St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-05
DIsGUsTING CAN'T.

i
| DISGUSTING CANT.
Or all the DIRECTORS whom the presi-
dents message on the Venezuelan
question has brought into the market
| place with piously clasped hands and
upturned eyeballs, none are more en-
tirely loathsome than the sniyelfng
hypocrites who tell US that the rails
ing OF this issue has sounded the
death knell of Armenia's hopes. We
near 1t from both sides of the water
The English politician says that Pres
fdent Cleveland proved himself the
/ best friend of the sultan of Turkey
and has effectively put an end to Brit
ish ideas of interference. The Amer
lean Tory, of whom we regret to see
there are few, echoes the canting
cry. What are the facts about it? Be
fore this Venezuelan question became
public issue, the attitude Of England
toward the Turkish trouble was def
nttely and finally fixed to her ever
lasting shame. For weeks and months
the atrocities Of the Turks in Armenia
! had proceeded WITHOUT effective check
or remonstranee on the part Of En-
gland. Her representative talked, and
presented his periodical ultimatum.
The war ships Of Great Britain We're
anchored outside of the Bosphorus,
and repeated threats were made that
they would be used to enforce the de-
mand Of the civilized world for the
exercise Of humanity toward a perse-
cuted people. Week after week the
sultan dallied and delayed, gave prom
ises and broke them, until finally it
was patent to the world announced
and not denied, that Great Britain did
not dare to interfere. The clamor of
with the government than even the
arguments against disturbing the bal
ance of power, had stayed the hand
of Great Britain.
1t was manifest to all the world
that Armenia was to be left to her
fate. Not a nation in the whole cir
Gle of the globe had reverence enough
for humanity or faith enough in it's
own mission in the world to take up
the cause Of people apparently bereft
and deserted by God and man. Even
the appeal for funds to aid the few
huddled wretched in the cities and
villages Of the provinces of Turkey
whom the murderous hate and lust of
live fell on deaf ears Never did hu-
man need and human suffering receive
so scanty and half-hearted response
as was given to the prosecuted Ar
menians. This was the exact situa-
ton before the Venezuela dispute be-
came an international question. A
final decision of non-interference,
declared apathy, as far as contribu-
tions or help to the distressed were
concerned had settled down on all
the nations, with England and the
United States the most Indifferent of
the lot.
1t is with ineffable shame that we
find now, at this late day, men who
dare to refer to the Venezuela dispute
! as an alleged cause Of events that were
| determined and on record before it eX-
listed in such shape as to have any
influence upon them. 1t is the cant Of
men who stop their ears to the pitiful
appeals of hunted and ruined people;
men who were wiling that every man,
woman and child of them should be re-
moved from the face of the earth
rather than to hazard an International
disturbance, or to risk the payment of
a single coupon from their bonds, and
who now uplift; brazen face to say
that our attitude toward England de-
stroys the hope of Armenia. On the
contrary, we may dare to think that if
there once arises before the nations a
| larger and nobler view Of national
duty, if it once more becomes a princi-
pie Of rulers that there rests upon the
strong a duty to protect the weak, it
WILL at some future time, become posi-
bic to rest on the higher and nobler
spirit of human brotherhood, and to
prevent the recurrence of that which.
in the case of Armenia, with all the
nations at peace with each other and
yet not daring or caring to lift a hand
in her defense, has impressed the seal
| of eternal disgrace upon the civilization
of the nineteenth century.