Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-02-28
Gained With Blood and VIII Be
Given Up With Blood.
so DECLARED ABDUL pAsHA
How the Turkish Commissioners In
yestigated' the Atrocities in
Armenia.

Constantinople, Feb. 23.-It will be re- |
membered that the sublime porte, soon
after the massacres in this country, sent
out commissioners to investigate the
recent disturbances and take measures
for quieting the country. One group of
the commissioners went to ErZeroum
and the other entered the country at
Sassoun and came to Sivas. This COM
mission from the interior did its work
very rapidly, spending only few days
in each of the principal cities on their
route.
The day after their arrival, when sum
moned, there appeared before them
number of leading men-Moslems and
Christians. These were admitted to
the presence of the commissioners sep
arately, first Moslems and then Chris
tians. The report says the commission
ers said to the Moslems: 1--WE did not
expect so much of you, but you have
done it, never mind. Henceforth you
must keep the peace"
When the Christians were admitted
| the commissioners received them stand
| ing and at once began to read an ad-
| dress, reciting the benefits the Chris
tians had received during the reign of
| the beneficent sultan, Abdul Hamid
| hndn, anu the COIluuCl VI llC
| Armenians, who had started the news
| papers and sent men to Washington
| and Chicago to agitate and stir up the
| nations against their government.
In conclusion, the address said
Hereafter if, either Turks or Armeni-
ans stir up trouble there will be no
I more imprisonments, but the death pen
atty will be visited upon such Offend
| ers'
After the reading of the address, Alb
dull Pasha began to address the Chris
tians in much more violent strains. He
said if the Armenians should again be-
gin to agitate, not even the name of Ar
menia would be allowed to remain;
they would all be blotted out. Draw
ing himself up to his full height, and
stretching out his arm like a sword, he
said
What we gained, we gained with
blood, and when we give up this morsel
we will give it up with blood, blood,
blood"
So far as 1 can learn in Harpoot Viii
ayet, the commissioners spent all their
time in Mezren and did not even visit
the city of Harpoot, which was plum
dered and burned, although it is only
two miles from Mezren No questions
, were asked of Christians summoned be-
fore them. When the commissioners
had finished their speeches they dis
. missed them.
. In the village of .Shiekhaj the officials
, said to the Christians: II write youl
names on a separate list to satisfy the
Turks there Is no force about it," Bu
one acquainted with the Turkish ways
may expect to find these Christians sooT
enrolled as Moslem citizens.
: The restitution of the Armenians beg
gars description. Men who were wealth!
in October were begging for bread il
November. Villages were pillaged o
every scrap of food and clothing
: When the plunderers could find moth
ing more to carry off, the villagers re
turned and sifted dust to gather few
e kernels of wheat or barley. Whereve
r you go you meet wan, pinched face
J, and people clad in scanty garments
: And you know that multitudes spen'
s long, cold nights huddled together witt
e nothing to lie down upon and nothing
: to cover them.
S 1t is estimated there are between 80,
900 and 100, 900 people in extreme destitu
ton.
A large share of the governments ap
propriations for the relief of the desti
4 | tute goes into the pockets of the off
Gals.
OBJECT TO CLARA BARTON.
4 London, Feb. ga Constantinopl
h dispatch to the Daily News says:
There is a persistent rumor here of
fresh massacre at Urfa. The govern
;, ment objects to Miss Clara Barton
II president of the American Red eros
" IL
n relief.