Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-09
ovERRUN sY MANY ARMIES.
Armenia Country of confiicting Races
nnd Different Religions.

ANNNNN
and Different Religions.
Probably one-half of the population
of Turkish Armenia is Mohammedan,
composed Of Turks and Kurds, says
the Review Of Reviews. The former
are mostly found in and near the large
cities of Erzlnjian, Baibourt Er2room
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 Bltlis, 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 60 a great ways. They
are race Of fine possibilities, as shown
, in the case of Saladin. But at present
they resemble packs Of human wolves
active, cruel, proud, treacherous and
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 q strict tribal relation, owing allie
| glance to their shelkhs, 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 if 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
lie their tribes into cavalry regiments,
on whom he was pleased to bestow the
name "Hamdieh," after his own. Thus,
shrewdly appealing to their pride Of
race, and winking at their subsequent
acts, the Sultan obtained power eager
in time of peace to crush Armenian
growth and spirit, and bulwark that
might check, in his opinion, the first
waves of the next dreaded Russian in-
gasion.
The Armenians are generally known
Us being bright, practical, Industrious
and moral. They are Of very peace
able disposition, and entirely unskilled
In the use Of arms, the mere possession
Of which is serious crime in the case
of Christians, although the Kurds are
we'll equipped with modern rifles and
revolvers and always carry them.
Their great fundamental weakness,
seen through all their history, Is a 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 Dertad and his
people received baptism in 2IG, A. D.,
thirty-seven years before Constantine
! ventured to issue even the edict Of toll
Grafton. Their martyr roll has grown
with every century. The fact that the
Armenian stock exists at all to-day is
proof of it's wonderful vitality and Elk
cellent quality. For 5000 years Arme
mia, on account Of her location, has
been trampled into dust both by devas
tating armies and by emigratint
hordes. She has been the prey Of Neb
uchadnezzar, XerXes and Alexander
of the Romans, the Parthians and Per
slams; of Byzantine, Saracen 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 ire
mendous power Of the cross on the
hearts of all, even Of the most ignoran
peasant.