The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-23
ARMENIAN ATROCITIES
RHYME. RoNax'TELLS OF GHE1r
CAUSES ASDSUGGBSTsKEM1DTES
ssysthc Turkish Polio yiAAvowedLx ters
rnination Characterization Subjects
some startling IS tstemonts.
ReufJ. ". Yonan. tho Persian. wnoss

supplying the Church or thd IoFehans'
during the month OF July In tho absence.
OF Rev. Mr.. Stewart. viii lecture at inc
Second'Presbyterian. church next Tuesday
night for thehbeneft OF the Ladies' AID
Society OF the church. f1c will tell OF
the Armenian troubles. their causes and
results.
From Sfr. Yonan the following inter-
view on Armenia was obtainedi
Since the opening OF the year 1888 Ar
mcnia has been an ampitheatre OF aw-
ful horrors. Day after day, week AFTER
week, month after month, tho tidlngs OIL
tho shameful slaughters have come Ike
an unbro.en chain that well might star
tie humanity. The vocabulary has been
exhausted in writing OF Armenia, the
edge Of feeling has been blunted, the
wheels Of progress apparently turned
back, no deed OF shame has been LEFT
undone. Men. women. and children OF
all ACES and conditions have marched In
a solemn procession to eternity with the
most agonizlng sorrows and tortures
which may not be unveiled at any refined
assembly.
one OF the leading journals has most
pathetcally represented Armenia as
mother UNPROTECTED. save by the folds
of 4 tattered garment bound loosely about
her body. Upon her back, laid bare by
the enemy, can be seen the horrible
wounds from which the Likelihood hows
drop by drop. Scattered around are
the bodlss OF hcr martyred sons; claspei
To her bosom is her naked babyi while
before her rises a cloud Of thick dark
ness through which her eyes cannot
pierce, and yonder are the Christian ma
tlons. Ike cold-blooded spectators, enjoy
ing themselves IN sight OF this patheuc
scene.
WHAT ~ HER CRIME?
What IS Armenic's crime that humanity
As called upon 20 say amen TO the
Turks lastice2 Her crime IS that she Is
progressive and Christian. What are the
causes for all this fnaucism? Is the
question asked by every individual. one
OF the main causes of all these troubles
arises from the character of the Turkish
Government, which 10 an absolute lnon-
archy in the strictest sense or lhe
term. A great deal has been written
about these facts. Doubtless, l may re-
peat what others have said in regard 10
these familiar statements. but as sgd
ney Smith said: For purposes OF inn
preston, repetition s. the only figure or
speech worth farthing." These facts
must be beaten I'm by repeated blows.
Never will the civilized nations take up
the cause Of q down-trodden nation as
they ought until they both understand
and feel the emergency ana extremity OF
"A dyiug nation and their own opportun-
ity and obligation with reference 20 II.
The Sultan sits on the throne of stam-
boul. with powers second to none on the
globe. as far as his own subjects are con-
cerned. His opinions are unmistakaple
laws and his words unalterable Juds-
ments. and this sceptre he sways over
one million square miles ana thirty-hFe
millions of people. 4Aree things are es-
scntlal 10 the maintenance of tits Gov
eminent. one is 10 keep the citizens
I'm utter Ignorance Tho Turkish Govern
ment has proved itself the bitterest en-
envy of civilization. It will have no
power nor parcel I'm the worlds progress.
ALL PROGRESS CHECKED.
Never has a university or a hospital
been established under the direct SUI
pcryislon of the Sultan. All progress
or development on the part Of citizens
has been checked by punishment. The
n ore ignorant the citizon is, ;he better
for the governments. We do not deny
that there are schools and some educa-
tfoual systems i'm Constantinople ana tho
districts surrounding but the Bedouin
Arab and the kurd in the interior ana
borders are still in the valleys OF the
shadows of barbarism.
Another essential is TO keep the citizens
in absolute poverty and need. The Pa
sha5 live IN luXurant pleasure; the poor
citizens must pay the expenses. They
are nothing but slaves, who exist for the
comfort OF the sovereign. No decent
garment is safe on a Christian citizen.
Most OF the people wear their new coats
end garments wrong side out until they
lose their ncwncss, so as not 20 attract
attention or the suspicion OF the masters.
The third essential Is 70 keep the citi-
zeus bon absolute subsection. 80 free
dom of thought, speech. or notion rs
permitted. II the sovereign states .hat
black is white the citizen Is compelled
20 Affirm BE-.
The Armenlans are cltiacn5 OF Ibis
tvraunicai government. They are satu-
rally bright. intellectual. and success
full They are constantly raile 10 ler-
secution. They nave suffered ana are
constantly suffering In silence wrongs
that are seldom. II ever reported. Iney
are always heavily taxed for the mere
privilege OF living, and this tax IS called
the humiliation tax Even the pro
duct OF their chickens is taxed. The
pashas' Kaimmakans. their sons. and SER
wants. 90 TO the houses of the Armenians
al their rleasure. ,decoy. allure, and
destroy. n these deeds are reported.
their evidence is Of no avail. for If nifty
Armenians testify to the truth Of the
thing. the testimony OF one Turk Is
sufficient TO overthrow IL.
AVOWED EXTERMINATTON.
In Turkey, the Government IS a praise
to evil-doers. and terror 10 them that
do well" Since 1891 the policy Of the
Turkish Government towards It's Christian
subjects may be said TO have been that
OF deliberate and avowed intention OF
determination. n was made public by
one of the Turkish officers that the way
10 get rid OF the Armenian question was
10 get rid Of the Amenians.' The most
absurd and unreasonable thing. il seems
20 me. is that Europeans. after having
had so long an experience with the in
human character OF the Turk. should
stand still. viewing the tragedies OF the
Sutan's misrule. and should still insist on
the Sultan's reforming his methods OF
government in Armenia. 70 try TO re-
form such government. where men and
system are alike corrupt. where the
sovereign has no idea Of responsibility TO
his subjects. II seems 20 ne Is like trying
20 repair a house on a ruined foundation.
The most vigorous. extreme measures are
necessary 70 overcome such govern
meut.