The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-09
ARMENIANS IN TURKEY.
First Race to Accept Christianity, Have
Ever Since Suffered for 1t.

First Race to Accept Christianity, Have
Ever Since Suffered for 1t.
From the Review of Reviews.
Probably one-half of the population
Of Turkish Armenia is MohammedaS, =,
composed of Turks and Kurds. The
former are mostly found in and near
the large cities of Erzinjian, Baibourt,
Erzroom and Van, and the planes along
the northern part. The Kurds live in
their mountain villages over the whole
region, but especially in the south, near
Moosh and Bitlis, and in the Hekkiari
country beyond Van and the mountains
stretching south and east and far over
| into Persia. Their number would be
difficult to compute. A few of them &c
great ways. They are a race of fine
possibilities, as shown in the case OF
Saladin. But at present they resemble
a pack of human wolves-active, cruel
proud, treacherous, and still calling
themselves Lords of the mountains, u
though the Turks have largely broken
their power and spirit during the last
fifty years. They keep up a strict tribal
relation, owing allegiance to theil
sheikhs, some of whom are still strong
| and rich, and engage in bitter feuds
| with one another. They could not stand
moment against the Ottoman power
| if determined to crush and disarm them
But three years ago his majesty sum.
| moned the chiefs to the capital, pre-
sented them with decorations, banners
uniforms, and military titles and sent
| them back to organize their tribes into
| cavalry regiments, on which he was
pleased to bestow the name Ham
| idieh," after his own. Thus, shrewdly
appealing to their pride of race anC
| winking at their subsequent acts, the
sultan obtained power eager in time
| of peace to crush Armenian growth anC
spirit and a bulwark that might check
| in his opinion, the first waves Of the
| next dreaded Russian invasion.
The Armenians are generally known
as being bright, practical, industrious
and moral. They are of a very peace
| able disposition and entirely unskilled
| in the use of arms, the mere possession
| of which is a serious crime in the case
| of Christians, although the Kurds are
we'll equipped with modern rifles and
revolvers, and always carry them
InPlT great anu lulludHtltdi WSdh'
ness, seen through all their history, Is
| a lack of conference, arising from theiI
| exaggerated individualism. They have
| the distinction of being the first race
/ who accepted Christianity, this having
| taken place when King Dertad and his
people received baptism, in 276 A. d..
| thirty-seven years before Constantine
ventured to issue even the edict of toler'
alton. Their martyr roll has grown
with every century. The fact that the
Armenian stock exists at all today is
proof of it's wonderful vitality and eX.
cellent quality. For 5000 years Ar
menia on account of her location, has
been trampled into dust, both by de-
vastating armies and by emigratine
hordes. She has been the prey of Ne
buchadneZzar, XerXes and Alexander
Of the Romans, the Parthians and Per
slams; of Byzantine, Saracen and crusa'
der; of Seljuk and Ottoman and Rus
sian and Kurd. Through this awfu
record the Christian church, founded
| by Gregory, the "1lluminator," has
been the one rallying point and source
of strength, and this explains the tre'
mendous power of the cross on the
hearts of all, even of the most ignorant
peasant.