Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-24
How Tho Sullan's Commissioners Con.
Quoted an Investigation.
THEIR sASGUISARY ADDRESS.
conversion by Means Of Thrsals--Chfis.
tlan Women sim subjected
TO Outrage.

sacfei In this country, sent out com.
missloners to investigate recent dis
tufbanoes and take measures for quiet.
ing tho country. One group OF com.
mi,sloners went to ErLeroum and the
other entered the county At Sassoun
and came TO Slvas. This commission
fron the interior did its work very
rapidly, spending only few days In
each Of the principal cities Oh their
route.
The day after their arrival, when
summoned, there appeared before
them q number OF loading men, Mos.
lens and Christians. These were ad-
mitled to 1.-The presence Of the commits
slonets separately, Hrst the Moelems,
tnen tue Christians. The report says
the commissioners said to the Moslems:
owe did not expect 80 much VI you,
but you have done II never mind.
Henceiorth you must keep the peace"
When the Christians were admitted
the commissioners received them
standing anu ut once began TO READ an
address recitlng the benefits the Chrlt-
tlans had received during the reign Of
the beneficient sultan, Abdul HAmld
Khan, and the perfidious conduct OF
the Afmenians, who had started news.
papers and sent men TO Washington
ald Chicago TO agitate and stir up the
natious against their government. In
conclusion the address said:
"Hersniter II either Turks or Arme-
mans ttir up trouble there will DO no
more imprisonments, but the death
penalty will DO visited upon all such
0ilendsrs."
Alter the reading OF tho address Ab-
dull Pasha began 10 address the ChTls.
tiAns In y much more violent strain.
He said II the Afmenianu should again
begin 10 agitAte not even the name OF
Armenia would DO allowed TO remain.
They would all be blotted out. Draw
Ing himself up 10 his full height and
stretching out his arm like q sword, he
said! "what We gained We gained
with blood, anu when We give up this
mofssl We will give It up with blood,
blood, blood"
30 far as eau learn, In the KaTput
village the commissioners spent all
their time In Mezren anu did not oven
visit the city OF karput, which was
plundered and burned. although IL IL
ouly two miles from MeEren. No quos-
tons were asked OF the Christians
summoned before them. Whon the
commissioners had nDished their
speeches they dismissed them.
Another fact OF interest " the send.
ing out Of officials TO enroll Ia the gov
eminent lists the names OF Christians
who have become Moslems. Multi.
tuies have been forcibly converted to
L.. Al MI II
they have been obliged TO choose be.
tw cen becoming Moslems and perish
ing by the sword, but they have been
bound or held while the rite OF OR.
cumoislon was performed without their
consent know Of one case In which
nn aged priest was tied 10 his own
door and circumcited, lwhile Ia lan-
other village Christians begged 10 be-
said 10 them: "No, We want you 10
till the fields. We will make you
Mosleml."
The government has said that these
conversions were worth nothing ana
that no one would DO forced 10 change
his religion, but now the government
officials write the names OF these new
converts, while the Turks drive them
TO say they are Moslsms. In the vii.
lage vi bheikhA the officials said to
tho Christians: ~ write your names on
y separate list TO satisfy tho Turks,
there 10 no force about It,"
But one acquainted with Turkish
ways may expect 10 nnd these Chris
tians soon enrolled ~ Moslem citizens.
The carrying on Of Christian girls aud
women, too, still continues. In the
city OF Palu Turks carry OF girls,
keep them for few days and return
them disbonored. The same Ia done
In many other places. In one OF the
ArbskiT villages eight girls OF the
place are Imprisoned In Turkish
hArsms. Their friends hear their cries
but eau do nothing TO help them.
The destitution OF the Armenians
beggars description. Men who were
wealthy In October were begging for
bread In November. Villages were pill
laged OF every scrap OF food and cloth.
log. When the plunderers could find
nothing more TO carry on, the villagers
returned and siited tho dust to gather
few kernels Of wheat or barley.
Doors aud windows were carried on.
Jars were broken. Everything OF
value which could not be carried away
was broken. Windows, onpboArds and
boxes were smashed. Tk0 utmost
pains were taken 10 leave behind moth
ing OF value. And all this was done
nj a time when winter was 80 close ri
hand AZ TO make 10 reasonably sure
that cold and hunger would destroy
lhose whom tho sword had spared
Wherever you 20 you meet want,
plnched faces and people clad In scan
W garments. And you know thai
multitudes spend the long, cold nighti
buddled together with nothing TO liz
down upon and nOthiDgto cover them
" course disease sets In and carrie
them of.
II is estimated there are between
$4,000 anu 100000 people In extreme
restitution.
Europe and America are touched
with compassion, anu funds are oeinl
galhered for the relief OF the sufferer
In every town and city. Ii Is far al
leTent with the Turk. He views hi
work with oomplacency and does no
IKE to sec II interierod with. The gov
eminent has given little aid occasion
any, In many oases the allowance
ane.sixth ms much as 10 given 10
turkish gen d'aTme or soldier. i hav
seen the bread given In several place.
itfes.mbles the liuseed used In Europ
ana America for feeding cattle. Eve
TINS allowance Ia seldom continued Ia
any length OF time. A large share
Tue governments appropriations 70
lhe relief OF the destitute goes into th
pockets OF tina nfiicIals MnreovaF tl