The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-17
That Exalted Ruler Has Heaped Hon.
or ON the Heads Of the Leaders
in the Affair.
INVESTIGATION DEMANDED
OUTSIDE NATIONS ALONE CAN GET
AT ALL THE FACTS.
Condition Of American Missionaries
Given I'm a Statement from the
Board at Boston.


ganizatiou in America, centralizes its work
In behalf of Armenians in Asiatic Turkey.
Its western Turkey mission began In 1919.
its eastern Turkey mission In 1886, and its
central Turkey mission in 1871. These three
missions comprise fifteen stations. 26S out
stations. forty-five missionaries. one med
ical missionary in eastern Turkey, forty
two married women and seventy-three un-
married women; in fact, it employs 7s1 ma
tive laborers These laborers occupy l99
places for stated preaching. secured aver
age congregations of 9O,7T persons. The
Sunday schools number S.4eL The adher-
ents are estimated at 1864. There are III
churches. with a membership OF n.4Sl. OF
whom 49S were received within a year. The
educational work is expensive. There are
four theological schools. twenty-nine the
illogical students, thirty-one colleges, high
and boarding schools for boys. containing
1913 pupils twenty colleges. high and
boarding schools for girls. containing LII
pupils. There are s72 common schools. con-
tanning 1858 pupils. There are 1,5sl others
unGer Instructions
The grand total of persons under snstruc-
tions consist of 1856 persons. The contri-
buttons of the natives last year TO the
American board amounted to $s4.75s. These
facts do not include the work in Euro
pean Turkey. Numerous inquiries have
been received from the press and from the
congregational constituency In the United
States. which has induced the conservative
organization to furnish the following state
ment relating to affairs in Turkey:
A DELICATE SITUATION.
1--WE are not unconcerned about the re-
ports Of the massacre in eastern Turkey.
The position OF the III missionaries OF the
American board within the Turkish empire
Is an extremely delicate one. SympathIzing
deeply on the one side with all who are
suffering by reason of poverty. oppression
and misrule. they have yet been loyal to
the government under which they have
lived and have never countenanced sedition
or rebellion. Il had been their blessed
privilege while preaching the gospel OF
Jesus Christ to aid the poor, TO protect,
as far as possible, the oppressed and to
deliver from unjust officials multitudes
who have been arrested or imprisoned. 1t
is not necessary for our missionaries, after
these scores of years Of devoted labor for
the native races OF Turkey, to prove their
sympathy with the suffering and oppressed
by joining others who, at a safe distance
from the scene of danger, are passing
vigorous resolutions in condemnation of the
wrongs inflicted. They are doing their best.
amid no little peril to themselves. In the
interests of those for whom they have long
labored, but our readers can well UNDER
stand that for the sake, both of the help
ers and of the helped, it is inexpsdient for
us to present a fun statement Of all that
we hear and believe. Some things we may
properly say prior to the full investigation
of the alleged atrocities, which We trust
will be made by the representatives Of both
our government and of the European
powers
I'm the Sassoun region, south OF Moush
plain, there are. or recently were, many
villages inhabited by -armenians. These
iocks by Koords, and in the latter part OF
the summer the Armenians pursued the
robbers in their endeavor to recover their
property. In the fight which ensued a
dozen Of these Koords were killed, among
whom were some who were enrolled as
Turkish soldiers. When information ,aa, was
of the Sultan's troops the charge OF re-
bellion was made and orders We're sent to-
put down the insurrection. The result was
that these lawless and uncontrolled sol
diers made indiscriminate slaughter OF the
people who had sought TO defend their
foilowed thousands were slain, some state
six thousand, others ten t..ousand.
1.-The details Of this wretched affair are
not obtainable even by those near the
scene They will never be obtained unless
foreign governments insist on thorough
Investigation conducted by foreigners The
poor people are in terror and dare not state
the truth unless under protection. A docu-
ment has been prepared near the scene OF
the carnage, purporting TO give tne Juug-
ment of the people that the thousands slain
in Talvoree met their just deserts and ex-
pressing regret that it had been thought
best to send sonsuls TO investigate since
there had been no need for their coming.
SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
"The value of such a document will be
understood when the methods for securing
signatures are known. But such investiga-
tIons should be made most vigorously.
either to relieve the government from un-
lust charges If the statements are incorrect.
or IL they should be proven. to bring about
the condign punishment of the guilty par
ties. Though our missionaries I'm eastern
| Turkey are often on the Moush plain.
where there are many out-stations in which
| the evangelical work is conducted by them.
| vet their work has not extended into this
| Sassoun district. and hence they have had
no direct reports from the scene Of the
massacre Papers from Constantinople.
| printed entirely under the control OF the
| Turkish censors OF the press, announce that
| the Sultan has sent one OF his imperial
( guards to the city of Erzingnn 10 carry a
| decoration to Zeh Pasha- the commander
| of the Fourth Army Corps. which L. 10
| commander who led the troops against the
defenseless villages In the Sassoun region
| Al the time OF the maSSdcfe AnObutT cAt-
| yoy carries four banners from the Sultan
| to the four leading Koordish chiefs who
were associated with the military command
! er in the reported massacre. and who prob
ably were the instigators OF it. After the
Sultan has thus approved OF the action or
his troops and OF the koords, IL VIII be
| impossible for any commission appointed
| by the Turkish government TO investigate
| the outrage and bring any report that re-
| fleets on either the Koords or the army.
| By this act the Sultan seems TO assume
ali the responsibility OF what has been done.
These stories of wrong and oppression
have aroused the civilized world. We are
glad to learn that our government mas di-
| rected one OF It's consuls TO make an inde-
pendent investigation of all matters con-
nected with the reported massacre. But our
| government does not stand in the same re-
| latfon to Turkey as do the European pow
ers that under the treaty OF Berlin. Sc
| cured the right of seeing that good govern
ment was maintained throughout the Turk
,sh empire. The rights thus guaranteed
ought now to be exercised. and the first
step should be most thorough investiga-
| ton as TO the condition of affairs through
| out Armenia.
| 1--WE cannot doubt that the European
| powers will attend 10 Their duty. The VIM
| ter Is not a favorable time for visiting east
ern Turkey. where the snow is often from
/ eight to twelve feet deep. Time and pa
| tience will be required. Erzlngan. which Is
referred TO In the preceding statement, Is
nftv MIN mil eG uotlfh aof NJ Efx-