The herald., 1894-02-12
Against the Armenians by the
Turkish People.
A Tale of Inhuman Tyranny and
Pitiful Suffering.
Hampsrtzoom ID. Gnrabedyan Pub
fishes an Appeal to the American
People for His Suffering
Countrymen.
By the Associated Press.

WuO CdIue 10 Gulb COuubIy bOm6 yehTb
ago, and who represented his native
country in the psychical congress during
the worlds fair, has prepared the follow
ing open letter on the condition Of Ar
menia under Turkish rule
To the President and People of the United
Stntes:
No physician called to treat a patient
goes to the sick mans neighbor to learn
the symptoms of the disease.
Armenia is sick unto death. and if
have read Alright the message which
President Cleveland sent to congress at
its opening in December last, he has not
merely gone to neighbor to learn the
symptoms OF her ailment, but even to
one who is not at all well disposed to-
ward her. In that message he says:
Turkey complains that her Armenian
subjects obtain citizenship in this coun-
try, not to identity themselves in good
faith with our people, but with the in
tention OF returning to the land OF their
birth and there engaging in sedition.
This complaint is not wholly without
foundation"
1 cannot, OF course, assert that no
Armenian has ever thus abused the
privilege of American citizenship; but
u can and do say that l have never
heard Of such case, and believe that
II such practice were 60 prevalent as
to justify the founding of a rule of
national action, should have known of
it.
But whether or not an Arme-
MAN here and there has violated the
hospitality of your citizenship, as the
president claims, beg the fair-minded
people of this great, free, Christian
nation to 60 to the right source before
making up their verdict on the attitude
OF the Armenians toward the Turkish
government. implore them to remem-
Der that the Armenians are descendants
of the same branch of Noah's family as
themselves that they are sons OF Japhet,
in common with themselves; that they
are Caucasians, with ali of the quail
ties which have made the Caucasian
race rulers of the civilized world; that
they are Christians, like you, Worship
ing the one living God and His Son
Jesus Christ, as you do; that Armenia
has been twice the cradle of the human
race, and her Christianity is the Oldest
in existence. -.
Throughout the centuries and to this
day Armenia has stood az the buffer
state between the Christianity of Europe
and the psganism OF Asia stood like a
rock, against which the un-Christian
and semi-savage hosts have dashed them
selves in vain, giving to Europe, and
through Europe to America, a chance
to worship God and His Christ unhar-
raised.
Yet, in spite Of all these ties, which
should make her OF interest first, to the
whole world. because the human race
twice had it's origin there; second, to
all CaucasiaDs, because their brethren
dwelt there and, third. to the followers
of Christ, because His earliest affairs
still stand therein spite OF all these
things, Armenia has been allowed to re-
main under foreign dominion for over
800 years; first to one power and then
to another, oppressed always, but al
ways patient and easily governed, as
history teaches; not rebellioua or sedi-
tious, as the Turkish government claims.
Now and again, when the cannons of
christendom have shaken the sultan's
palace walls on the Bosphorus, it has
seemed that the day of Armenian dia-
enthrallment was at hand, but ever the
vexed eastern question" arose; the
balance OF power in Europe was urged ;
the wrongs of Armenia were forgotten I;
the ties of blood and religion were put
aside, and the ''sick man OF the east"
was still allowed to sit in the gateway
OF Asia and continue to have his will in
Armenia.
Now Armenian territory is divided
between Russia, Persia and Turkey, as
is known to you.
The condition OF the Armenians in
Russia and Persia is far more exacting
than that against which the fore
fathers OF this great nation rose in
arms; but they submit meekly, and no
word comes from st. Petersburg or
Teneran that they are seditious.
To the Turk the Armenian is always
and everywhere a christian dog" to
be kicked and buffeted. He is set upon
in mere wantonness in the streets by
Turkish ruffians. When not actually
beaten they are jeered at and cursed.
If an Armenian shows exceptional
ability, especially in Constantinople,
the Turkish government seeks him out
and gives him an Office; temptation is
laid in his way spies are set to watch
him, and ii he is caught in any derelic.
tiOhs hO 10 AlApIlbOncu duQ buoI6 pOlbOQ-
ed. Hagob Pasha was one OF many
who suffered this fate.
Your revolutionary fathers rebelled
ct the British stamp tax. Under Turk
tsh law every copy of every newspaper
issued must bear the government stamp
but If this were all or even large part
OF the demands on them, Armenians
would consider themselves most happy
and would pray for life and happiness
for the sultan; not engage in sedition
against him.
The Christian dogs of Armenians
are not allowed to serve as soldiers in
the army OF the faithful. In lieu of
such prohibited service, however, they
are taxed in the most unusual ways.
Each individual tax is comparatively
light, but, in the aggregate, they prove
crushing weight upon Armenian in
dustry. Here are some of the imposts
to which they are subjected:
Every male child born to a Christian
family is taxed 80 piastres Isl. 2O) per
year, from birth till death.
When ne reaches the age of Is wears.
the law assumes that he ia able to earn
l000 piastres per year, whether he actu-
ally is able to earn it or not, and an ad-
ditional 30 piastres is levied against this
suppositltious income. This income tax
is increased year by year as he grows
older and. presumably, able to earn
more. rr
To hv vurohono