Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-04
ELEVEN THOUSAND WERE VICTIMS

~ ~, y-The Cruel
a' aad II 4 u Turks.
1oSs W s.
Especial Armenian lie, MT
ed 1885 by the Associated THE
correspondent Of the Associ. ed Press
who was sent to Armenia with instrue-
lions to thoroughly investigate the
stories told of Turkish atrocities in the
country under date Of Tlnis, Russia.
January 20, forwards the following in
terview with the father OF all the Ar
menians. Mgr. Khrimiran. After a
hesitation Of several days, the very rev.
erend father granted the request of the
Associated Press correspondent for a
statement OF the condition of Armenia
and the causes which led to the mas
sacre. Additional weight is given to
the statements by the fact that Mgr.
hhrimiran is at the present time pre-
pairing memorial on the subject to the
car OF Russia, and 1t may be Inferred
that the substance of this statement
contained in the memorial to the car
may be found in this interview. Mgr.
khrimiran's home is at Etschimidsin,
In the Aarat region OF Russia. within
short distance OF the Turkish frontier.
In an outer room the Associated Press
correspondent met a monk in a black
habit, and at the farther end OF the
room was a man dressed entirely in
red. holding a long mace. The sangun-
airy appearance of this man contrasts
with the peace OF the house. Sometimes
four Of these red-garmented men are in
attendance, on the occasion of the
first visit of the correspondent to the
house he was introduced by an Armen-
Ian gentleman, editor of the Ardzgan-
kugak. on the occasion of his second
VISIT. Mgr, Khrimiran having decided
TO make the statement asked for by
the Associated Press. talked eloquently
of the wrongs OF his people. Among
other things, he said:
The massacre in the Sassoun noun
tnlns was the result OF long period OF
Turkish government. In the Armenian
provinces OF Turkey a policy OF cruelty
and oppression has continued for a long
time. 1, myself, have been an eye-wit-
moss of all kinds OF Turkish oppres,
sion. In fact, about fifty years OF my
life have been passed in connection
with the prosecutions in Armenia.
twenty or thirty years ago the Armen-
ians, whose mind and conscience were
still very low and narrow, did not un-
derstand the cause OF their oppression.
They thought their troubles were sent
By heaven as punishment for their
sins. Such Is always the belief of the
people deprived of education and the
printing press. But later. when the
people began TO think and to under
stand the wicked acts of their Cypress
ors. there came a change, and they saw
clearly the real cause OF their troubles
one reason for their change was the
war between Russia and Turkey i'll
1876 which ended SO happily for the
Bulgarians. who received freedom and
elf-government
The Armeuians suffered from the mis-
government OF the Turks much more
than the Bulgarians who lived in the
neighborhood of the western powers.
whereas the Armenians were at such
a remote distance from the civilized
wCrld that their cries could not be
heard.
At the close Of the Russo-Turklsh war
the Armenlans, encouraged by the i'm
proved conditions of Bulgaria, demand
cd the same guarantee which was given
to that country. Al kinds OF COM
plants, grievances and petitions poured
into the patriarch of Constantln0ple
They were SO numerous that If they
had been thrown into large room
they would have filled It as full as an
egg.
were compelled to sign the Berlin
treaty. At this period Was sent with
another delegate to the chief capitols
OF Euroue to plead the cause OF the
Armenians visited London, Paris
Vienna, Rome and Berlin, but my mis-
sion did not produce satisfactory re-
suits. / presented TO the Berlin con-
gress q memoir giving fun details OF
the Turkish atrocities In Turkish Ar
menia. Moreover there was printed In
Berlin the same time my description
of these atrocities. But what We had
worked for was not realized as with
reference to the Armenian question, the
Berlin congress adopted what Is Known
as the slxly-nrst article Of the BerHh
treaty, and although the treaty was
stunned II had no influence In lessenlng
INC nersecntion Of the Armenlans. Our
Snnfs wore vain. The cruelty OF the
/ turkish government did not cease. 1t
,,,aroi,, TOOK n new form. But, keeping
,n view that there was treaty. the
turks sought for some legal means
Of iustifying their atrocities, Wnal nap
| nencdP The taxes became heavier ana
III Linda Of duties were greater ana
It,,rds reeeiyed full permission to plum
I der Armenian peasants. here hes the
! canse. why should a people nave only
a sudiclent quantity OF land. even 100
s,,ch leave their native SOIL ana emil
, .rafa N other countrles2 II here were
~ ,,r,nfs az turkish misgovernment In
~ this circumstance alone would
s-art sufficient evidence OF the OPP
in,ression which the Armonlans IN Iurk-
AZ arc enduring. Nearly So'op9 Armen-
80 eek work In Constantinople IN
i'shS tbat they may be able to pay the
49,. u,hich the Turkish government
imposes upon them. -, t,,.,,,a
~ ~ The whole Turkish empire, lnclud-
ssia there are about 100000 Ar
,nepians. Regarding the sass9un mas
sacre the reverend father seln'
sas every action brings IT'S result OF
,,,,ts~hlaw. the same may be sald OF
- 'ss~.,,yerslon of the Armenians VINO
w o.,nod ,he action OF the Turks and
sles- m revolt. 1t was then ana only
DeRs RAJ the Turks understood the
thet AZ a result they had recourse
e. tha kurds, whose ohieis were o .,l,''i
70 ce,,arstantinople, whore they received
.,~,rsons 10 form regiments OF sol-
~ ~. rom their own tribes. rms was
n o,u sbsginning OF what Is known as the
Tue a.sh cavalry or Kurdish ifregu!-
Ham, ~ ISurd chiefs were loaded with
afs, and invested with the right 20
iaNoa 4he Arrnenlans. Their troops
op ss ,.'sseelying no pay but what was De'-