The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-24
ARMENIAN 0UIRACES.
An Associated Press Correspondent
Writes Of Existing Conditions.
A COMMISSIONERS DECLARATION.
Even the Name Of Armenia Will Be
Blotted Out,
CHRISTIANS ARE CONVEYED"
Force Used to Mako Them Mo.iems- Dos
tuatiuD Prevails, and Relief 10
Not Permitted.
A COMMISSIONERS DECLARATION.
ARE CONVICTED"

OF the Associated PressD--
1t will be remembered that the sublime
porto soon after massacres IN this country.
sent out commissioners to investigate into
the disturbances and take measures for
quieting the country. One group OF ccm-
missioners went TO Ezroum and entered
the country at Sassoun and came TO Sivas
This commission from the interior did its
work very rapidly. spending only a few
days in each OF the principal cities on
their route. The day after their arrival
they summoned before them a number
of the leading men. Moslems and CHS
tlans. These were admitted to the pres
ence OF the commissioners. first the Mos
lens, afterwards the Christians. The re-
mort SAYS that the commission said to
the Moslems I'VE did not expect 80
much OF you, but now you have done II.
never mind. Henceforth you must keep
the peace
When the Christians were admitted the
commissioners received them standing
and at once began to read an address
reciting the benefits the Christians had re-
ceived during the reign Of the beneiicent
Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan aud the per-
ndious conduct of tho Arncnians VINO
had started newspapers and sent mon to
Washington and Chicago TO agitate and
stir up the nations against their governor.
In conclusion the report added: Here
after II either the Turks or Armenians
stir up trouble there wnl be 40 nvestiga-
TONS hut tho death penalty VIII be visited
upon such offenders"
After the reading Of the address Alb
dulah Pasha began TO address the Chris
tians In n much more violent strain. He
said II the Armenans should again begin
to agitate not even the name of Armenia
would be allowed to remain; they would
all he blottod out, =
Drawing himself up 10 hts full height
and stretching out his arm like n sword,
he said: what we have gained we have
gained with blood and when we give up
this morsel we Will give II up with blood
blood! biood,'
So far as | can learn the commissioners
spent all their time in Mczreh and did
not even visit the city of Harpool, which
was plundered and burned, although Il
is only two miles from Mezrch. No ques-
tons were asked OF tho Christians sum
moncd before them. When the commits
toner's had finished their speeches they
dismissed them.
Another fact of interest Is the sending
out Of officials to enroll In the government
lists tho names Of Christians who hBVo
become lloslcms. Multitudes have been
forcibly converted to lslaamism. | do not
moan simply that they have been Obliged
TO choose between becoming Mosleias and
perlshiug by the sword hut that they nav"
been bound or held white the rite of cir
cumcision was performed without their
consent. know of one case In which an
aged priest Was tied to his own door and
crcumciscd, while in another village
Christians begged TO be- killed, and their
Turkish nclghbors said to them No, we
want you to XIII the infIdels. we will make
you Mosems" and they circum0tscd the
Christians Of the place by force. The gov
eminent has said that these conversions
were worth nothing and that no one would
be forced to change his religion, hut now
government officials write these as new
converts. while tho Turks drive them 20
say they nre Moslems.
In the village of Shcikahj the officials
said to the Christians; II write your
names on separate list TO satisfy the
Turks there Is no force about II, but one
acquainted with Turkish names may eN-
pect 10 find these Christians soon enrolled
as Mo-lem citizens.
The carrying Oft of Christian girls and
women, too. stil continues In the city
of Pnlu the Turks carr. off girls, Keep
them for a few days and return them dia-
honored The same Is done In many ether
ulacos In one of the Arab.kir villages
eight girls of the place are imprisoned III
Turkish harems. Their fritdns hear tneW
cries hut can do nothing to help them
The destltution Of the Armen'ah beg
rars description. Men who wee wealthy
in October were begging for bread In no
yernber. Villages were pllagcd Tor iooi
and clothing. When the p!undcrers eouih
find nothing more TO carry OFT the VII
iapnr,s returned and lifted the dust to
gather n few kernels Of wheat or hhfi'y.
Doors and windows were carried OH, III
iu,lny cases the pillars of the houses were
mullcd out and carried off Jars were
broken Everything of value which c9nld
not be carried away was broken ne
uttermost pains were taken - leave uoin-
ing Of value TO the owners, ana an ,nli
was done at n time when winter was 80
close AZ hand as TO make It reos,1nainly
sure that cold and hunger would destroy
| ih,sr whom the sword had spared.
Wherever you go. you meet wan, pinchtd
| faces and people clad In snanty garments.
! long. cold nights huddicd togsthct WIN
nothing to lie down upon ana npthing W
! cover them. OF course. disease sets ~
| and carries them OH. - ,.,.,,
| sn 40 and 10000 people ln,rxtrcme urs',,u
/ ion. Europe and America are toucheu
with compassion. and FUNDS are t n",,,s
I gathered for the roller OF the suite'''S
~, a lar otherwise with the Turk. ne
views his work with complaoensy anu
| 49, not like 10 be interfered Win; a.,
Tbc govrrnmcnt has given q Htte hll
In many cases IT y one-siNth az nrlcn
as Is given to gcndarme, ! nave re,
ne bread given In several place. ~ ~,
! s",nbiss the linsesd cake used N fuiVpt
s md America FOR feeding cattle. Even this
| sitowance y seldom coniinneh ip' ny
! al,o,,t ~ rims. a large share of the
covcrnment appropriations for the relief
| ~ me destitute goes into the pockTts ol
he turkish Officials. the Turks are nos
Tie 10 relief work ana OPPOSE y ~ ,, va
nms wavs. In the city Of Palu. the TURKS
ssid 10 the Christians: 'if our beneiceht
s,,,ten wished you 10 have money ne IS
| o., seen nj to DO 20 and now you are
r.csiy,ng money from the English and
win form an alliance win to@in. We
,,ui cnt YOU off No Christian IN ram
| Iares IN rerelvc or distribute relief FUNDS.
banpen 10 know that the Armenian inis-
| stanari.e tried 10 send money into PAU
o,,a In rah, dared to receive aud Distribute
4, THE ,ame II true cf the town OF
| t-hoono,oaish Some OF the villagers tooh
The scaniy pittane they had received 10
| icon them nliye. They were Afterwards