New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-11
A SERIOUS MISTAKE.
AMERICANS ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN FROM
TURKEY.

Sir. President Cleveland in his last message 10
Congress made grave error in justifying the lurh-
sh Government I'm its proposed intention 10 eApel
from IT'S doninions all. those Arnenians VINO are
oo,urali1ad citizens OF America, and IN granting
tha assertions OF Turkey that those Americanizen
Arnerians are engaging in sedition against the
Turkish Government II Is altogether la'se '"''
American Arnenians in Turkey have taken any
part in any movement against the Government Op
TO this dav there has never been an american AT
r,ortou IN Turkey that has been found In any way
complicated in any political agitation on '"e part
NJ the native Arnenans. In fact. there mas never
been any Armenian political agitation worth De"'s
called So ,,
Sometimes we hear that there IS some trouble
going on between the Turkish Government ana lts
Armenian subjects; that hundreds of Arnenans
hay. been imprisoned for sedtious riotlnS anu
scores have been sentenced 10 death ana Hh?iso"-
ment for lie This is all that W. near h"' Il "
careful investigation be made will find that there
is nothing at the bottom 10 JUSTIFY the lurkish
Government for taking such severe measures
agaus, its Armenian subjects. Let us, for instance
take the Marsovan and Ceasaia riots OF last winter
for which several innocent Arinenians paid win
their lives ~
As f. we'll known. the subjects or the turkish
Government are dissatisfied with the rule OF the
present Sultan, and among the Turks there Is a
score, marty who favor the restoration OF Mnrad
Y the dethroncl predecessor Of Hand ii. the pres
ent ruler In the latter part OF last winter some oi
these Muradlst Turkish softas (siudentN secretly
pasted sedri0us placards In Turkish language on
the walls In some towns % Asia Minor. among them
Marsovan and Ceasara- strongly denouncing inc
present ruler and calling upon the true believers
To arm md arise 70 dethrone Hand and substitute
Murad in his place
The Government feared that II II arrested the rea!
authors OF the deed. who were Turkish so'tas IL
might arouse the indignation OF the Moslems ana
# might have the effect OF pouring oil upon a slowly
in DISASTROUS UPRISING or
the Turks against the Porte Consequently me
Government tried a safer policy u suppress me
brewing trouble. Immediately the Armenians were
accused as the authors OF the pacards. ana ms
was preached In the mosques. Although not IN
sympathy with their ruler. the Mahometan masses
were 40 blind with religious fanatcIsm that. on
hearing that the despicabe Armenian Christians
had dared to paste the walls s'ditious p!aca'ds
denounc!ng the head II their church fhe sultan
with the most profaue language. they We're IN
flrIated Immediately they armed themselves ana
attacked the Armenian quarters the Armenian
churches and the American College a. Marsovan
where hundreds OF Armenian boys get their cfuca-
ton.
The houses and churches OF tho unarmed Arne-
mans were looted. The women violated. ana men
massacred The Turks set hr" 20 the American COL
oge at Marsovan and reduced u - ashes. The
hundreds Of boy students nel for their lives. Dur
ing this great riot when "A lawlcss mob OF maldcned
Turks were doing everything imaginable upon
helpless peaceful people tho authorities d'd not Do
anything to check this bloody movement nnd even
encouraged the rioters. After a while Government
forces came out 10 restore ORDER Not a single
one OF the rioters arrested. The Turkish
Government would not arrest a Mosiem. But II
would not DO TO DO nothing. There had been
great riot and bloolshel. churches and houses had
been looted. college reduced 20 ashes. AMI the
news was telegraphed TO all leading journals In
Europe and America. The Western World wanted
satisfaction and expected 20 the perpetrators ~
this enormous crime punished. That WINS quite easy
the ''unspeakable Turk" could manage that In
some way and satisfy tho Occidental "giaours.'
The. Turkish prisons IN those cities were packed up
TO their utmost capacity by any Armenians that
were first met the authors OF the plncnrds ana
rioters The number OF the Imprisoned In Marsovan
and Ceasarla alone reached 10 about 800. Had
there been more room IN the Prisons they would
have arrested more.
Through the Intervention OF the British consul the
number OF the imprisoned suspects" was. after
while reduced to about 300. who after being sub
iccted 10 horrible. torments had a farcical trial a,
augora Seventeen were condemned TO DEATH and
scores 10 long terms Of imprisonment. although
nothing could be proved against them. Among those
condemned death were two professors OF the
American College at Marsovan and monk OF the
Church Of Armenia. Through the active labors OF
the numerous friends OF these two professors In
England the British Government was made to in
tcrferc by which both were saved from execution
and Turkey WAS compelled to be satisfied by merely
expclling them from the country. But those others
who were orthodox ArmcnianS ala not have the
favor Of Great Britain. and although 1t well
known to all Europe that they We're entirely limo
cent OF the charge brought against them five OF
them executed by night ana the death SEN
ience Of the remaining ton was kindly commuted 10
m. imprisonment by the sultan. out OF fear that
such "A wholesale execution might arouse the ire
OF Christian nations
Soon after those riots. when the Turkish Govern
rnent understood that the American directors of the
a..1
the United states Government for the damage done
10 them, without waiting fol such formal demand
hv This country, she paid II certain sum Of money
TO the college directors and settled the case. know
Would take it from her anyhow. But this could not
be borne by the eTSns d%rk fG Ray nS9sy SeS TO
had committed. Turkey meant 10 get even with
the directors Of The American College for this Con
scquently she did her best 10 hang up two OF the
pr6fessors OF the college. who were Turkish sub
jects the leaders Of the Mars3vo9 an riot In that
she could not succeed on account OF BRUSH inter
ference. And now Turkey wants 10 take her re-
min}ons ali Armenians who have become natural
wed citizens OF the United states since 1865 that
menced 10 come TO America and become American
ized And we have great President who under
all these circumstances writes TO the Congress of
turkey complains that her Armenian subjects
obtain citizenship in this country, not TO Identify
themselves In good faith with our people but with
and there engaging in sediton. This complaint is
not wholly without foundation. The Ottoman
Government has announced its intention to expel
from it's dominions Armenans who have obtained
Naturalization in the United States since 1861 And
nd1e that Turkey has right to do so.
How ridiculous and disgraceful for the President
~ e,ch n great republic = the United States Of
Gc,aly 10 acknowledge the truth such allegations
Nv n tyrannical despotism. rcputed the possessor
~ over bloody hands against American citizens,
while there has not been one American citizen whom
the Turkish Government has ever been able to
show az one who has been found complicated in
any Mot or sedious movement against the Porte
"V-bat viii the world think OF us? What will
tho turk think OF us? Americans, just think
- This our President will allow the Turkish Gov
ernmcn, to expe from It's domnions numerous
American citizens and thus upset their business
,nnrelv because the Porte alleges they not
hnha Wing well. Just compare Mr.. Harrlsons words
D,th those OF Mr. Cleveland on the very same sub
is~t I'm his message to Congress just a year ago.
president Harrison wrote:
"Thc treatment Of the religious and educational
Establishments of American citizens in Turkey has
-, late called for a more than usual share OF
,,on tendency To cUrtail the federation which has
M heneNcially prevailed Is discernbe and has called
forth the earnest remonstrances OF this Government
Tarassng regulations In regard to schools and
nh,rches have been attempted In certain localities
but not without due protest and the assertion OF
~ inherent and conventional rights Of
trymen Violations Of domcile and search OF the
persons and effects OF citizens OF United States
by apparently irresponsible officials in the AslatIc