The San Francisco call., 1896-01-23
ARMENIAN SYMPATHIzERS
Mass-Meeting in Oakland to De.
mand Protection for the
Oppressed.
Rev. DR.. Coyle'S Church Filled by
Citizens to Protest Against
Turkish Cruelties.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, !
COS Broadway. Ian. %.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
90S Broadway, Jan. %.
Rev. R. T. Coyle's commodious church
was well filed this evening with citizens
who had gathered to protest against the
Armenian massacres. Mayor J. L. Dayie
presided and made the opening address.
Among others who spoke were Rabbi
Freidlander, Judge ]. NJ. Haven, Judge S.
G. Nye, Rev. G. w. Wendte, Rev Free
land and Rev. X. f. Coyle. The following
preamble and resolutions were adopted by
a rising vote at the close of the speaking.
WHEREAS, The government of the Sultan of
Turkey has Systematically deprived the Arme-
man people of their inalienable rights includ-
ing those OF life, liberty and pursuit of happf-
ness; whereas, he has refused to carry out his
oftrepeated promises to reform said evils, but
has increased them by giving his assent for
quartering large bodies OF troops among them;
for protecting these troops by mock trial from
punishment for any murders which they should
commit; for cutting off the trade of Armenia
with all parts of the world; for imposing taxes
on them without their consent; for transport
ing them to distant places to be tried for pre-
tended offenses; and, whereas, the Sultan has
practically abdicated government in Armenia
by declaring the ArmenianS out of his protec-
tlon, and waging war against them, and has
plundered their country, burnt their towns
and destroyed the peace and lives of their
people; and whereas, at this time after years
of this work of determination, he is still
transporting armies of mercenaries to COM
plete the work of death, desolation. of
perhdy not paralleed in the most barbarous
ages, and totally unworthy the head of nation
IN any century; whereas, he has brought into
their country the mercless Kurdish savages
whose known rule of warfare is an indiscrim-
mating destruction of all ages, sexes nd con-
ditions, and, further, while in every stage OF
these expressions, the Armenian people has
petitioned for redress in the most humble
terms their petitions have been answered only
by heaping insult upon injury, we therefore de
clare the said Sultan of Turkey to be a merci-
less tyrant and wholly unfit to be the ruler of
any people whatsoever; therefore, be it
Resolred, That we the citizens OF Oakland,
Cal, in mass-meeting assembled, solemnly de-
clare:
First-That in our opinion, the Sultan OF Tur-
key has forfeited all right TO rule over the peo-
pie of Armenia.
Second-That we respectfully, but most
earnestly urge our Government to make every
possible effort to induce the Governments of
Christendom to rouse themselves from their
apathy and their fear of each other end rise in
the name of justice and humanity, in the name
OF the great doctrine OF the brotherhood of
man, and put end 10 this intollerabl state
OF AFFAIRS which threatens with determination
hundreds of thousands of our innocent, suffer
ing and defenseless fellow-men.
Third-fhat we urge our Government to do
everything in its power to preserve the fruits
OF American missionary toll.
Fourth-That we express our ardent sym
pathy with the unutterable sufferings of this
tical cooperation with the Red Cross move
ment, under the management of Clara Barton
and with every other movement which looks
to the amelioration of the wretched condition
of the Armenian people.
Fifth-ResolYed, that while we deplore the
warl1ke attitude existing at present between
all the great powers OF the earth, and while we
shall continue to pray that the Angel of Peace
may shelter ell the nations under his out-
spread wings. yet we ask that international
differences may be so far and so long forgotten
or adjusted that the powers may combine, by
peaceful methods, or otherwise, TO protect the
Armenians.
Sixth-Lastly that we call upon all the
people Of Christendom 10 insist in every pos
sibe way that these unspeakable atrocities
which are the disgrace and burning shame of
the closing decade of this century, shall
promptly and forever cease.
The following address by the Armenians
of California was read at the meeting and
heartily indorsed
Honorable Chairman Of the Mass Meetfaa for
the suffering Armenidns IN Turioy: We, Ar
menians living in California the Golden State
of the Union, and enjoying holy American
liberty, are heartbroken and grieved hearing
the voices of our brothers blood coming from
over land and sea from our dear country, Ar
menia.
In our sore affection and anxiety the news
of these mass-meetings OF the sympathetic
public OF noble America comes to us as couso-
lation that our nation is not altogether for
gotten; that there are Christian hearts to
with us.
Allow US on this great occasion to express
our views in this matter for which YOU have
gathered here tonight.
The committed outrages are of so barbarous
nature for human being to believe that al
ways we are asked If it is really as bad as rem
resented, and the cause of it.
In answer to the first question, we would