The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-09-30
Hundreds of ArmcnianS in France
Homeless. PennileSs and
Suffering
Have Escaped Violent Death Only
to Endure What Is Almost
Worse.
Attention of the Relief SOcietie
Forcibly Called to Their
Conditions.

condition of affairs in this city at pres.
ent which seems to be disgrace to
Europe and to the Armenian associa-
tions generally throughout the world |
Subsisting upon government, municipal
or private charity here, are 900 unfortu-
nate Armenians, men, women and chill
dren, young and old, healthy and sick,
who have succeeded in escaping from
the bloody massacres at Constantinople.
and who were one and all buoyed up by
the hope on landing here Of being able,
eventually, to reach the land OF free
dom, the United States. But weeks have
already elapsed and nothing definite
appears to have been done for their re-
lief, much less towards finding them
homes, by any of the many associations
for tho relief of suffering Armenians
which have been organized In England
and America. These unfortunates.
however, seem to be the very class to
which the hand of charity should be
first extended They are homeless.
nearly all are penniless, many are en-.
during the pangs of hunger, and yet
nobody seems willing to step in and
guide this band of refugees to some
place where they can begin life anew
and under more promising circum.
stances. Large amounts Of money have
been raised in the past for destitute
Armenians, in Armenia, but the situa-
ton of the latter is not whit worse
than that of the half starving people
here. If as bad. The Armenians
in Armenia certainly had their CO.
religionists and fellow countrymen to
fall back upon. but the poor people here
seem to have no friends in the wide
world. yet they are as honest and indus
trious q class as you can hnd on the
shores OF the Mediterranean.
Some South American spectators, 1t
Is true, taking advantage Of this deplor.
able situation, have prevailed upon
800 of the American refugees to allow
themselves to be transported to the
Argentine Republic, there. in oil posi-.
bility, to meet the fate of thousands Of
the Hebrews of Russia. who, thanks to
the philanthropy Of the late Baron
Hirsch, emigrated to South America
only to find themselves. fguratively
speaking. tossed
It is true that the climate Of Argen-
tine is said to be more healthy than that
of the regions the poor Hebrews tried
to settle in. But the end is likely to be
the same in the case of the Armenian
refugees. who are not a class OF people
likely to thrive in roughly founded col.
onies.
Only about 10 Of the 500 Armenians
who reached here have as yet beer able
to start for the United States
These few emigrants are Of the better
class Of Armenians they are fairly
well supplied with funds. and will
probably start for New York via South
ampton. But what is to become Of the
remaining unfortunate Christians. fee
ing from the blood. d.stained Turks. wht
are living on charity here with theil
eyes turned longingly towards th'
United States7 It would seem tina
these poor people may be barred from
reaching the United States. and they
Nav BE Forbidden to Land There
even if they succeed in obtaining trans
portation to the shores Of North Amer
lea. Surely If there ever was case il
which iron rules. necessary nc doubt
might be relaxed it is the case OF thes
stricken people. flying from the perse
cutions and butcheries that have pre-
vailed in their own land. There is ma
terial here for the foundation OF
strong Armenian colony and il woul'
appear that there must be some spot OF
earth where these victims OF the blood
thirstiness and misgovernment OF All
dull Hamid. sultan Of Turkey. who. &C
cording to generally credited reports
must have caused the massacre Of som
$4,000 Christians during the last fe,
years. can earn an honest living
New Lord Mayor For London.
LONDON Sept 80 Alderman Georf
F. Phillips. sheriff Of the county I
London and a brother.in.iaw Of 8
Edward Lawson. the principal pr
prietos of the Daily Telegraph, Wi
alscfed lord mayor Of London. 70 eu