Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-04
RIOTS IN THE EAST
Why Americans Should Symuathize
With Armenians.
CAUSE OF THE RECENT OUTBREAK
The Reform Obligations Of the
Powers.
PETITION TO GREAT BRITAIN

Copyrighted, 1895, by the Associated Prcss.)
NEW YORK, October Al. j. Rooney,
chairman of the Phil-Armenian Associa-
tion Of America, discussed with an As
ISOLATED Press representative today the
subject of the riots Of the last few days
in Constantinople.
If" he said "the American people can
sympat thize with the struggles of the in
surgents in Cuba, they surely can extend
helping hand to the Armenians, whose
position for centuries has been infinitely
worse than that of the Cubans. Their f!del-
ity to their faith has been the chief source
of their Affections. They received the
Christian faith in the second century and
have held fast to it through all the years
in spite of incessant persecution and many
general massacres. They have a magnifi-
cent literature and great history and are
ely too noble and intelligent a people
to be wiped from the earth by the un-
speakable Turks. All that Armenian peo-
pie ask is protection for life. honor and
property, and surely such a demand should
meet with the sympathy of the American
people.
Revolutionary Plot Charges.
1T is said by the enemies of the Ar
menians that this outbreak is the result of
secret, revolutionary movement. and that
it was specially designed to provoke blood
shed in order to attract the attention ana
intervention of Europe. The conclusive an
sWer to this charge Is that it is not neces-
sary, in view of all the acknowledged facts,
to place any more bloodshed in evidence be-
fore Europe and the civilized world. But
1t is necessary ands vitality important that
the horrors of the recent and existing situa-
tion In unhappy Armenia should be brought
home to the conscience of humanity by Il
pea ceable petition. This is what was done
at Constantinople on Monday last, and You
know the result.
Moreover, a revolutionary movement in
Constantnople would not be deemed neces-
sary or advisable by the Armenians them
selves, as the issue is now squarely joinzd
between the porte and the three powers
stgnatory to the treaty of Berlin, namely,
Great Britain, Russia and France. The
Obligations of these powers toward Armenia
are clearly defined in article 6l of the
treaty of Berlin.
Obligations of the Powers.
These obligations are publicly acknowi-
edged by the three powers, and we, the
friends of the Armenians in the United
States, are glad TO say that the British
premier, the Marquis of Salisbury, has ac-
knowledged the special duty of Great
Britain.
two or three days, has acknowledged the
receipt of our petition and has promised to
give 1t consideration.
LAS matter of fact, direct pressure now
rests upon the porte, from the three powers
named to accept the reforms demanded by
them.
ITO show the value of American senti-
ment in bringing about remedy for Ar
menia I need only cite the following let
ter addressed to Mr.. Stern, an earnest
friend of the cause in Washington, by Mr..
James Bryce, author of The American
Commonwealth He wrote: I trust that
spirited men are making to call the atten-
tion of the American people 10 the un-
happy condition Of the Christians of the
east will be successful
"'Your people are always ready to re-
spond to the cry of suffering humanity, and
TO events of recent years have better de-
served their sympathy than the m;series of
the ancient and once famous Armenian
nation: .niseries which have recently cul-
minated in the massacre of Sassoun. A
strong expression of American feeling will
strengthen the hands of those who in Eu-
rope desire to see measures of reform in
troduced which may effectually prevent
ary recurrence of similar horrors.
"'J. BRYCE
'"Then, again, the first petition asking for
the appointment of European governor of
Armenia bears the signatures, among
others, of Justice David ]. Brewer Of the
United States Supreme Court, Miss Frances
E. Willard, president Of the Women's
Christian Temperance Union; Richard Wat
son Glider. editor of the Century, and T. A.
Emmett, president of the Irish National
Federation of America"