Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-04
THE TURKISH TROUBLES.

THE TURKISH TROUBLES.
Difficulties Attending Early Efforts to Sc
cure Information - The Government
Means of Gathering Facts Improved.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued
to excite concern. The reported massa-
ere Of Christians in Armenia and the
Developments there and in other dis
tricts of a spirit of fanatic hostility 10
! Christian influences naturally excite
apprehensions for The safety CT the de-
| voted men and women who, as depend
ents of the foreign missionary societies
in the United States, reside in Turkey
under the guarantee Of law and usage
and in the legitimate performance Of
their educational and religious mission.
No efforts have been spared in their be-
half, and the protection in person and
property has been earnestly and yig0r-
ously enforced by every means within
our power.
regret, however, that an attempt CT
our part % obtain better information
concerning the true condition Of affairs
in the disturbed quarter OF the Ottoman
Empire. by sending thither the United
States Consul OF Siyas to make invest,-
g31On and report, was tlWarte1 by the
Turkish government This movement
on our part was in no sense meant as a
gr2tu..ous ENHANCEMENT of the United
States in the sO-called Eastern question,
nor as an Officious interference with the
right and duty which belong by treaty
10 certain great European powers, call
ing for their intervention in political
m2.,ers affecting the good government
and religious freedom Of the n0n-Mus-
sulman subjeo-s Of the Sultan, but IL
arose solely from our desire to have an
accurate knowledge Of the conditions in
OUT efforts to care for those entitled 20
our protection.
The presence OF our naval vessels,
which are now in the vicinity Of the dis
turbed localities, affords opportunities
Jc acquire q measure Of familiarity with
the condition Of affairs, and will enable
us
TO TAKE SUITABLE STEPS
for the protection of any interests of our
cOunTymen within reach of our ships
tina might be found imperilled.
The Ottoman government has lately
Issued an imperial trade, eXemPIng
forever from taxation an American col
iege for girls at Soutari Repeated as
surances have also been Obtained by
our envoy at Cons.an,inOple that SINH
lar institutions maintained and admin
min.a-eTed by our counTymen, shall be
secured in the enjoyment Of ell rights,
and that our citizens throughout the
empire shall be projected. The gov
ernmnt, however, In view Of existing
facts, is far from relying upon such as
eurances IS the limit Of It's duty. Our
minister has been vigilant and alert in
aff0Tding all possible protection IN in
dividUal cases where danger threatened
or safety was imperilled. We have sent
ships far towards the points of actual
disturbance as 1t IS possible for them
to so. where they offer refuge to those
obliged TO flee, and we have the promise
Of her powers which have ships in MD
neighbcrh0od that our citizens, as well
as theirs, will be received and projected
on board those ships
On the demand of our minister, Or
ders have been issued by the Sultan that
Turkish soldiers shall guard and escort
to the coast American refugees. These
orders have been carried out and our
lates. IN tell.gence gives assurance OF
the present personal safety Of our Citi-
Zens and missionaries Though thus fan
no lives of American citizens have been
sacrificed, there can be no doub, that Sc
rious loss and destruction OF mission
property have resulted from rictous con-
ficts and outrageous attacks
BY treaty several of the most power
fal European powers have secured a
rieht and have assumed a duty. net only
i'm behalf of their citizens and in
furtherance of their own interests. but
as agents OF the Christian world. Their
right IS 10 enforce such conduct Of the
Turkish government as will restrain
fanatcal brutality, and if this fails,
their duty is to so interfere as to insure
against such dreadful occurrences in
Turkey as have lately
SHOCKED CIVILIZATION.
The powers declare this right and this
duty to be theirs alone. and IT is earnest
ly hoped that prompt and effective ac-
ton On their part will not be delayed.
The new consulates at ETzeroum and
Harpoot, for which appropriation was
made last session, have been provision
ally filed by trusted employees Of the
Department Of State. These appoint
ees, though now IN Turkey, have not yet
received their eXequaturs.
The arbitration Of the claim Of the
Venezuela Steam Transportation Com
pany under the treaty of January 10.
1892, between the United States and
Venezuela. resulted in an award in fav-
or CT the claimant
NThe government has used its good
Offices toward composing the differ
ences between Venezuela on the one
hand, and France and Belgium on the
other. growing out of the dismissal Of
the representatives of those powers
on the ground of a publication deemed
offensive to Venezuela. Although that
dismissal was coupled with a cordial
request that other more personally
agreeable ENJOYS be sent in their stead.
a rupture Of intercourse ensued and
still continues.
FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES,.