St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-29
OUT oNrHE USUAL.

OUT oFA THE USUAL.
The house Of Representatives had
bad hour or two on Monday. when
Congressman Hepburn actually pro-
posed that it substitute action for talk.
The question under discussion was the
condition Of Armenia, and the propo-
sition was that resolutions be adopted
calling on the powers that signed the
treaty Of Berlin toSenforce reform in
Turkey. This is something exactly after
the heart of the average member of
congress If he has an especially strong
point. 1t Is calling on somebody else
to do something. This enables him to
air his eloquenca without limitation,
and relieves him of the responsibility
of action. Mr.. Hepburn introduced
novelty by suggesting that if this gov
eminent is in earnest in protesting
against the Armenian outrages, it
should say so and act accordingly. 1t
is evident that it should either do that
or do nothing
If it. is the opinion of the people of
this country that the Armenian massa-
ores are the common concern of all
mankind, that no nation which sits
down quietly within view of them can
avoid share of the guilt of blood,
then the only thing to be done is to
intervene actively, and declare the per-
petrators of these atrocities hostile to
the United States, because an enemy to
mankind and to civilization. If it is
the opinion of the people that the
government would not be justified in
taking so heroic a course, then the
matter should be dropped altogether.
For this country to call upon Great
Britain or Germany or Russia or some
other nation to perform an unpleasant
task about which each of them has
views of it's own, is only another bit of
impudence and futilism. We have
nothing to do with the treaty of Berlin,
or the obligations Of the powers that
were party to 1t. The Armenian
question, in as far as it relates to the
integrity of the Turkish empire and
the maintenance Of the balance of pow
er, is European question. Any ma
ton of Europe has as much right to
resent even an expression Of opinion
by us on that point as we would have
to resent declaration by the French
chamber Of deputies stating that it does
not recognize the validity Of the Mon
roe doctrine f
The question of the condition of the
Christians Of Armenia is one world
wide in it's Importance and effects. 1t
is our business because 1t is the bust
ness Of every man whose human in
stincts have not been crushed out by
low views Of policy and politics. If we
think it right to intervene in the name
Of humanity, then ours and ours alone
Is the responsibility. IN For a few mo-
ments during the course of Mr.. Hep
burns remarks, the manhood OK the
members of the house seemed in a fair
way to get the better of them. He
carried the feelings of the majority
with him until the opportunists, who
direct all public policies nowadays,
rose to deprecate action as long as
there was an opportunity to talk. Mr..
Grosvenor, of Ohio, sized up the stu
alton when he said that the resolutions
lodged every point that might offend
the Turkish government, and therefore
placed the house, If adopted, in posi-
ton of shuddering shivering coward
ice. They did not speak the sentiments
of the Christian people against the
unspeakable crimes of Turkey" Not
withstanding this, the ordinary dispo-
sition of the house to buster in speech
and cringe in action prevailed, and the
resolutions were adopted
1t is something Of gain, at least,
to have the house stirred out of it's
ordinary complacency by proposition
having reference to action instead of
to words. We have expressed, in no
uncertain terms, our opinion of the Ar
menian situation, and of the obliga-
ton that it imposes on every civilized
nation, without regard to the ordinary
rules Of international intercourse or
the compacts Of one power with anoth-
er. If the representatives of this coun-
try do not believe it to be their duty
to take action in the matter, let them
Vat least have the grace to keep silence
Secor' only to the barbarity of the
Turk is the unspeakable hypocrisy of
those who would pass resolutions de-
nouncing him, while refusing to lift
less victims. u
AT THE THEATERS.