The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-04
tiTecid! Litter. Copyrioh'td 1895. By ne A,ociaietl
Irssl .r :. ......


LONDON. March 3.-Tho correspond.
ont OF tho Associated Prcss, who was
sent to Armenia with instructions to
thoroughly investigate tho stories told
OF Turkish atrocities In that country,
under date OF Tiflis, Russia, January 25,
forwarded the following interview with
the father Of all the Armonians, Mgr.
khrimiranfo:
After hesitation OF several days the
very reverend father granted the re.
quest Of the Associated Press cores.
pondent for a statement Of the condi.
ton Of Armonians and the causes which
led to the Sassoun massacre.
He said: "The massacre in tho Sas.
soun mountuins was the result OF +
long period Of Turkish mi.govsrnment.
In the Armenian provinces OF Turkey
n policy OF cruelty and oppression has
continued for long time. l myself
have been an eyewitnass Of all kinds OF
Turkish oppression. In fact about fifty
years OF my lie have been passed in
connection OF the persecution IN Ar.
menia. Twenty or thirty years ago the
Armenians, whose minds and con.
sciences were still very low and narrow,
did not understand tho cause OF all the
calamitics which bsfell them. They
thought their troubles were sent by
Heaven as a puui.hIhsnt tor their sins.
Such is always the belief OF the people
deprived OF education and the printing
presa. But later, when the people be.
gan to think and to understand the
wicked acts Of their oppressors, there
came change. and they saw clearly
the real cause OF their troubles.
"One reason ior their change was the
war between Russia and Turkey in 1875,
which ended so happily for the Bul.
.garians, who received freedom and sell,
government. The Armenians suffered
from the misgovernment OF the Turks
much more than the Bulgarians who
lived in tho neighborhood Of the west.
ern European powers. where as the
Armenians were at such remote dis.
tance from the civilized world that their
cries could not be heard.
ONE OF THE EFFECTS.
"At the close Of tho Russo. Turks b
war the Armenians. encouraged by tho
improved conditions Of Bulgaria, de.
manded the same guarantees which
were given to that country. All kinds
OF complaints, grievances aud petitions
poured into the patriarcute OF Con.
stantlnople. They were 80 numerous
tina. il they had been thrown into a
largo room rhey would have filed it as
full as an egg.
"1n the meantime. the European
powers were compelled to sign the Ber-
lin treaty. At this period l was sent
with another delegate 10 the chief capt.
tails OF Western Europe to plead the case
OF tho Armenians. visited London,
Paris, Vienna. Rome and Berlin, but
my mission did not produce satisfactory
results. presented to tho Berlin con-
gress n momoir giving full details OF the
Turkish atrocities in Turkish Armenia
Moreover, there was printed in Berlin
at the slmo time my description OF
these atrocities. But what we had
worked for was not realized, as, with
reference to the Armenian question tho
Berlin congress adopted what is known
as the sixty.first article Of tho Berlin
treaty, and, although tho treaty was
pignod, it had no influence in lessening
the persecution OF the Armeniuns. Our
hopes were in vain. Tho cruelty Of
Turkish mis.govornment did not cease.
1t merely took new form. But, keen
ing in view that there was q treaty, tho
Turks sought somo legal means Of jusli.
flying their atroci,ios. What happened? ?
Tho taxes became heavier and all kinds
OF duties became greater, aud tho kurds
received full permission to plunder Ar.
menian peasants.
CONVINCING EVIDENCE.
"Hcre lies the cause; why should n
people, who have not only sulicien,
quantity OF land, even too much, and a
very fertile and well irrigated land,
leave their native soil and cmigratc to
other countrIcs2 II there were no
proof OF Turkish mlsgovOrnmont In
Armenia this circumstance alone would
prevent sufficient evidence OF those
expressions which tho Armen;ans in
Turkey are enduring. Nearly $4,000
Armenians seek work. in Constauti-
noplo in order that thoy may bc able to
pay tho taxes which tho Turkish gov.
ornment imposes upon them. In tho
whole Turkish empire. including Asia,
thero nro about throa million Ar.
menians."
Regarding tho Saraoun, the reverend
father said: r
"As every notion brings its result or
countor.hlow. the sRmo may bc said Of
tho opprcasion Of the Armoninns. First
culno protests and uiterward deods, md
tho Armon;ans who understood the nc.
tions OF the Turks began TO revolt. As
n result thoy haL recourse to tho Kurds,
whose chiefs woro callod 10 CONSTANT.
nople, whore they received instructions
to form regiments Of soldiers from thoir
own tribes. The Kurdish chiefs weru
loaded with favora and invested with
tho right to opproas the Armeniuns.
Their troops received no pay, hut what
was hettor for thom. thoy received por.
mission to plundor tho Christians. I'm.
ablo to endure this newest form OF ON.
praisiUn aud torture. somo OF tha Arme.
mans rovolt6d against tho cruelty OF
their oppressors, whilo many o,hora
sought to fly to foreign countries.
lho final result came In the massacre
In the Sassoun mountains. What took