Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-18

The Armenian question has again come
to the front. and with liz usual attendant
horrors. The details Of the recent Kurdish
rad show that the defsnceless and
peaceable Armeuians have not been sub
1ectsd 70 such revolving cruelties since
the suppression Of the rebellion OF lSSd
Indeed, Il is doubtful II the country has
furnished more terrible chapter Of
atrocities since the middle OF the fourteen
century. when 1t was practically
triangle hemmed In by Ottomans. Kurds.
and Persians. and was held In the
merciless grasp of Timour.
The British government made reforms
IN Armenia" q special stipulation OF the
treaty Of Berlin, and, OF course, 1t Is on
the programme that that government Will
enter the regulation protest against the
outrages. 1t may be also set down as on
the card that the Porte will promise 10
punish the offenders and see that the
Armenians do not suffer in future.
But how much longer will Russia accept
these regulation protests and conventional
pledges? The question may be very perth
nent at this particular juncture Russia
has nearly a million and a half Armenian
subjects, and not only are the Greek ana
Armenian churches closely allied In faith'
but in the eighteenth century Peter the
Great took the latter under his protection.
II is conceded that a part OF Russias
general design to secure ocean outlets
is to advance down the valley OF the
Euphrates, and through the Persian Gulf.
Such a stroke would enable her 10
threaten India, and afford her as well
another strategic advantage when shall
arrive the moment for final and deter
mined movement upon Constantinopie'
England appreciates this. and ever since
Russia's last war with Persia has been
quietly but none the less vigorously pre-
pairing for the effort to consummate the
plan.
The atrocities that have been perpe-
trated in Armenia from time to time by
the Kurds and other Turkish subjects are
OF a piece with the Bulgarian outrages'
which gave Russia an excuse Tor inc
Russo-Turkish war of ls77-'7s, and, conse-
ouently, the terrible cruelties incident 10
the Armenian rebellion Of 1883, ana the
"cooked-up" revolt Of 1893 excited grave
fears that Russia would interfere In that
quarter. also. There was serious talk on
each occasion Of an English military rail-
way from the Mediterranean to the head
of the Persian Gulf. and England hasten
ed TO strengthen herself with the Sultan
n, Oman. Furthermore, the air was filled
with rumors Of British intrigue at Ie-
heran. Had any one except the peace
loving Alexander III. been on the throne
OF the Romanoffs, II Is not improbable
that the fears referred 10 would nave
proved we'll founded.
Though the present Car Is said TO De
pledged to the pacific policy of his father
we have no guarantee that should faVor-
able opportunity present itself he could
resist the temptation to rally the war
party 10 his support. Russia, 1t Is true
needs to sweep before her own door In the
matter of outrages. but were the cry
"Amel,orate the condition OF the Chris
t,ans in Armenia" raised 1t would prove
popular throughout the empire. Inc
civilized world will, therefore, await win
both interest and anxiety what st. Peters
burg has 10 say touching the Armenian
incident