Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-15
MRS. JULIA WARD HOWE
Pleads With American Wcmsn In Armenia's
Behalf.

which appeared in the Boston Adver-
tiser, cannot fail to be of much inter-
est to the readers of the Journal:
Twenty-six years ago, in the distress
of the Franco russian war, I felt
prompted to write and publish an APP
peal to the women of all nations in be-
half of peace. The thought had sud
denly come to me that women, to whose
keeping the first sacredness of human
life is entrusted, should stand not only
as the earliest, but as the perpetual
guardians of that life, whose DEAFNESS
of purchase they alone know.
Under their beneficent rule, man. a,
once an animal and a reasoning being
should be trained to take his stand
upon divine reason. and not upon ami
NAL impulse and passion. If the true
motherhood could uphold true mother
hood. We should soon attain the milo
and discriminating rule which sets dig.
nifty in the place of violence, and sways
multitudes with rod of lilies, the bios
soming of divine charity.
find myself moved, in these DAYS, tc
lift up my voice as / did in the time
just mentioned. but with a more i'm
Fortunate agony then deplored
scenes of violence and bloodshed re-
Gently terminated. / am possessed now
not only with horrors that are past, but
with the vision of their dread renewal
and continuance. The spectacle that
behold is one which outvies the CHASTITY
actions of the Indian mutiny. 1 see an
intelligent Christian nation of time
honored renown, which European dip
lomacy has delivered, unarmed and de-
fenceleSs, into the hands of race
whose barbarsm has disgraced too long
the civilization of Europe.
The JealousieS of religious sects for
badc their interference when these saw.
age men Slew the last representatives
OF the Caesars. and planted the cres-
cent, Dathed in blood, where the blessed:
cross had stood. The jealousies of the
political world now forbid it's nations
to lift finger in defence of this help
less race, maSsacred in the sight of al,
Europe, its women dishonored and sold
into brutal and unholy slavery. it's little
ones tossed upon Turkish bayonets. its
Idthers hunted like wild beasts and
putchefed like sheep: it's homes plum
dered and laid in ashes.
FOR more than year this dreadfu.
drama or slaughter and infancy has
peen going on, and no one in all Europc
mas dared to say that it must cease.
4here is, then no such thing as human
brotherhood? Whole nations of men
with arms and money at command. will
see humanity outraged for months If
the persons of these poor victims. ano
VIII take their ease as if no such thing
were happening. This conduct almos;
snames the mothers of men. Packs Of
brute beasts will show more chivalry to
tnelr KIND than the men of Europe are
showing to their Armenian brethren.
announcer point of view. This ferocioue
attacK aims, as far as may be dared. a,
tle extinction of Christianity. If those
->rnenlans Will embrace the Moslan7
iaith' they may keep all that the robbie.
ana assassin have left them of What
supports life. Christendom eniovs its
runners, smokes it's cigars, shrues itq
shoulders, While its domain is BEING
conquered plecemeal, under every ar
compartment of infamous oppressior
anu violence. Love of life is strong in.
human beings. and some faint-hearted
ihei WILL no doubt. yield to fate. anC
embrace this most hateful ALTERNATIVES
is there not in all Europe a swor,,
tHat VIII clash against this scimitare
10 there not the Eold heart of man who
VIII Dear the banner of the cross into
'ne MIDST OF that scene of horrors. and
souhd trumpet call which Shall be Il,
the perpetrators of these deeds n
darkness the signal of their day OF
JuuSiheht: Are we content to give IN
Win our human brotherhood. tn,
pieuSe ana symbol OF our faith? Ca,,
IL De that there is no Christendnp,
more! Only sects, denominations
churches?
Europe, beware, The Turk ono.
stooo before the gates of Vienna. John
oopleskl drove them back for van
!here Is no Poland now: you have AL
ioWed the country of that hero 10 he
oiotted from the muster-roll of nations
Ana now. with ripper KNOWLEDGE. with
longer and later experience. Won will
ahow Armenia. Christian Armenia. to
become a name of the past while her
piunuer enriches many a savage horde
wnlie her women fill the Turkish
narems, and her men must obiure The
ohfist who died for them or yield their
nves IN torture and infamy.
Wnlie was musing upon this most
painrui theme, friends came to mo Win
aMork which could not be disregar,1cd
inns was prayer that l should apneal
10 the women of America in behalf If
Tue Armenian mothers and daughters
whose lives are rendered intolerabje nv
constant exposure to every privation
ana to dishonor more to be dreadad
IMAM death. In my thoughts I rad
peeh appealing to the chivalry. to the
manhood of Chrstendom for aid. hnt
the call was now: For Gods sake nm
peal 10 the women of America in he
mar OF their defenceless and most suf
lerlng sisters. Numbers of them are
already seeking death as refuge ron,
the horrors that surround them. and
the unspeakable fate that thrsatenc
them" '0ii'
MY visitors further said
Our arrangements for forwarding
supplys are perfected No interfar
ence OF Turkish officials in their dis
llpution is now to be dreaded. Miss
barton and the faithful missiona r;es
are at their posts. But the treasury
rehef is empty. Our funds are OK.
hausted."
lnereiore, dear sisters. women in
lahiiles and women in clubs INV
most earnestly to you. Organize one
more effort to save the Christian
women OF Armenia, threatened nat
ouiy with Starvation