Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-19
Criminal Neqligence.

Criminal Negligence.
The European governments appear to
agree with Rahelais that che that has
patience may compass anything 1t is
quite evident that the 20, 600 people, who
are said to have been massacred since the
Sultan promised to put an end to the
slaughter of Christians, will not be re
stored to life by all this abnormal diplo
matte patience. Indeed while England
has been assuming that the powers are
united to prevent the continuance of the
slaughter nothing has been done by them
to prevent it beyond the assembling of a
few war ships within easy distance of
Constantinople. Meanwhile the Sultan,
through his foreign ministers, has been
informing the world that the Armenians
themselves are the rioters and are en-
gagged in numbering Turks and all the
while it is believed has been conniving.
The United States government has not
| until recently taken interest in the out
| RACES to the extent of affordng protection
| to American missionaries and residents in
Turkey. Minister Terrell has been warn
ing tho Sultan that their lives and prop
erty must be protected, but he has had
nothing to sustain his demands, and the
Sultan appears to have given little heed
to them, judging from the report of the
nj IIan ho hn
latest advices indicate that none of the
Americans lost their lives but they did
their property. This reported outrage at
Harput is very significant. Heretofore
the most peaceful relations have existed
there between Christians and Mussel-
men. Located near there was Turkish
garrison sufficiently strong to restrain
any outbreak had it been SO minded.
The fact that it didn't demonstrates one
of two things, either the Sultan Is en-
tirely unable to govern or else, what is
suspected. the Turkish authorities are
instigating these outbreaks.
There are some even now, who attempt
to explain away the criminal negligence
of the powers in not preventing these out
RACES; that If they removed the Sultan
from power it would leave the country in
state of anarchy and that until they are
ready to occupy the territory and govern
it the Sultan must be retained in control.
This might do very well for an excuse
were the Turkish question altogether a
new problem. 1t is centuries old; the
European powers long ago assumed the
responsibility of maintaining order In
that region; the faithlessness, weakness
and pcrfdy of the Turkish government
have long been known and just this emer-
gency should long ago have been provided
for; the machinery for correcting the
evils now existing should have been
awaiting the outbreak. Instead we find
that when the slaughter OF Armenians be
gan months ago these very powers
attempted to discredit the reports and not
until weeks had passed were the details
made public and proved that the half had
not been told about the horrors. Even
then Lord Salisbury attempted to bclittle
the outbreak. Since then the situation
has daily become more alarming Re
ports have gone abroad that uprisings
were instigsted by some of the European
powers for political effect. 1t is. how
ever, needless to add that many of these
reports lack proof, but of a disposition on
| the part of Turks to kill as many Chris
| tians as possible, there remains no doubt.
Moreover, so far as can be learned, the
governments able to interfere, have done
practically nothing. Had it not been for
their greedy rivalry the trouble would
have been stopped at the first. The
Turkish authorities are not quite imbe-
Giles and they understood the complica-
tions well enough to dare to do what they
have done. The negligence of the powers
arises from criminal greed and jealousy.
|
The Foxcroft post Office is one of the
best paying in Maine and outside of the
cities there are only very few that show
larger receipts. The receipts for the ia st
fiscal year were So 1871, expenses si7O9.