The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-11
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
America q Refuge for Prosecuted
- Armenians.


At the outset ofsa reference to the more
important matters affecting our relations
with foreigIi powers, 1t would afford me
satisfaction If I could assure the congress
that the disturbed conditions in Aslatic
Turkey haA tduring the past year assumed
a less hideous and bloody aspect, and
that, either as consequence of the awak-
ening of the Turkish. government to the
demand Of shumateS ciyilk8tton or asEfhe
result of a. decisive action on the part
of the great nations having the right by
treaty tos5 interfere for the protection
of those e<oosed to the Tageaof.mad bigotpy,
and cruel fanaticism, the shocking features
of the situation had been mitigated. In
stead, however, of welcoming softened
disposition or protective intervention, we
have been afflicted by continued and not
infrequente reports, of ]: the wanton, de-
struction Of homes and the bloody butch
cry of men, women and -chffdren;s made
martyrs TO their profession of Christian
While nome of our citizens in Turkey
have thuE far been killed org wounded,
though often IN the midst OF dreadf44
scenes Of danger, their safety in the
future Is by mo means assured. Our gov
ernment st home and;our minister at Con.
stantinopke have siefts nothing undones to
protect oar missionaries in Ottoman terri
tory, wh9 constitute nearly all the .iHdi-
viduals residing there who have a right to
claim our protection on the score of
American. citizenship.
Our effsrtS in this direction will not be
relaxed, but the deep feeling and sympathy
that have been raised among our people
ought not 10 so far blind their reason
and judgment as toS lead them. to demand
Impossible things. Me outbreaks of blind
fury, whicht lead to murder and pillage in
Turkey, occur suddenlyyand without notice.
and an attempt on our part to force such
a hostile pTesencesfthere as might be ef-
fective for prevention or protection would
not only, be- resisted by the Ottoman gov
ernment, but would be regarded las an
Interruption of their plans by the great
nations ;.who assert their exclusive right
to intervene in their own time and method
for thef security of life and property in
Turkey :; III - ::
Several naval vessels are stationed in
the Mediterranean as measure of eau
tion and to furnish all possible relief and
refuge in case $pE eDaergepcy-; a.,.-.
Claims Against Turkey.
We have made. claims against the Turk
fish government for the pillage and de-
and Marash, d4ring uprisings at these
places. Thus far. 1.-THE validity Of these
demands has not sheeu admitted, though
our minister; prior to such outrages, and
in anticipa ton of danger, demanded
protection for the persons and property
of our missionary citizens in the localities.
mentioned, and notwithstanding that
strong evidence exists of the actual COM
plicity of Turkish soldiers in the work OF.
destruction and robbery. The facts, as they
now appear, do not permit us to doubt
the justice -of these claims, and nothing
will be omitted to bring about their prompt
settlement. ~. -
A number of Armenian refugees having
arrived at our portss and order having
lately been obtained from the Turkish
government. permitting the wives. and;
children Of such refugees. to. join them
here, IT. Is hoped that hereafter no OBJ
stacle will be .fnterposed to prevent the
escape of all those who seek to avoid the
perils which threaten them in Turkish do
minions. =
Our recently appointed consul to Ere
roum is at his post and discharging the
duties ofitfs ioffice, though, for some unac-
countable reason his formal exequatur
from the sultan has not been issued.
1 do not believe that the present somber
prospect in Turkey will be long permitted
to offend the sight of Christendom. 1t SO
mars the ahumane. and enlightened civili-
cation that belongs to the close of the
18th century, tnatzit seems hardly possible
that the earnest demand of good people
throughout the Christian world for its
corrective treatment. will remain unan-
swered.