The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-28
RUSSIA is PLAYING A WATT
ING GAME.
Words! Words" Seem to Be
England's Policy.
STATEMENT OF CHRISTIANS
APPROVED BY TERRELL.

The Turkish Government is Unquestion-
ably Coloring Reports-It Has Cost
Turkey but a Few Hundred Lives to
Exterminate $4,000 Christian Souls
What is Probably a True and Cons erva
tive Statement of the Terrible Condi-
ton of Affairs in the Su1tan's Realm
Powers Are Playing at Diplomacy
While Murder Goes Fiercely On.
London, November 27.-The United
sends the following report of an inter-
view with an Armenian of high stand
ing, who speaks with authority for a
large section Of Armenian people.
Russia would be. glad" the gentle
man said, ito obtain the country known
as Armenia, hut does not want the peo-
pie. She treats Armenians now in Rus
sia very well, allows them religious liber-
ty, giving positions of standing to Arme-
nians Catholics, but this is for purpose.
The aims of Russia are lar reaching, and
she knows how
TO PLAY A WAITING GAME.
with all patience. Her purpose in this
matter is plain. She would have Arme-
mans believe what is now done for their
countrymen and church in Russia, would
be continued in Turkish Armenia, if
Russia took over the provinces from
Turkey.
She bids for the sympathy of Armeni-
ans, hoping one day to be able to throw
from Turkey the provinces nearest the
border. This could be accomplished best
by the connivanoe and assistance of the
Armenians chiefly by the latter asking
Russia to. come to their assistance and
relieve them of the expressions Of the
Turkish yoke. Russia, the Armenians
once in her grasp, would change her at
tltude.
What has she done to the Jews?
Can any one suppose that
after little she would, treat AImenians
differently?
She would be gin shortly to proselytize
| and convert, and those who did not ac-
cept the orthodox faith would be as
WRETCHED UNDER THE RUSSIA
as under the Turk. Armenians prefer
the slavery Of the present rule to that
slavery of which they know nothing.
? nder Russia, of course, there would
| be no massacres, as Russia is Christian,
but there are other methods of oppres.
| sion more terrible to an Armenian than
mere killing of body. At all events,
under Turkey, the religious practices OF
the Armenians are suffered.
A change Of Sultans would do no gocd
l ,,,f~ i,t thn
| has been SO for centuries A different
ruler would effect nothing. What is
wanted is a change of practice, and
| change in the management Cf the empire
The Sultan should not be invested witt
| the dual power of head of the church
and head of the empire. He
SHOULD BE KING, NOT PRIEST,
and a separate person should be at the
head of the church and deal with all re-
ligious questions. This would in large
measure assist towards the solution o1
the vexed question.
Lord Salisbury made a powerful speecl
in the House of Lords in favor of the
Armenian cause, and naturally the Chris
tian world waited to see him put his
words into effect What has England
| done besides making
A DIPLAY OF DIPLOMACY,
which instead of eliminating in the ex-
pected victorious finish. hasshad iamen
table and feeble end She has been defeat
ed by the Sultan, yet she stirs not Il
| is impossible to understand her, unless
one ascribes her conduct to hsr desire tt
checkmate Russia and not assist Armenia
in her trouble. This is doubtless the
Esolution of her policy of words, wlthou
action. She is afraid Russia will ge
some advantage which she will not share
Instead Of Christian people rising II,
in their. might and asking that m ASA
cres and outrages on another Christian
people shall cease; she, after feeble