The San Francisco call., 1895-12-30
Rev. ]. Cumming Smith Reviews
the Armenian Ques-
ton.
DETERMINATION OF THE RACE
That Is the Policy of the Sultan in
MasSacring the Helpless
Christians.

Rev. J. Cumming Smith, pastor Trinity
Presbyterian Church. preached on the
wholesale massacre of Armenians las
night. He said:
The press, through its vigilant army, is put
ting our world on Its guard and tyrants viii
soon pine for other spheres to ply their arts
Two reporters, under laudable disguise, pene
trated the provinces of Armenia and disclosed
tortures which for sheer fiendishness excel the
racks of the Dark Ages. People express sur
prise that at the close of this century any coun
try should resort to such brutalities. The sur
prise is itself surprise. Our world to-day
looking down through the graded series O.
races to the lowest, is the same in fact as look
ing back to the earliest centuries of barbaTism
The miracle is only that civilization should
tolerate the darkly, unutterable Turk in his
despo tlSms.
Allowing large margin for possible exag
geration, the reports, when pared down, are
narrowing enough TO send q thrill of horror
through Christian world. Three million Ar
menians. with a record of centuries of loyalty
to their Government-Quiet, prosperous, skilled
in agriculture and mercantile effort-claim
the simple right to .live and let live" Their
wealth has excited the gold lust OF the Kurds
and their heresy has maddened the Turk
Turkey is Mohammedan in its teachings and
policy, and Mohammed magnifies God and
mlnimiZeS man.
The deliberate policy of Turkey is eXtermi-
nation of the Armenian race.
Tie Kurds are wild mountain race, ra
pacious as vultures for plunder, and the sight
of these goodly villages tempts their greed
The Armenians resisted their attacks, and they
easily deceived the Turk into the belief thai
the Armenians were the aggressive party.
The warhounds OF the hills, re-enforced by
regular soldiery, were authorized TO swooI
upon the villages. Plunder, torture, crimes
nameless and sickening were perpetrated in
the name of God and the Government. Women
sought asylum in churches only to be pursued
and slaughtered till the blood ran in streams
from the church doors.
Teachers in high schools are 1ayed alive and
burned, merchants are overtaXed and the col
lectors impose further taxes and they get re-
ceipts which prove to be fraudulent, and when
they refuse 10 pay the bill twice their houses
are set fire to and their children are 1mpaleo
on bayouets
Sixty villages are in ashes, 10000 people
have been massacred and the luckless refugees
are dying inch by inch with cold and hunger
in the mountains.
If Russia is an absolute monarchy of Europe
Turkey is the absolute monstrosity. The tribe
OF Druses near Lebanon, engaged in the manu-
facture of silk and believers in the incarnate
God have been bitterly hated by the Turk fol
no other reason than their creed. Twelve hun
dred have been slaughtered, women captured
by bestial soldiers and the children torn te
pieces.
These facts send an agony through the world
but distance clouds imagination and dulls
sympathy Two continents yibrated with in
terest on the Venezuela dispute, which pales
into insignificance compared to the demonisn
of Turkey and the savageries of the Kurds.
The hour has come for Christendom to cham
pion the demands OF humanity against al
other considerations.
The balance of power in Europe is the mair
fact that foilS effort. One power watches the
game of aggrandizement lest any other power
make a move and checkmate it. But is the
! mere statecraft that guards the equipoise o.
empires to supersede the. claims OF millions
| bounded to death because they claim the mos
ordinary freedom?
| When Greece was stimulating herself fit!
! years ago with the dreams OF her best days anC
made strike for freedom, she found lion il
| this land to voice her claim. Will anothe
| Webster play similar part for Armenia? lie
| the powers order their warships up the Oar
| danellesl Let the Sultan be told under frown
| ing cannon to grant the races under his swa.
| the simple rights of men.
| Let him dare delay or shift for excuses!
| he does, warn the foreigners to clear the cit,
/ and turn the artilleries oD the palaces. Bette
| q whole world thrown into war TO shield tn
weak than the stigma of Christendom brook
| ing with infamous inaction the death cries o
Armenian heroes.