Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-04-04
OVERRUN BY MANY ARMIES.
Armenia a Country of Conflicting Races
and Different Religions.


and Different Religions.
Probably one-half of the population
of Turkish Armenia is Mohammedan,
composed of Turks and Kurds. The
former are mostly found in and near
the large cities of Erzinjan, Baibourt,
Erzroom and Van, and the plains along
the northern part. The Kurds live in
their mountain villages over the whole
region, but especially in the south near
Moosh, and Bitlis, and in the Hekkiari
country beyond Van, and the noun
tains stretching south and east and far
over into Persia. Their number would
be difficult to compute. A few of them
go great ways They are race OF
fine possibilities, as shown in the case
of Saladin. But at present they resem-
BILE packs of human wolves-active,
cruel, proud, treacherous and still call
ing themselves "lords of the noun
tains," though the Turks have largely
broken their power and spirit during
the past fifty years. They keep up
strict tribal relation, owing allegiance
to their sheikhs, some of whom are
still strong and rich, and engage in
bitter feuds with one another. They
could not stand a 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 decora-
tions, banners, uniforms and military
titles, and sent them back to organize
their tribes into cavalry regi-
ments, on whom he was pleased to be.
stow the name "Hamidieh," after his
own. Thus, shrewdly appealing to
their pride of race, and winling at
their subsequent acts, the sultan OBJ
tanned 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 invasion.
The Armenians are generally known
as 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 cause
of Christians, although the Kurds are
we'll equipped with modern rifles and
revolvers and always carry them.
Their great and fundamental weak
ness, seen through all their history, is
a lack of conference, arising from their
exaggerated individualism. They have
the distinction of being the first race
who accepted Christianity, this having
taken place when King Dertad and his
people received baptism in 276 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 its wonderful vitality and ex-
cellent quality. For three thousand
years Armenia, on account of her loca-
tion, has been trampled into dust both
by devastating armies and by emigrat-
ing hordes. She has been the prey Of
Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes and Alexan-
der; of the Romans, the Parthians and
Persians; of Byzantine, Saracen and
Crusader; of Seljuk and Ottoman, and
Russian and Kurd. Through this aw-
full record the Christian church, found
ed by Gregory, the ''illuminator," has
been the one rallying point and source
of strength, and this explains the
tremendous power of the cross on the
hearts of all, even of the most ignorant
peasant. Review of Reviews.