The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-01

The RurtC'E Threat.
The condition of the Christians in the
armenian PROVINCES is deplorable. They
/ have been assassinated by thousands. and
I hundreds OF thousands OF them have been
robbed Of all Of their worldly possessions
and driven from their homes. The Chris
tan powers OF Europe have protested, but
their protests have not been needed. The
sultan has been quick TO make promises
which he has not kept. lie has insisted
that he was power!ess TO prevent the
massacres that have occurred; that the
dreadful crimes were committed before
his troops could reach the scene Of the
troubles. There appears TO be ample
evidence. however. that nothing was done
without his knowledge and authority. It
is asserted that there is good ground for
believing that he was the author of plan
Eve years ago to eXterminate the Armen-
ians or drive them from his domains.
The plan was to be executed quietly. so
as not TO arouse tho opposition Of the
Christian powers. but it was to he execu-
ted vigorously and effectively.
The whole Christian world remembers
when the cries OF the prosecuted Armcn-
ians began to be heard. At first they
were faint. and came at intervals and
from different points. For long time
they did not denote a condition Of affairs
that called for the interference Of the
Christian powers. As time went on how
over, evidence accumulated that a great
tragedy was in progress-that a Chris
tian people We're being made the victims
of religious fanatics and were threat
ened with determination. The Christian
governments Of Europe remained passive
as long as they dared, and then they de-
mandcd that the porte should make GER
tain reforms which they named. The
porte consented 10 DO as required That
was on oct. 30 on the very next day the
kurds, Turks and regular troops in near
~ all the Armenian provinces began
massacring the Armenians and pinaging
and devastating their homes. Since that
time nobody knows how many Armenians
have been killed nor to what extent their
property has been destroyed It is esti-
mated that as many as 1900 or 10000
Armenians have been assassinated. and
that 100000 have been robbed and driven
from their abodes and are now homeless
and starving wanderers.
In our dispatches yesterday it was sta
ted that the porte had announced that if
the united fleet of the powers made a
demonstration at Constantinople it would
renounce all responsibility for the conse-
quences. That was, in fact, a threat that
no further attempt would be made to
protect the Armenians or the foreigners
within the sultan's empire if the powers
undertook to enforce their will in respect
to the reforms to which the sultan had
agreed. What course will the powers
take? VIII they be deferred from their
purpose by the threats of the porte? 1t
is evident that the only way to accom-
plish the object they have in view is
prove TO the sultan that they are very
much in earnest. and that he is in danger
of losing his empire. 1t is true there are
important questions involved in such a
step-questions that profoundly concern
the greater part of Europe-but if the sui
tan persists in disregarding his obliga-
tons to them, that course is the only one
left open to them, and the sooner it is
taken the better it will be. Even now il
Is said there are indications of a great re-
lisious war The outlook in Syria is be-
coming alarming and Palestine is report
ed to be overrun with Turkish troops.
From any point which the situation may
be viewed it would seem to be the wiser
course for the Christian powers of Eu-
rope to force an understanding with the
porte at once.