martyrs has only tended to cement the
national bonds. The church still Christian,
true to its ancient faith and forms of belief,
but sadly degeBerated. 1t practices as a
national body in the midst of the Orient
have turned the church from the smp'e
gospel of Christ. Ages of ignorance and
superstition have drawn the church away
from its primitive Christian life.
The Armenians live in Turkey, but are
no part of its government. They have no
voice in affairs of state and hold no office,
though when no Turk of sufficient ability
can be found an Armenian is sometimes
called in. Only recently the Secretary of
the Treasury at the capitol was an Arme-
nian, who most ably filed the Office for a
remarkably long term for this country.
They are not taken into the army because
they are not Mohammedans, but are re-
quired TO pay heavy taxes to the Govern
ment, which in return does for them as
little as possible.
They are largely farmers, artisans, mer-
chants and bankers. Throughout this vast
territory, in which possibly 100000 Ar
meniaDs dwell amid about five times their
number Of other nationalities. Of whom the
largest part are MOhammedans, they are
Dre-emneutly the merchants and bankers.
In many regions nearly the entire banks
ami trade are in their hands. Their only
rivals are the Greeks, who are found IN
larger numbers toward the west. AS farm
ers they largely till the soil OF feudai lords,
giving them all they demand as their share
of what is left after the Government has
taken Its portion. They show ability when
they have a chance, but generations of deep
subjugatiOn, oppression and abuse have
tanned their proud spirits and made them
less independent.
During the past few years oppression
upon the part Of the ruling race has become
more and more severe. At the same time
the eyes Of the Armenians have been opened
by more liberal education, which has given
a spirit Of deep unrest They read in news
papers of other countries, OF freedom and
safety for property and person, aud they
are thereby made discontented. While this
change has been in progress among the Ar
menians taxes have been increased while
the demand for labor has decreased.
Many man supports his family upon
daily wages Of from to II cents. He
boards himself and has no permanent work
at even that price. At the same time he
pays TO the Government a soldiers tax
alone of from 81 TO $40, according TO the
size of his family. bow can such man
must begin TO follow the plow or the herds
even while almost In infancy in order to
keep the wolf from the door.
There is no prospect that these conditions
will change. The hearts of the Beys do not
soften; the taxes OF the Government in
crease; there are no factories or railroads
building Il speak Of the section of country
about HarpooO; no mines are being opened !;
no new industries are forming. The poor
farmer knows that il his children do not
starve they must live as their father lives.
and rear their children In the same way. Is