The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-16
ARMENIAN-A N-AMERICANS.
They Have a Grievance and Make
an Appeal to the President.
THEY SAY TIE SULTAN'S MINIONS
SPIT ON THEIR PASSPORTS,

And That the Name of This Great Countrv
Is a BY Word Among the Turks-They
Also Say that the Sublime Porte Has
Libelled Them and They Want the Sui
| tan Informed that They Are Quite
Content to Stay Away From Turkey
Boston, January 15.-Some Boston
citizens of Armenian birth have sent a
| letter to President Cleveland in which
1hey say I'VE the undersigned have
been appointed a committee at mass
meeting of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
Boston and vicinity to represent them in
communicating to Your Excellency facts
IN regard to the position of Armenian
citizens in the United States and in their
behalf and in the behalf of thousands of
American citizens of Armenian descent
porn or naturaiized in this country con-
cernlng certain charges of the Turkish
government mentioned in your recent
message to. Congress We have read with
satisfaction that the earnest remon-
strancos of thissgovernment in regard ito
the outrages perpetrated by an unre-
strained mob with the completely of
some government officials on American
cltlZens in Turkey received a nrompt
response by the Turkish government In
the punishment of the offenders and
reparatlon for the American property de-
stroyed by said mob. We desire to enter
a most emphatic protest against the
charge OF Turkey that her Armenian
subjects obtain citizenship in this
country not to identify themselves in
good faith with it's people but with tn
intention OF returning to the land of
their birth and there engaging in
sedltlon' as not founded on facts. There
has not been single Armenian -Ameri-
can citizen proved guilty of the offensse
charged. We have identified ourselves in
entire good faith with this country. Such
is our esteem of the government and OBJ
portun1t1es of the country of our adoption
and so keenly do we feel the severity of
the Turkish government towards Ameri-
can subjects that there is no intention
among us of going back to the country.
allegiance to whose ruler we formally
renounced. Some Armenian-A American
citizens have families and relations AT,
home and they go back for the purpose
OF visiting them and their fatherland or
disposing of their properties or bringing
their families to the land of their adon.
tlon. we wish to call the attention of
Your Excellency and of the American
people to the fact that if Armenians
who have formerly been subjects of the
Sultan have become American citizens
that fact has been sufficient cause for the
Turkish government to stamp them as
revolut1onlsts or at least as suspicious
characters. In consequence they have
been thrown into prison and. subjected
Go very many unnecessary annoyances by
the officers of the Porte. Armenian
Americans feel entitled to the full and
lndlscrlmlnatlng protection of their gov
ernment. 1t is most important question
for them as American citizens who for
any legitimate purposes may be residing
or travelling in Turkey to know where
their rights begin and where they end
AS the matter stands now American
citizenship is looked upon by the
Turkish government with contempt and
an American passport is spat upon by
government officials. The great name Of
America has become by-word in the
land of the Sultan. In view of the
threatened action of the Ottoman Porte
and the uncertain and perhaps dangerous
position of American citizens in Turkey
we respectfully urge the United States to
take such steps as may be necessary to-
ward negotiating treaty with Turkey
respecting the rights of naturaIized clti-
zens. We should be gratifed if through
the diplomatic relations of the United
states with Turkey that government
could be assured of our sentiments as
above expressed in respect 10 our identi-
hcation. with the United States and
especially gratified if any alleviation can
be made of the condition of the people" of
our native land through the influence of
this government of which you are the
executive head, and of which SO many
of us are citizens. The Armenian Journal
referred to in your message is private
concern and ID no sense the organ of
Armenian-A citizens