Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-27
oveRRUN ~ MANY ARMIES.
Armenia Country Of Conflicting Races
ana Different Religions.

Armenia q Country Of Conilicting Races
and Different Religions.
Probably one-half Of the population
Of Turkish Armenia IL MOhnmmedan,
composed Of Turks and Kurds, says
the Review Of Reviews. The former
are mostly found in and near the large
cities of Erzlnjian, Baibourt, ErzrOom
and Van, and the plains along the
northern part. The Kurds live in their
mountain villages over the whole re.
gion, but especially in the south near
Moosh, and Bills, and In the HEX
KARI country beyond Van, and the
mountains stretching south and east
and far over into Persia. Their num-
Der would be difficult to compute. A
few Of them 20 great ways. They
are race Of fine possibilities, rs shown
In the case of saladin. But Mt present
they resemble packs Of human wolves
active. cruel, proud, treacherous aud
still calling themselves "lords of the
mountains" though the Turks have
largely broken their power and spirit
during the past fifty years. They keep
up a strict tribal relation. owing alle-
glance to their sheikhs. some Of whom
are still strong and rich, and engage in
bitter feuds with one another. They
could not stand moment against the
Ottoman power II determined to crush
and disarm them. But three years ago
his Majesty summoned the chiefs to
the capital, presented them with dec.
oratiOns. banners, uniforms and mill
tary titles. and sent them back to organ.
ixe their tribes into cavalry regiments.
on whom he was pleased to bcstOw the
name "Hamdieh," after his own. Thus.
shrewdly appealing to their pride Of
race, and winking at their subsequent
acts, the Sultan obtained n power eager
In tlme Of peace to crush Armenian
growth and spirit, and bulwark that
might check. In his opinion, tho first
waves Of the next dreaded Russian In.
vasion.
The Armcnians are generally known
NJ being bright, practical. Industrious
and moral. They nre Of a very peace.
able disposition, and entirely unskillcd
In the use Of arms. the mere possession
Of which IL serious crime In the case
Of Christians, although the Kurds arc
we'll equipped with modern rifles and
rcvolvers and always carry them.
Their great fundamental weakness,
seen through all their history, II lack
Of conference, arising from their exas.
gerated individualism. They have the
distinction of being the first race who
accepted Christianity, this having ia
ken place when King Dcrtad and his
people received baptism In go, A. D..
thirty.seven years before Constantine
ventured to issue even the edlct Of toll.
GRAFTON. Their martyr roll has grown
with every century. The fact that tho
Armenian stock exists ut oil today In
proof Of It's wonderful vitnlity and ex.
cellent quality. For 1900 years Arme.
MIA, on account Of her location. has
been trampled into dust both by devus.
tating armies and by emigratins
hOrdcs. She has been the prey Of Neb.
uchadnezzar, Xcrxes and Alexander;
Of the Romans, the Parthians and Per.
SLAMS; Of Byzantine. Saraccn and Cru
sader; Of Seljuk and Ottoman, and Rus.
sian and Kurd. Through this awful
record the Christian church, founded
by Gregory, the "illuminator." has
been the one rallying point and source
OF strength, and this explains the trc-
mcndous power Of the cross on tho
hearts Of oil. even Of tho most ignorant
peasant.