The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-18

state s.eso. Others ia.oe0. Tire details az
this w-ecrfed affair are not ootafnapis.
even By those near the scene T1ey
VIII never De obtained unless foreign
governments insist uron q thorough IN
westgeafsou conducted By forets ers-
The poor p<-npse are In terror, and 90
not state the truth unless under protec-
ton. A document has been prepared
near the scene OF the carnage, purpors-
ing 20 give the Judgment Of the p-eo-
Ole that the thousands slain In Tai
vorfe met their just deserts. end ex-
pressing regret that Il had been
thought best to send consuie 60 investi-
gate. since there has been no need for
rfsesr coming. The value OF such 8 doc
uruene viii be understood when the
methods Of securing Signatures are
known. But such Investigations
should be made most vigorously,
either 10 relieve the government from
unjust charges IL the statements are
incorrect, or. IL they should be proven.
10 bring about the condign punishment
OF the guilty parties. Though our mis-
ssonzrses IN Eastern Turkey are often
upon the Moosh plain. where there are
many out-stattons In which the evan
geiicaI work is conducted by them, yet
their work has not extended into the
Sassoun district. and hence they have
had no direct reports from the scene OF
the massacre.
Papers from Constantinople entirely
under the control of the Turkish CEN
sors of the press announce that the sui
tan has sent one OF his imperial
guards to the city OF Erzingan. In
Eastern Turkey, to carry a decoration
10 ZekH Pasha. the commander OF the
Fourth army corps which Is located
there Zekki. Pasha Is the military
commander who led the troops against
the defenseiess villages In the Sassoun
district at the time of the massacres.
Another envoy carries four banners
from the sultan to the four leading
Kurdish chiefs who were associated
with the military commandant IN the
reported massacre. and who probably
were the fnsttgators OF IL. After the
sultan has thus approved OF the action
OF his troops and of the Kurds. IL Will
be impossible for any committee APP
pointed by the Turkish government 10
investigate the outrage and bring any
report that reflects on either the Kurds
or the army. BY this act the sultan
seems to assume all the responsibility
for what has been done.
These stories OF wrong and oppres-
sion have aroused the civilized world.
We are glad 10 learn that our govern
ment has directed one of its consuls to
make an independent Investigation Of
all matters connected with the reported
massacre. But our government does
not stand in the same relations 70 TIr-
key as do the European powers. that
under the treaty of Berlin secured the
right of seedng that good government
was maintained throughout the Turk
ish empire. The rights thus guaran-
teed ought now to be exercised and
the first step should be a most thorough
investigation as TO the conduct Of af-
fairs throughout Armenia. We cannot
doubt that the Europeaens powers will
attend To their duty. The winter is not
a favorable time for visiting Eastern
Turkey, where the snow is often from
eight to twelve feet deep. Time and pa
tience will be required.
ErZingan, which is referred to in the
preceding statement, is a city ninety
six miles southwest OF Erzeroun, sit
uated on the Euphrates. In the midst of
the mountains. II Is noted for the en-
ergy OF its people, both Turks and Ar
menians