The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-17

tit' - --1<,<tr = ~ , r-1dft L1ftns
Boston, Mass, Dec. 16.--The Ameri-
ran board of commissioners for foreign
missions. more than any other mis-
Ficnary organization in America, CEN
traiizes its work in behalf Of Armen-
sans in Asiatic Turkey ITS western
Turkey mission began in 1873. its east
Hrn Turkish mission in 1886, and dts
central Turkey mission in 1S47. These
three missions comprise fifteen sta
lions, 2eS out-stafions. forty-five mis-
sionaries. one medical missionary in
Eastern Turkey, fortv-two married wo-
men ard seventy-three unmarried wo-
men; in fact, 1t employs 7ai rative la
borers. These iabvrers occupy 2ss
places for stated preaching, secure av-
erage congregations of 30,747 persons.
The Sabbath schools number 264. The
bdhereuts are estimated at 1854.
There are l12 churches, with q LEM
bsfship Of II 49,, of which 4SS were re-
reived within year. The edrca tionaI
work Is extensive There are four the
illogical schools. twenty-nlne theolog-
\ lcal students, tllirty-cne colleges, lsGgh
and boarding schools for boys; twenty
colleges. high and boarding schools Cor
girls. There are 3Tz common schools
rontainiag 1888 pupils. There are
1851 others UNDER instructions. The
contributions OF the natives to the
American board last year amounted to
F34,T5S. These facts do not include TIE
work IN European Turkey.
Conservative Statement.
Numerous Inquiries have been re-
ceived from the press and from the
congregational constituency in the
United States, which has induced this
conservative Organization Il, furnish
the following statement relating to af-
fairs in Turkey:
We are not unconcerned by reports
Of inassscres in eastern Turkey. The
position Of the III missionaries of the
American board within the Turkish
empires is an extremely delicate one.
Ey1npatElizing deeply on one side with
al who are suffering by reason of
poverty. they have yet been loyal to
the government under which they have
lived, and have never countenanced Sc
Hilton o.. rebellion.
ut has heen their blessed privilege
while preaching the gospel OF Jesus
Christ, to aid the poor, to protect as
Ear as possible the oppressed, and TO
6ellver from unjust multitudes officials
who Lave been arrested or imprisoned.
K is not necessary for our missionaries
sitter these scores Of years Of devo-
ton and devoleo labor for the native
race 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
vigorsus resolutions in condemnation
of the wrongs inflicted. They are do
INK their best amid no little peril to
themselves in the interests of those for
= 1y,,,- 1ot1
readers can well understand that for
the sake both of the helpers and of
the helped it is expedient for US to
present a full statement of all we hear
and believe.
Investigation Wanted.
''Some things we may properly say
prior to the fun Investigation Of the al
legged atrocities, which we trust will be
made by the representatives Of both
our government and Of the European
powers. Ii the Sassoun region south
of Moosh Plain, there are. or were,
many villages inhabited by Afmenians.
These people were Systematically rob-
bed of their 1ocks by Kurds, and in
the latter part of the summer the Ar
menlaas pursued the robbers in their
endeavor to recover their property. In
the fight which ensued dozen of these
Kurds were killed, among whom were
some who were enrolled as Turkish SOL
diers. When Information was given
that the Arnienians had killed some of
the sultan's troops, the charge OF re-
bellion was made, and orders were sent
to put down the insurrection. The re-
suit was. these Iawless and uncontrol-
led soldiers made indiscrimiRate
slaughter Of the people who had sought
TO defend their property.
fIn the horrible massacre which fol-
lowed, thousands were slain. some state
5000, others 10000. The details Of this
Tretehed affair are net obtainable even
by those near the scene. They will
never be obtained unless foreign gov
eraments insist upon thorough inves-
tigation conducted by foreigners. The
poor people are in terror and dare not
stete the truth unless under protection.
a docbrent mas been prepared near
the scene az the carnage purporting.to
give the Judgment of the people that
the thousands slain in Taivorle met
their jusc deserts and expressing re-
greet that It had been thought best to
SEND consuls 10 Investigate since there
has been no need FOR tf1slr coming. The
value cf such a document viii be I'M
dersto6d when he methods for secur-
ing signatures are known But such
investigations should be made most
vigorously either 10 relieve the gov
ccnrEant from unjust charges, if the
statements SIRE incorrect, or il they
should a,e proven, to bring about the
condigga punishment OF the guilty
parties. Though our missionaries in
eastern Turkey are often upon the
Afoosh Plain, where there are many
cIlr-ztztlops in which the evangelical
work Is conducted by them. yet their
work has NOT extended into the Sas-
soua iistrict, ard hence they have had
no d!rec: reports from The scene OF the
massacre. Papers from Constantinop!e,
entirely u-ss<er the control of the Turk
ish censorF OF the press, announce that
The sultan has sent one OF his imperial
guards 10 the city OF Erzinsan, in east
ern Turkey. to carry a decoration TO
Zexl.. Pasha, the commander OF The
Fourth army corps, which is located
there. Zakkf Pasha is the military COM
1nan6er who led tae troops against the
defenseless villages IL the Sasscun re-
gion al She time Of the massacre. An
other envoy carries Four ban |
ners from the sultan to the |
Tour leading Kurdish chiefs who were |
associated ws.h the military coElnlan- |
oant n the reported massacre and who |
probably were the iaStigato-s Of 1t. |
Aftec the sultan had thus approved OF
the action Of his troops and Of the |
huras Il VIII be impossible Tor any |
COMMITTEES appointed by tne Turkish. !,
government to investigate The outrage
ana bring any report S5at reflects OH !
either the kEnss or the army. BY this
act the sultan seems TO assume all che
responsibility for what has rsen cone. !
These stories ci Wr07,g am oppres- !
sion have aroused the civilized world. /
We IRE clad 20 learn Cur government |