Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-06-02

Reduced TO starvation about. IJ,OVy
Killed according 60 estimates. 2O,OO
/ No. Of Armenian villages form
No. Armenian villages destroyed 200
ATmenians living In villages
formerly ...........-.... 49,. .9.to''Iey '0,l
Reduced to starvation. ....... 10000
o From the above figures IL would ap-
pear that the average number Of in
habitants for each village was 1853.
AlIoSlng for each of the 2,jOO VIII
lagos destroyed only 100 killed, would
make the loss Of life frnm villages
alone, 2jOOO. Cutting this estimate
in two, would leave 49, 900, which is
q, 900 more than has been claimed by
the highest figures, but may fall far
short Of the actual facts In the case
finally.
THE WORST or ALL
The strangest, saddest thought Of
all this is, that such things could hap
pen on the very threashhold Of
christian" Europe. and under cover
Of the cannon Of the socalled 'christian
nations" Of this the nineteenth century
Of the christian era"
BROKEN TREAY OF BERLIN.
Not only so, but In violation Of the
treaty OF Berlin Of 1873, which Is
signed rot alone by Turkey, but also
yy Austria, England, France, Germany,
Italy and Russia as we'll, guaranteeing
Armenia protection. The 6lst article
OF this treaty reads thus-unequiv-
cally;
"The sublime porte undertakes to
carry out, without further delay, the
amelIoratIons and reforms demanded
by local requirement In the various
provinces Inhabited by the Armenlans
and to guarantee their security
against the Circasslans and the Kurds.
II will make known periodically the
steps taken TO this effect TO the
power, who will superlntcnd their
application.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The 62d article reads: "The Sub
lime Porte, having expressed the In.
tention TO maintain the principle
Of religious liberty, and give II the
widest scope, the contracting parties
take note of this spontaneous declara-
tlOn.
"In no part OF the Ottoman Empire
shall difference OF religion be alleged
against any person as a ground for
exclusion or lncapacity as regards the
discharge Of civil and political rights,
admission 10 the public employments,
functions and hOnors, or the exercise
OF the various professions and IN
dustrles.
"All persons shall he admitted with.
out distinction OF religion, TO give
evidence before tribunals.
"The freedom and out ward service
of all forms OF worship are assured to
all, and no hindrance shall be offered
either 10 the hiearchial organizations
OF the various communlons or 10 their
relations with their spiritual chiefs. -
"The right OF Official protection Is
accorded TO religious and charitable
establishments"
This treaty, which was the result
OF conference OF the powers In 1878,
was intended to take the place of the
treaty OF San Stefano, signed by
Turkey as the victorious Russian
armies aud their liberated allies were
closing In on Constantinople from the
north, and sweeping trlumphantly
through Armenia, led by an Armenian
general from the east; occupying
Erzeroumiand so virtually freeing the
Armenians from the Turkish rule.
The people OF Russia, In an outburst
of popular indignation over the out
RACES In Bulgaria, had swept their
government into this war which
would have wiped out the Ottoman
Empire, but for the powers OF Europe
which interpOsed for self-interests.
Great Britain going so far MS TO form
her present offensive and defensive al
lance with the Turk lstill In forcel
20 protect the Sultan's domains in
Asia for eVaP frana fnrfhaP nu.aia,,