The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-25
TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIA.
The Outbreaks Have Been
ny Revolutionary AgitatOrs.
Washington Post

w d$nfnktOn " =
From the very beginning of this deplor-
able muddle of alleged Turkish atrocity and
Armenian martyrdom in Asia Minor, we
have been assured that the massacres ana
prosecutions OF which the Armenians were
the victims had for their Inspiration the
religious fanaticism OF the Turks. Through
ed by the Armenian revolutionary commit
tee in London the whole Christian world
has been s~edulously educated to this view
Of the matter and narrowed almost daily
with chronicles Of rapine. slaughter. as
sassination. and inhuman cruelty that
would shame the darkest age and the most
savage people the world has ever known
For their own purposes. the European pow
ers gave tacit sancaon to these amazing
senied S Snd d ISL aIanS"sn c iefs %ene S Sa'sn
and diplomatic officers. and travellers of
culture and experience. public opinion
throughout Christendom yielded to the
pressure of manufactured testimony so in
dustriously circulated and accepted the
hypothesis of the agitators.
and complete change in the attitude OF the
powers toward the sultan. Ten days ago
they were d~eIuglng him with ultimatums
and declaring that they would destroy his
throne and dismember his empire unless the
persecution of Christians was arrested. To-
day they tell the world that the Sultan
must not be molested: that he means well
and that there would be no trouble were 1t
not for the revolutionary conspiracies and
persistent violence OF the Armenian agi-
tators. The first intimation of this change
was given five or six days ago by the Lon
don Post. which. in an inspired article an
nouncing Lord Salisbury's new policy with
reference TO Turkey. said: 1T is difficult
to assign the blame between the Armenians
and the Turks" Now comes NJ. DE Nell
doff. the Russian ambassador at CONSTANT
nople. who. addressing the Armenian Cath
olics in Transcaucasia. saws:
now treasured. they are threatened with
no danger. In the provinces. however.
there are regrettable conflicts which. in most
cases, were caused by the Armenians who
were inQtigated by their revolutionary ~
committees. The result is terrible revenge
on the part of the Turks in the shape
OF horrible massacres OF Christians.
"The Sultan has sanctioned the scheme
for reforms submitted by the three great
powers. and preparations are now pro-
ceeding to carry them out. To this end 1t
is necessary that the leaders of the peo-
pie should persuade the latter to desist
from revolutionary attempts. to abandon
the idle hope of foreign intervention. to put
q stop to all disturbances and to cooperate
in the re-establishment of universal peace.
in improving the situation and In the in
PRODUCTION Of the new order of things"
OF course Salisbury and Nelidoff, and.
for that matter. every really well-informed
person, either in Europe or America. has
known from the beginning that there was
absolutely no truth in the version sent out
by the London committee. Equally. OF
the powers has been caused by their in
ability to agree upon a partition among
themselves of the Turkish empire. Having
they now repud:ate the Armenian agitators'
discredit their statistics of religious perse-
cution by the Turks. and serve notice on
them that they must behave themselves for
the future or take the consequences.
Unquestionably, there have been fright
full tragedies in Asia Minor-tragedies of
fire and sword and pillage and barbaric
cruelty. But. as the Post has insisted
from the first, these were not inspired
by the Turks hatred of Christians; for
| the Turk does not hate Christians: they
have been provoked by the revolutionary
intrigues and outbreaks OF the Armenians
themselves. The whole world now knows
what only a few cool-headed and inquiring
people knew six months ago. The Armen-
ions roorback is called in.