The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-02-25
BLOOD, BLOOD, BLOOD.
Something of the Horrible Condition of
Christians In Armenia.

Something of the Horrible Condition of
Christians In Armenia.
CoNsrANTINoPLE, Feb. 24.-The sub
lime porte soon after the massacres in
this country sent out commissioners to
investigate into the recent disturbances
and ;akc measures for quieting the coun-
try. One group of commissioners went
to ErZerum and the other entered the
country at Sassoun and came to Sivas.
This commission FROM the interior did
It's work very rapidly, spending only a
few days in each of the principal cities
OH their route.
The day after their arrival they sum
moncd before them a number of leading
Moslems ahd Christians. These were
admitted to the presence of the COM
missioners separately, first the Moslems,
afterwards the Christians. Reports say
that the commissioners said to the Mos
lens: eve did not expect so much of
you, but now you have done it, never
mind. Henccforth you must keep the
peace"
So far as can be learned, in the Har-
poot vilayet the commissioners spent all
their time in Mezrch and did not even
visit the city of Harpoot, which was
plundered and burned, although it is
only two miles from Mezreh. No ques-
tions were asked of the Christians sum-
moned before them When the COM
missioners had finished their speeches
they dismissed them.
Another fact of interest is the sending
ont of officials to enroll in the govern
ment lists the names of Christians who
have become Moslems. Multitudes
have been forcibly converted to Islam.
do not mean simply that they have
been obliged to choose between becom-
ing Moslems and perishing by the
sword, but that they have been bound
or held while the right of circumcision
was performed without their consent.
/ know of one case in which an aged
priest was tied to his own door and cir
cumcised, while in another village
Christians begged to be killed, and their
Turkish neighbOrs said to them: mo,
we want you to till the fields. We will
make You Moslcns," and they circum-
ciscd tho Christians of the place bJ
force.
When tho Christians were admitted
the commissioners received them stand.
ing and at once began to read an adj
dress rccitihg the benefits the Chris
tians had received during the reign of
the bencficcnt sultan, Abdul Hnmid
Kahn, and the perfidious conduct of the
Armenians, who had started newspa-
pers ana sent men to Washington and
Chicago to agitate and stir up the ma
tions against their government. In
conclusion the address said: Hereafter
if either Turks or Armenians stir up
trouble there will be no more imprison-
ments, but the death penalty will be
visited upon such Offenders"
After the reading of the address
Abdul Pasha began to address the Chris
tians in much more violent strain. He
said if the Armenians should again be-
gin to agitate, not even the name of
Armenia would be allowed to remain
they would all be blottcd ont. Drawing
himself up to his full height and
stretching out his arm like sword, he
said: ''What we have gained we have
gained with blood, and when we give
up this mOrsel we will give it up with
blood, blood, bloodp'
The government has snid that these
conversions were worth nothing and
that nobody will be forced to change
his religion, but now government Off
cials write these new converts while tho
Turks drive them TO sny they are Mos
lens. In the village of Sheikaj, the Of
fetal said to the Christians
II write your names ON separate list
to satisfy the Turks there is no force
about it," But one acquainted with
Turkish ways may expect to find these
Christians soon enrolled as MOslem citi-
zens.
The carrying off of Christian girls
and women, too, still continues. In tho
city of Pain, Turks carry off girls, keep
them few days, and return them dis
honored. This same is done in many
places. In one of the ArablSir villages,
eight girls of the place are imprisoned
III Turkish harems. Their friends hear
their cries but can do nothing to help
them.
The destitution of the Armenians beg
gars description. Men who were-
wealthy III October We're begging for
bread in November. Villages were pill
laged of every scrap of food and cloth
ing. When the plundcrers could find
nothing more to ,nrry OFF, the villagers
few kernels of wheat or barley. Doors
many cases the timbers Of the houses
were pulled out and carried off. Jars
were brohen. Everything of value
which could not be carried away was
broken. Windows, cupboards, and
boxes were smashed. The utmost pains
were taken to leave behind nothing of
value TO the owners.
And all this was done ut time when
winter was 70 close Mt hand az to make
Ii reasonably sure that cold and hunger
would destroy those whom the sword
had spared. Wherever you 60 you
meet wan. pinched faces and people
clad In scanty garments. Andrpy
know that inultitndes spend the long,
cold nights huddled together, with