Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-05

that he OHallward) had encouraged the
Armenians to revolt" The Turkish gov
eminent issued another report, in which
the responsibility was laid upon the Kurd-
ish brigands. The latest report or
rather version, received from Turkish
official source was that at Sassoun all
troops killed 1900 of them" All these
contradictory statements Of the porte COM
pei the intelligent people to have no con-
fidence in its reports and official kilograms
so called. And those who have any
knowledge and experience Of the character
and disposition of this miserable govern
ment and its officers have failed to find
single instance in which they have not
been disappointed by giving any import
ance to such reports and official tele-
grams.
An American missionary. who has been
in Turkey almost his whole life time,
writes: ut may be laid down a uni
versal fact that in the Turkish courts
justice is never rendered simply Tor JUS
tees sake. 1t is Impossible to convey TO
the mind of any one who has not actually
seen it any idea of the utter prostitution
of the very name of government in the
provincial towns, or the bold eIfrontery
with which the highest officers will shift
their ground from one untenabie false
hood TO another in lodging the necessity
of performing the plainest duties"
Such is the character. disposition and
utter restitution of any truthfulness of
the Turkish government and its officers.
from whom we Informed that the
official telegram has come.
In the face of the British consul's report,
Mr.. Hallward at Van, in the face of the
Turkish governments realizing the serious
ness of the case and appointing a COM
mission to go TO the spot to make an in
vestgation, in the face of the fact that
the American missionaries have sent their
reports of the fearful massacre to the
American board at Boston, Mass, the
Turkish officers are still trying hard to
shift their ground from one untenable
falSahOO1 publishing H.
reports or official kilograms.
"As The time goes on the report of the
missionaries runs. the extent of the
slaughter seems to grow in magnitude.
1t is certain that six thousand victims Is
a low figure, the number being probably
nearer ten thousand"
The commission sent by the sultan is
composed of such officers as the good mis-
sionary above quoted has reference to. 1t is
therefore useless to expect anything good
out of their investigation. If England and
other European powers who signed the
treaty of Berlin desire to do their duty
now is the time. They ought to send q
commission representing five European
powers to make a thorough Investigation
of the fearful massacre. They ought to
investigate the general condition of the
where so-called political prisoners are
crowded and tortured and not unfre-
quently put to death. After the investi-
cation and effecting the punishment OF
the guilty parties these representatives
themselves must draw out a definite plan
of reform, conducive to the well being
and protection of the Christians against
any form of injustice Such a reform as
the government itself. These powers also
ought to let the unwilling, indolent and
willy Turk know that he must this time
obey orders or Turkey will be carved and
each power will have piece Of her, and
that will be the end of all this trouble.
NJ c. GABRIELIAN, NJ. d.