New-York tribune., 1893-12-24
WRONGS OF THE ARMENIANS.
IHE PRESIDENT ASKED TO SPEAK A WORD
IN THEIR BEHALF.
Dr. GABRIEL DECLARES THEY ARE NOT ENEMIES
OF THE SULTAN But ARE MERELY SEEKING

oF THE SULTAN, But ARE MERELY SEEKIN"
RELIEF FROM GREAT INJUSTICE.
The reference to the troubles in Armenia made
by the President in his recent message to Con-
gress has considerably exercised the members OF
the Armenian colony IN this city, and Dr. NJ >.
Gabriel Editor of The Haik." has written io.s
letter TO Mr.. Cleveland the subject After vindi-
eating his paper. The IIalk.' against the charge
OF hostility to the Sultan. he says:
The Turks look at the sincerest OF couhseis
with suspicion. Whenever we talk Of historic law
they think we invent them. If they find them di5a-
greeable. We tell the Turks in a friendly spirit
that their empire cannot be strengthened anu
saved but by means Of real reforms. III they 1or-
get that the walls OF protection cannot stand IL
too much deviated from the perpendicular anu IL
we remind them of the law OF gravitaton which
cannot fail TO pull down the walls. the poor Turks
think We nvent!ng the law or graVitaVoh
against them. Resides the laws we have pointed
out tangible realities. brutal facts perceptoie 10
less delicate senses-Kurdish bands of brigands
monstrous Governors Of the type OF Moosa Bey
ruined villages burned harvests. captured women
and sacrileged churches. Can the Turks oeny
these? These facts formally recognized by the
Pad!shah and the Great Powers have sanctioned
the right demands Of the Armenans by the l'Nlst
Article of the Treaty Of Berlin. by which article
the Sultan pledges himself TO carry out without
further delay the improvements and reforms de-
manded by local requirements In the provinces In
habed by the Armcnians. and TO guarantee th"'r
/ security against the Circassans and kurds. Ire
ambassadors of the same Great Powers In Con-
stantnople later on explained in collective note
/ addressed to the Porte that the only way or car
rylng ont the reforms in Armenia is 10 grant her
autonomy
THE purpose OF this proposition OF the Powers
was to strengthen the Turkish Empire by Internal
reforms and kept well In line with former suGges-
tions and attempts. The Armenians had
] \ntf al
stitution. sanctioned by the Porte as =
preparatory course to autonomy. Twenty years
had elapsed since. and the Armenans had grown
up and needed TO be invested with larger gar
ment Of self-government by the Sultan. their SOW
eregn. And that is what the Christian Powers
/ advised him do: but the Commander OF the
Faithful followed an adverse course-;ook back
from the hands OF the Armenians even the shadow
OF self-governmen.. the so-called National consul
tuition The Armenians do regret much the
withdrawal OF the shadowy privilege. but the
Powers in the fact new proof of the forte's
erroneous conception to the right methods OF
handling It's Christian subjects.
THE Porte. however kindles fcaifully the In
dignation of Armenians by It's growing opposition
TO their educational efforts. II has In the last
fifteen years nauguratcd and completed a system
of measures TO check the moral growth OF the
Christian Armenians. perhaps because 1t sees
in their moral growth their highest title
to autonomy. SO. Armenian schools are
closed professors exile1. certain studies stamped
out Of the programme Of remaining schools. BOOKS.
even textbooks of IA purely sclentifc character.
censured the public press superintended with ex-
treme severity In constantinople ana the mtto'nc-
ton OF the RTsss INTO b ,e nrks nr irving from
the same motive. to hinder the American T1ission-
aries IN their ed1catonai M nnn S ,bc evaiinr as
sistance of their Christian brethren on TINS chap,
states know good deal az the recent destruction
of the Anatolia College in Marsovan by Turkish
''Irhe Turks thus refuse TO carr ont any '"-
form and try to thwsrt by all possnc nHicr mems
selves and treat all requests for proms'd hpror"
then accuse the Arnenians OF sedtion. Thus they
exasperated some young men by revolving treat
ment and then hung fve Of them a few months
and then they seem to be surprised TO see h'a'
Notwithstanding the truth that the Armenians
have the moral right Of n sng n bev ItIon se ssscd
they are keeping quiet. because their leaders 40,
wise them to keep GSe 80 has nGqe to
Your Excellenoy encoursgng the ArnHn'ans ns' 10
S W h9pf Powers xr '%f @ BRING ih@ Porte to
a better understanding OF Us true interes,s I -, a.,
fairs in Turkey. ! humbly submit to Your TX
cellency the suggestion OF ADVISING the iH'u 1n;
a better ana more liberal policy towarl i's Chris-
ian subjects think Ihis Is rTopcr n1y or HrT
lin but just because II IL not one. our eN.i.''
having no interest in the or,eht ana no Some Other
Ironean Powers are suspected by the Turks 10
the rGr dos is T2a Earnpda @ to hs
why our country should try TO bring thr ior,c n ,o
she oet" Fact that the tinted States has done more
than any other country for The moral ana vn,,on
in Turkey The American Missions 10 Tnrkty Tnrkry
have for the last sixty years worN"d sIo'riy Wy
among the Armenians. Of all the races o, a,, ..r
conntTy the Armenian being mos, receptive OF ne"
IDEAS ana European civilization ThousanIs 81 NJ
menian youths have received cdnc,ion ~ rxay
College Din Constantinopiel III nl ,fnlia' ,, H.
College tat Antab,. in Euphrates 1orsr "a, 10, l'"i m
others The Arrncnans have assimiat"d to a Gh con
siderable measure the clements s,Ser % submit them
selves humbly to tyranny They WI. Ies,in' pers
Sa n@, hasten 10 bring them some relief their sen
fments and passion for justice VII, 't1's'c ~, 10
nour ~ the Ottoman Government 20 prevent mat
outburs not by depressing, wnch s'rNrf p'''S iot,
provoke pns s"t hav are Formulated by the signaory
powers In the collective note In ther rep''"e"'"
" beg to note Mr. President in conclusion dnr Una,
during the recent troubles In LurkTE n vas no;
one Amcricanizcl Armenian The fac - INA, MI 'i,s NY
insignificant Percentage OF rern i" Tmrey. and
thnse who have done so are engaged IN pi penurtiW
and lawful work either IN CONNER" c,a oi II s quite
surprising the Ottoman Porte may ".r' hoyn oi
expei, IRON rDa,nnrzaiion in th~ United states since
i8fs 1t is perfectly right for the Porte I" eNpr a
re reasons TO- think that eventuali'y to be qni,e
improbable But when thc hIan rqp,e ,mericnns VINO
are engaged in lawful pursuits It gives utterane o., 40
az Intention grossly offensive and discourttons ,ol
the h''f1 ovtrnment to be positively told that We
have only kind Of citizen Whatever o the ,n's same
Fights 'is Of doing lawful work In any part OF '"e
world" |
pJrvBEEs TRY ANOTHER KIND OFJOIN7S
] ri r.