The record-union., 1894-02-15
CONDITION OF ARMENIA.
Frlghtful CrueIties Practiced by the
Turks.
Ae Is Time That the Christian Nations
of the World Took Some
Decisive Action.

CHICAGO, Feb. 4.-Hampartzoom D.
earabedgan of Cilicia, Asia Minor, a
member Of an ancient clerical family,
who came to this country some years
ago, and who represented his native
country in the physical congress during
the Worlds Fair, has prepared the fol-
lowing open letter on the condition of
Armenia under Turkish rule:
To the President and People Of the
United States: No physician called to
Treat a patient goes TO the sick mans
disease.
Armenia is sick unto death. and if [
have read Alright the message which Presi-
dent Cleveland sent to Congress at is
opening in December last, he has not
merely gone to a neighbor to learn the
symptoms of her ailment, but even to one
who is not at all Well disposed toward
her. In that message he says:
Turkey complains that her Armenian
subjects obtain citizenship in this
country, not to identity themselves in
good faith with our people, but with the
intention of returning to the land of their
birth and there engaging in sedition.
This complaint is not wholly without
foundation
/ cannot. of course. assert that no Ar
menian has ever thus abused the privi-
lege of American citizenship; bit ] can
and do say that I have never heard of
such case, and l believe that if such
practice were SO prevalent as to justify
the founding of rule OF national action,
/ should have known of it.
/ do know young Armenian who
came to this country and became a citizen
of the United States. He studied, and on
the completion Of his course. returned to
Armenia, and was at once imprisoned.
Representation of the facts was made 10
the Government Of the United States.
1t is posSib ole that the complaint of the
Turkish Government referred to by
President Cleveland in his message grew
out Of this case.
But whether or not an Armenian here
and there has violated the hospitality Of
your citizenship, as the President claims,
1 beg the fair-minded people OF this great,
free, Christian nation TO go to the right
source before making up their verdict on
the attitude of the Armenians toward the
Turkish Government. l implore them
to remember that the Armenians are
descendants Of the same branch of \ Oah's
family as themselves; that they are sons
OF Japhet, in common with themselves;
that they are Caucasians, with all OF the
qualities which have made the Caucasian
race rulers of the civilized world; that
they are Christians, like you, worship
ing 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 Christianity is the Oldest in eX-
lstence.
Biblical scholars tell US that the garden
of Eden, where dwelt the first man and
the first woman, was located within the
boundaries of Armenia. Mount Ararat
whereon Noah's ark landed after the
flood, is in Armenia, and tradition tells US
that while the Savior OF Mankind was
still alive, His gospel was preached in
Armenia and accepted by its people.
Throughout the centuries and to this
day Armenia has stood as the buffer State
between the Christianity and the pagan
ism of Asia; stood like a rock, against
which the unchristian and semi-savage
hosts have dashed themselves in vain,
giving to Europe, and through Europe to
America, chance to worship God and
His Christ embarrassed. Should not this
be remem bered to her credit in making
up the verdict on her relations with Tur-
KY?
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 spite of all these things,
Armenia has been allowed to- remain
under foreign dominion for over six hun
dred years; first TO one power and then to
another, oppressed always, but always
patient and easily governed, as history
teaches; not rebellious or seditious, as
the Turkish Government claims.
Now and again when the cannons of
Christendom have shaken the Sultan's
palace walls on the Bosphorus, it has
seemed that the day of Armenian disen-
rn0 at hI1t
veXed Eastern question" arose; the bal
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 still
allowed to 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 10 you.
The condition of the Armenians in
Russia and Persia is far more eXacting
than that against which the forefathers OF
this great nation rose in arms; but they
submit meekly, and no word comes from
st. Petersburg or Teheran that they are
seditious.
IL is only the unspeakaDle Turk, that
heartless com mbination of MOngolian and
Arabs, who is able to devise cruelties and
exactionS so fiendish as to make them
cry out to their fellow Christians here
ana GlSSh huGI6y do bIt I1OM w. us.
for the dear Lords sake! We perish ~
And we are periShing viSibly before the
ewes of the civilized and Christian world.
From 81, ,000, 900 in number we have dwln-
died TO barely 5,000,0 600. Six-sevenths of
our race, not taking natural increase into
account. have been murdered by foreign
oppression; our natural bent in the di-
rection of literature and the rehnementS
of your more happy civilization are
crushed beneath the heel of the Turkish
tax-gatherer, who comes, not once year,
as with you, but every day; our talreSt
daughters-on a certain occasion 1000 OF
them-are captured in the fierce forays OF
the kurds, with the thinly yelled con-
nivance OF the Turkish Government, and
sold to the Moslem harems or taken into
the black tents of these savage nomads;
brides are snatched from the husbands at
the door of the church and hurried away
to the same fate.
The proof of this is seen in the face OF
many a Turk, the son of an Armenian
mother.
To the Turk the Armenian is always
and everywhere christian dog" 10 be
kicked and buffeted. He is set upon IN
mere wantonness in the streets by Turk
lsh ruffians. When not actually beaten,
they are jeered at and cursed.
l, myself know of a case in which
three young Armenians were killed by
Turks without any Drovocation whatever.
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IF you FEEL DROWSY,