The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-10-03
A BURNING DISGRACE
UNFORTUNATE ARMENIANs ARE
STRANDED IN FRANCE.
Having Escaped the Bloody Turk
They Are Now Looking to the
Land OF the Free.

Marseilles, Sept 29.-There exists a con-
dition of affairs in TINS city at present
which seems to be a disgrace to Europe
and 10 the Armenian associations gener-
ally throughout the world. Subsisting on
Tie government, municipal or private
charity here, are 800 unfortunate Arme-
nlans-mcn, women and children, young
and Old healthy and sick--who have sue
ceeded in escaping from the bloody mas
sacres a. Constantinopie, and who were,
one ana all, buOyed up by the hope OF be
Ing able eventually to reach the land of
the free-the United States. Three weeks
nave already elapsed, and nothing def
lite appears to have been done for their
relief, much less towards finding them
homes. by any of the many associations
FOR the relief of the suffering Armenians
which have been organized in England or
America.
These unfortunates. however. seem to
be the very class TO which the hand Of
charity should be first extended Tley
are homeless. nearly all penniless, many
are enduring the pangs OF hunger. and
yet no one seems willing 10 step in and
guide this band Of refugees to some place
where they can begin life anew and un-
der more promising circumstances. Large
amounts of money have been raised in
the past for the Armenians in Armenia.
but the situation of the latter is not
III WI sc lltil llt NAH Starving pc DDle
here, if as bad. The Armenians in Ar
menia certainly had their coreligonlsts
ana fellow-c ountrymen to fall back upon.
The poor people here seem to have no
friends in the wide world, yet they are as
honest and industrious class as you can
ma on the shores Of the Mediterranean.
Some South American Spectators 4, is
true, taking advantage of this deplOraDle
situation, have prevailed upon 800 others
or the Armenian refugees to allow them
selves to be transported to the Argentine
kepublic. there in all probability to meet
the tate Of thousands of Hebrews of Rus
sla, who, thanks to the philanthropy Of
the late Baron Hirsch. emigrated to
south America, only to find themselves,
lgurauvely speaking. tossed from the
frying pan into the fire IT, is true shat
the climate of Argentine Is said TO be
more healthy than that of the regions
that the poor Hebrews tried to settle in
but the end Is likely to be the same in
the case of the Armenian refugees who
are not a class of people TO thrive in
roughly founded colonies
only about Is of the 800 Armenians VINO
reached here have as yet been able 10
start for the United States But what is
to become Of the remaining unfortunate
Christians, fleeing from the bloOdstained
turks. who are living on charity here
with their eyes turned longingly towards
the United States? 1t would seem that
these poor people may be barred from
reaching the United States. and they may
be forbidden to land there even if .Aey
succeed in obtaining transportation to The
shores of North America. Surely. if ever
there was case in which iron rules
necessary no doubt. might be relaxed. 1t
is in the case Of these stricken people
Tying from the prosecutions and butch
cries that have prevailed in their own
land. There is material hope for the
foundation of strong Armenian colony
and it would appear that there must be
some spot on earth where these victims
Of the bloodthirstiness and mlsgovern-
ment of Abdul Hamid, sultan of Turkey
who, according to generally credited re-
ports. must have caused the massacre Of
$4,000 Christians during the last few
years. can earn an honest living