The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12

are a Few or the taxes which are imposed
upon them. not as citizens OF Turkey, but
as Christians; in fact. the whole system OF
persecution which Is leveled against them
is at their Christianity, not at their Ar
mechanism. IL they would but give up
their religion they might at once roll from
their shoulders the weight OF wrongs which
Expresses them and become honored cfti-
zens OF the Moslem empire and hold high
Offices under IL.
The Christian dogs OF Armenians are
not allowed to serve as soldiers in the army
OF the faithful. IN lieu of such prohibited
service, however, they are taxed in the most
unusual ways. Each individual tax is
comparatively light. but in the aggregate
they prove a crushing weight upon Ar
menian industry. Here are some Of the
imposts TO which they are subjected: Ev-
cry male child born to a Christian family
Is taxed 20 piastres &1.2O per year from
birth till death. When he reaches the age
Of fifteen years the law assumes that he
Is able to earn 1000 piastreS per year,
whether he actually is able TO earn il or
not. and an additional 30 piastres is levied
against the supposititious income. This in
come tax is increased year by year as he
grows older and, presumaO oily, able to earn
comes into possession of any land he is
taxed 30 piastres per year upon each LOCO
piastres in IL; value. If he builds a house
ne Is taxed 80 piastres per thousand of its
cost II he cultivates any ground he must
pay 80 piastreS per year per thousand in
the value OF the ground cultivated. and 10
per cent. or the value or the crops.
orchards and vineyards pay a tax of 10
pei. cent on the value of the product.
WHICH product IS estimated from the dos
SONS in the spring and collected in the fall
on that basis, even though, on account Of
an unfavorable season, no fruit Is raised.
Cows, sheep and goats are taxed 3 piastres
each. III any two European nations go 10
war a special impost of from 5 to 500 pias-
tres each is levied upon the Christians for
the mobilization of the Turkish army. Ev-
cry Armenian laborer who owns an imple-
ment, such as an ak, or a pickax is taxed .
piastres.
Day by day the tax gatherers, accom-
panied by. one or more gendarmes, go from
house to house. The delinquent is dragged
unceremOniously into the street by the coat
collar and the unpaid tax demanded. Per-
saps he is engaged in weaving a piece of
expects TO realize money TO pay the impost.
In that case a few piastres dropped into
munity for the time being. but If he has
nothing with which to pay the tax or bride
tobacco money! he is trotted off TO prison,
Confined there. his wife or other relatives
must feed him. for the government will
the children must go hungry to save the
father from. starving in prison. If the wife
or other reiatlve cannot raise the amount
OF the tax then the officials enter the house
and carry away everything portable, even
10 the bedding and kitchen utensils, and sell
them at auction for whatever they will
bring. Finally, at the end of the year,
whatever part of the taxes remain unpaid
is returned as delinquent TO the elders of
the Christian church OF the district, who
are compelled to assess the amount against
those of the members who are able TO pay.
All VI lIiot = IL Dt remembered, = ulItGl
taxing by the Turkish government, for
which the Christians receive no return-not
even protection, from private plundering.
rapine and murder. or the support of their
schools and churches, and for the improve
ment of their cities, they must tax them
selves.
RESULT OF A REVOLT.
I'm the city OF Zaytoon, in the province
of Ciltcia, the taxes were so inordinate that
the inhabitants offered to surrender the
land, with all of the improvements upon 1t,
to the government in payment of impost.
AS a matter of fact, the taxes amounted to
five times the value of the property and the
government refused to accept it. AS the
inhabitants could not endure it they tried
20 rebel, and the government sent six regi-
ments of soldiers there. The people. driven
to desperation, defended themselves as best
they could, being without firearms, and
many were killed before the socalled sedi-
ton was put down. Babig, a young man
OF exceptional ability and of great popu-
larity with his countrymen, got together a
band of twenty-eight friends, armed them
selves as best they could with flint-lock
muskets and other antiquated Weapons and
toon, and, with a view to bringing the des-
~perateness of the situation to the knowl-
issued from their retreat from time to
tine and attacked a Turkish outpost.
trifed with. the government sent him "A spe-
cial pardon for past offenses and made him
commander of the mountain guard for the
protection Of caravans, in which he did most
efficient service. But the Turkish govern
ment was not done with him. He was in
vited to the wedding of the son Of a retired
pasha, in the city of Marash, and in accord
ance with the custom of the country, gave
presents to the servants of the groom. The
presents were quite lavish, and the groom,
protesting jealousy, hired a low character,
who entered the banquet hall during the
marriage feast and assassinated the young
Armenian commander while sitting at the
banquet table The groom was not pun
ished, the court adjudging that he was in
sane. therefore not responsible. And so. Tur-
key was rid Of a dangerous leader of sedi-
ton.
"Moossa Bey Is a name more or less ia
miliar in America He was for eight years
Governor or Upper Armenia. During that
time his cruelties were unspeakable. He de-
stroyed and bnrned towns ana villages with
field, and carried off any OF his subjects
wives and daughters whose beauty struck
his fancy. Finally, some of the best citi-
zens, unable to endure his c~ruelties any
longer, drew up and signed n petition for
his recall, TO be forwarded to the Patriarch
I'm Constantinople, with the request that he
lay 1t before the government. Moossa Bey
learned of the movement, intercepted the
petition; called the slgners before MN and
asked them in turn: Are these the fingers
which signed the petition? When answered
in the affirmative, he caused their fingers
TO be cut of. and then made them stand
on loose powder, which was exploded be-
meath them. This sort of thing went on year
after year. and the outside world never
I'll vi G"C AA1lAhC VI LOC2oL ~ Iii OIC
day he interfered with an American mis-
s.onary.
Complaint was at once made TO the
United States government, which, In turn,
demanded that Moossa Bey be punished.
Turkey. not caring to incur the i'll will of
the United States. sent for Moossa Bey. He
came to Constantinople in state, and was
given a palace with a retinue of servants.
Then word was sent TO the local govern
ment in Upper Armenia to ask all who had
complaints against the late Governor to
come to ConStantinople. Twenty-siX promi-
nent Armenians expressed their desire to
go for the purpose of testifying against the
deposed Governor. They were taken to Con-
stantinople in chains and cast in prison,
where twenty-three of them died Of torture.
The other three were set at liberty, and
were only too glad to be allowed to return
to their homes without giving testimony
against MOosSa Bey. AS there was no evil
dence against him when his case was called
for trial, he was e~Xonerated and sent back
to the same province to continue his cruel
ties. Before going, however, In order to dis
own the complaint of the missionaries, he
went to the Bible house in Constantinople
and bought a Bible, whereupon word was
had repented of his cruelties. Moossa Bey
had learned the only lesson necessary for
him in his position: not To offend the Amer
lean missionaries, and therefore he abused
the poor ArmenianS 10 his hearts content,
and the outside world was none the wiser.
MOossa Bey'S case became known, not
through his cruelty 10 the Armenians, but
because he made the mistake of touching an
American citizen. There are many beyS
worse and more cruel than Moossa Bey, of
whom the people OF the United States have
never heard.
HINT TO MISSION BOARDS.
'If the American board OF commissioners