The Portland daily press., 1896-05-16
ARMENIAN REsCUERs.
Movement to Help the Survivors of the
NIassacres Escape.

The Armenian question has assumed
a new phase. Tho peculiar developments
of the last three months have brought it
about. In spite Of all that has been said
and attempted by civilized Christian ma
ions nothing has been done to secure the
least protection for the lives and property
of Christians left alive in Armenia after
the massacres and the ravages Of cold
and disease.
While the relief Of starving thousands
must continue, humanity and Chris
tianity alike demand that the vast wave
of sympathy in the United States for
these suffering Christian people should
be brought to bear upon the situation,
now more periloEs than ever.
Even in this time Of pretended peace,
by the report Of Miss Kimball just pub
lished, $40 villagers, wintering in Van,
being sent out to villages considered the
safest because very near the city, have
had three of their villages again sacked,
" men killed and number wounded.
Gladstone said, atter the massacres of
Bulg aria, that it the barest chance of
their recurrence should be left, and like
horrors should be once more perpetrated
by Momammedan monsters, all human
ity would be covered with shame; and
yet, not only has that calamity happened
in an extent far surprising the Bulga-
rian horrors, but We are face to face with
even worse horrors threatening to deluge
all Armenia with blood.
The Armenian Relief Association has
begun movement to raise q Rescue
Fund to enable the Armenians to escape
to places of safety. The Association is
asking for money for this purpose
through small book published from
their headquarters, 2O3 Broadway, New
York, and written by William Willard
Howard, who has just returned from his
second trip to Asia Minor in connection
with the Armenian question.
In spite of all that has been made pub
lie, Mr.. Howard's book comes as a reYela-
ton of the present awful condition of
Armenia. What would appear as inored-
ible is annotated by the Blue Book of
February. Insorder to secure the widest
possible circulation, the book is placed
for sale at ten cents per copy, and indi-
viduais and societies interested in the
cause are already purchasing it in guam
Titles for free distribution. The Rescue
Movement il fully described in this book
the title of which Isl Horrors of Armenia;
The Story of an Eye Witness" y
kev. r. S. Macarthur, speaking of 1t
as remark able book, commends the
Rescue Movement as deserving the hearty
Endorsement of every lover of humanity.
Writing Of the inauguration of this
movement, Bishop Potter says: "There
is but one way to arouse the American
people to the Turkish infamy ID Arme-
- ~. he TE I0<1 "
can furnish these and place them within
reach of everybody, it will do very
needed work Information which has
reached me privately abundantly con-
firms the story of horrors which has been
given to the public"
Eerans NJ. Kiretchjian, General Secre-.
tary of the Armenian Relief Association.
in explaining the Rescue Movement, says
cit Is not the purpose of the Res
cue Movement to populate the vacant
lands of America with Armenians, which
to begin with is an impossibility, owing
to tbs iinmigr alton laws of the United
States. We are striving to actually res 4
cue thousands of Armepians who are not
only starving, but are .lsft-at the mercy
OF 1nurderers whose swords and bayonets5
are still wet with the blood Of Christians.
This plan has received the most careful
consideration Of men distinguished not
only for sound Judgment and business
ability, but who have personal and thor
ough knowledge OF the situation in
Armenia There is no other practicable
plan today for the relief of the Christians
Of Armenia that could commend itself to
those who seek the real safety and well
fare of the prosecuted and perishing Ar
menian nation"
The President of the Armenian Relief
A ssociation is Bishop Sat5eleFe of Wash
lngton, d. c.; First Vice President,
GOV. Levi P. Norton; Second Vice Pres
ident, Bishop Potter, of New York; Hon
orary Secretary, Rev. David j. Burrell,
D. D., of the Marie Collegiate Church,
of New York; Treasurer, Chas. Fl. Stout,
ESQ.,, Cashier of the National Bank OF
the Republic, New York. Among the
Vice Presidents are: Hon. W L. Strong,
Mayor of New York; Rev. Lyman Abb
hott, DIED.; Gen. Horace Porter; Rev.
David Fl. Greer, D. D.; Prof VIM. Fl.
Thompson, M. D.; Rev. Robert S. Mac
Arthur, D. D., Augustus D. Shepard.
Esq. Rev. James NJ. Kin, D. d. and
William P. st. John. Esq.
Subscriptions to this fund may be sent
to Chas. Fl. Stout Esq, Treasurer of
the Armenian Relief Association, Nation
al Bank of the Republic, 2 Wall ST.. New
York city, who is the only person auth
orized to receive contributions to the Ar
menian Rescue Fund.