The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ARMEN|ANS,
A Strong Protest Against
Turkish CrueltieS
Adopted.
DETAILS OF ATROCITIES.
They Cause MurmurS of Horror
Among the Vast AS
Semblage.
SOME ELOQUENT ADDRESSES
Free America Urged TO Ask Indifferent
Europe to Act in Human.
ity'S Cause.

It was an audience thoroughly and in
tenseIy in accord with the object of the
meeting that called them together which
filled Metropolitan Hall last night.
The purpose Of the gathering was to ex-
press the sentiment of the people Of San
Francisco in reference TO the horrible Ar
menian atrocities, the accounts of which
have daily for some time past shocked the
people of the entire civilized world.
1t was an audience vastly different from
that which is found at the ordinary mass
meeting held to agitate some question of
local or National Importance. Instead of
being made up of politicians and voters
only, there was a large number of the
gentler sex present, and the platform was
graced with some Of the most eminent
divines and pubic-spIrited men of the
City.
And the speakers found ready response
to their appeals to patriotism, freedom,
humanity and justice; to their denuncia-
tons of the barbarities of the Kurds, the
prosecutions practiced by the Turks and
the shameful indifference of the European
powers, and TO their graphic portrayalS of
the horrible sufferings of the Armenians.
Mayor SutTO presided and in calling the
4ACCt1llS " OIQEA Sdl1 lLidt uE NlSutu 10
draw particular attention to the impor-
lance OF 1t. He then continued:
We who live at ease in the land OF peace can
hardly realize that. in these last days OF the
nineteenth century, thousands OF men,
women and children are being brutalIv put to
death with every kind OF outrage and torture.
And yet so 1t Is. Once again the "unspeak-
able" Turk has displayed his fanaticism; once
again ne has drenched the land with blood !;
once again he has manifested his utter in
capacity Tor civilized restraints, his innate
cruelty and barbarity.
The far East, out of which come the races
the religions and civilizations OF the world
cries out to the far West-the most ancient OF
countries 10 the youngest-ina voice OF lamen-
tGuon for the sufferings and wrongs OF her
children IN 6 voice that shall be heard and
needed; iOr 1t Is high time that action should
be taken, once and Tor all, 10 hew off and de-
stroy this degenerate and pestiferous member
OF the government of the world.
Here, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, we
are this day gathered TO enter our solemn pro-
test against the atrocities, crimes and outrages
that have Tor years been and are now being
peTpetrated in Armenia. For months there
have been almost daily accounts of this merci-
less slaughter OF the Christians by the Mos
lens.
All kinds OF pretenses have been made in
regard TO these barDarities. The real reason,
however, IS undoubtedly the religious fanati-
cism OF the Mohammedans All nations are
more or less tinged with superstition and
fanaticism, and even We, the inhabitants OF
these enlightened United States, are not
wholly free from it. In the Turks, how
ever, it amounts to a disease. have
performances OF the dancing dervishes,
who, in the name OF religion, whired
round and round until they fell TO the
ground from sheer exhaustion. I have
seen the services OF the bowling deTvishes
who kept up their chants of bowling until
tnelT voices gave way; l have seen the
head deryish stand with both feet on men
and women, and even little babes, to cure
them OF disease. These are the ignorant
fanatics who murder and rouse the evil pas
sions OF the lower classes OF Turks to murder
lnorenslve Arnenlens and other non-Moham-
medan subjects OF the Turkish empire.
And this has been going for centuries
Some years ago while at Damascus I heard de-
scrtbed by eye-wttnesses the massacres which
had occurred at that place in $40 and 1860
when thousands were slain and the streets
were literally covered with the bodies OF the
dead. There was but one opinion then ex-
pressed-that the powers should interfere with
armed hand, stop the atrocities and punish the
perpetrators.
And why was that not done Why is it not
done to-day? The reason is that there
is a phantom which hovers over Europe,
called the balance of power, that prevents
England from entering the Turkish Empire
hinders Russia from taking possession OF the
Dardaneues, keeps Germany Italy and France
from interfering with Turkish affairs mean
while allowing the fanatical Mohammedsus 10
ravage, plunder and Stay without let or hind
rance.
Civilized humanity demands a change. If it
can be obtained Ill no other way, then let the
nations OF Europe agree on a partition of the
Turkish Empire among States that will estab-
ish a civilized Government.
Science and liberal religion alike predicate
the great brotherhood of the nations OF the
earth, the unity of man and his march forward
TO civilization that shall be free from wro1.g
and cruelty Of every kind-and in the name of
this brotherhood we demand that the neces-
sary and immediate steps be taken, to secure
Tor our Armenian brothers the inalienable
right OF every man to peaceful, orderly lust
and protecting government.
AS fundamental principle, the American
m aprarh ag oltfaT-
so, TO medole in European affairs. In the
name OF humanity, however, it can in this in
stance consistently make itself heard, and
shouid demand IN thunder tones of the Eu-
ropean powers TO stop these atrocities, es-
pecially as many American citizens are in
volved.
Let US pass resolutions 10 that effect and ASH
Congress, as the representative of indignant
Americans, to make itself heard, and that at
once, in behalf of an outraged humanity.
Rev. H. n. Bevier, secretary of the
executive committee which had called the
meeting, then read letters of regret at the
inability to be present and of sympathy
with the movement, from Archbishop
Riordan, Bishop Nichols, ex-Mavor r. B.
Pond, II. J. Mccoy, A. Altmayer. Rev.
DIR. Horatio Stebbins and A. B. Forbes.
The latter's communication closed as
follows:
lam in sympathy. with the object, and here
with inclose check for $50 for the fund, and
hope you will find liberal supporters tThe
European powers" no doubt VIM subscribe
literally.
The secretary then announced the fol-
lowing list Of ce-presidents:
James d. Thorton, NJ. H. Myrick, E. B. Pond
j. r. Ellert, Charles Goodall Annis Merrill
E B. Sawyer, Charles f. Croker, Charles M
Shortridge, A. B. Forbes, Monroe Greenwood
n. I. Romano, Horace Davis, A. S. Hallidie'
Louis Sloss, l. J. Truman, &. V. Watt, A. n
Drown, R. B. Forman, H. L. Davis.
Captain A. Rogers, Sidney NJ Smith, j..
Gerste, A. Anspacher, r. Peixotto, p.
n. nenthal, S. +. Bufford, n. p Cole.
H. L. Dodge, Charles Holbrook, H. j. McCov
Chester l.. Smith, Wales /. Palmer, Robert
Dickson, c. S. Kelly, C. F. Won Rhein, David
Dodge, j. L. Hutchinson, F. A. Hyde, S. G. KEEL
logg, c. A. Murdoch, John Barry Jr., j. w
Whiting, c. S. Holmes, w. J. Gibson, C. b.
Perkins, Louis Brown, Thomas Starr King Jr,
NJ Goldwater, A. Altmayer, /. w. Hellman,
Hugo Rothschild, John CARRIER.
He also read communication from the
Armenian residents of Fresno returning
thanks TO the promoters OF the movement
for their earnest efforts to secure a miti-
cation of the sufferings and prosecutions
of their fellow-countrymen in the land of
their birth.
John Bonner then delivered lecture on