The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12
MIR. CLEVELAND REBUKED
Partially Untrue Statement in
Message to Congress.
Armenians WrOngfully Imprisoned,
Heavily Taxed and Their Women
Outraged by Bestial Turks.

Der of an ancient clerical family. who came
to this country some years ago. and who
represented his native country in the
psychical congress during the worlds fair.
has prepared an open lstter on the condi-
ton Of Armenia under Turkish rule, which
is addressed to the President and people of
the United States. Following are extracts
from the letter:
mo 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 al its opening in Decem-
ber last, he has not merely gone 10 neigh
Dor TO learn the symptoms Of her ailnent
but even 70 one who is not at all well
disposed toward her. In that message he
says: Turkey complains that her Ar
menian subjects obtain citizenship IN this
country, not to idenJify themselves in good
faith with our people, but with the inten-
tl0n OF returning 10 the land OF their birth
and there engaging in sedition- This COM
plaint is not wholly without foundation
Il cannot, of course, assert that no Ar
menian has ever thus abused the privilege
OF American citizenship; but can and do
say that have never heard Of such case.
SOU So rreyaient lsa' as to o. j1Stify the Founding
of a rule of national action / should have
Xbo X9wa 9d IT. 70 bGs 6G k0M contr snd baca1e
citizen of the United States. He studied,
and on the completion OF his course, re-
turned TO Armenia, and was at once inn
prisOned. Representation OF the facts was
made to the government of the United
States.
"It is possible that the complaint of the
Turkish government referred 10 by Presi-
dent Cleveland in his message, grew out
OF this case. But whether or not an Ar
menian here and there has violated the
hospitality Of your citizenship. as the Pres
of this great, free, Christian nation to go
to the right source before making up their
verdict the attitude of the Armenians
toward the Turkish government / irnplore
them to remember that the Armenlans are
descendants of the same branch OF Noah's
of Japhet, in common with themselves; that
they are Caucasians, with all the qualities
which have made the Caucasian race rulers
of the civilized world; that they are Chris
tians, like you, worshiping the one living
God and His Son Jesus Christ, as you do;
that Armenia has been twice the cradle
OF the human race, and that her Christian
ity is the Oldest in existence.
Biblical scholars tell us that the Garden
of Eden. where dwelt the first man and the
first woman, was located within the boun-
daries of Armenia Mount Ararat whereon
Noahs ark landed after the flood. is in Ar
menia. and tradition tells that while
the Savior Of mankind was still alive His
gOs9ei was preached IN Armenia ana ac-
cepted by its people. Throughout the CEN
turies and TO this day Armenia has stood
as the buffer state between the Christianity
of Europe and the paganism of Asia; stood
like rock, against which the unchristian
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 embarrassed.
credit in making up the verdict on her re-
lations with Turkey?
A LONG SUFFERING PEOPLE.
"Yet in spite of all these ties which should
make her of interest; first to the whole
world, because the human race twice had
its origin there; second, to all Caucasians
because their brethren dwelt there, and,
third. TO the followers Of Christ. because
His earliest altars still stand therein
4I-s..
allowed to remain under foreign dominion
for over six hundred years; first to one
power and then to another. oppressed
always but always patient and easily gov-
erned, as history teaches; not rebelliOGs or
seditious. the Turkish government
claims. Now and again when the cannonS
of Christendom have shaken the Suitans
palace walls the BOsphorus il has
seemed that the day OF Armenian olsen
thrallment was at hand, but ever the
vexed Eastern question arose. the ball
ance of power in Europe was urged, the
wrongs of Armenia were forgotten, the ties
of blood and religion were put aside and
the sick man of the East was stili allowed
10 sit in the gateway of Asia and continue
to have his will in Armenia
Now Armenian territory is divided be-
tween Russia. Persia and Turkey, as is
known TO you. The condition of the Ar
menians in Russia and Persia is far more
exacting than that against which the fore
but they submit meekly and no word comes
from St Petersburg or Teheran that they
are seditious 1t is only the .unspeakable
Turk, that heartless combination of Mon
golian and Arab, who is able 10 devise
cruelties and exactions so fiendish to
make them cry out to their fellow Chris
tians here and elsewhere. as they now DO.
Help us for the dear Lords sake. We
perish And we are perishiny visibly be-
fore the eyes Of the civilized and Chris
tian world From 35, 100000 in number We
have dwindled to barely 5.oOo.ooo six-sev
enths Of our race, not taking natural in
crease into account have been murdered
| by foreign oppression; our natural bent in
the direction Of literature and the refine
| crushed beneath the heel OF the Turkish
| tax gatherer. who comes not once year,
| daughters-on a certain occasion 200 of
them-are captured in the fierce forays OF
| the Kurds, with the thinly veiled con-
nivance Of the Turkish government. and
| sold 10 the Moslem harems or taken into
the black tents of these savage nomads;
| at the door Of the church and hurried away
| TO the same fate. The proof Of this is seen
| In the face OF many Turk, the son Of an
| Armenian mother.
''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
rufflans. When not actually beaten they
are jeered at and cursed. / myself know OF
| case i'm which three young Armenians
were killed by Turks without any provOca-
| tion whatever. They Were enjoying them
| selves at a garden party in their own gar
| den, when number Of the Turks burst In
and attacked them The head Of one young
Armchair WAS GEuSit-l Win a stone ana
| two others were cut TO pieces. Turkish
| lads amuse themselves by taunting tantaliz-
ing beating Armenians going quietly
| about their business I'm the streets, and the
| Turkish police remain entirely ObliyiOus OF
such lawiessneSs. unless the Armenian.
goaded beyond endurance, turns upon them,
| when he is dragged off To prison. Robbers
waylay and strip Armenians OF their valu-
ables In the most open manner. with the
connivance OF the police with whom they
| afterwards divide the spoil. If the person
| who is robbed brings complaint he and his
witnesses are cast into prison TO await
| the trial. and are frequently poisoned. III
Armenian shows exceptional ability, es-
pecially in Constantinople, the Turkish gov
| ernment seeks him out and gives him an
office; temptation is laid in his way; spies
| are set 10 watch him, and If he is caught
I'm any dereliction he is imprisoned and
there poisoned Hagob Pasha was one OF
many who suffered this fate.
BURDENSOME TAXES.
"Your revolutionary fathers rebelled at
the British stamp act Under Turkish law
| every copy OF every newspaper issued
| must bear the government stamp; but if