Evening star., 1896-01-11

states Supreme Court presided and on
either side Of him sat Rev. Or. Newman,
pastor of the First Congregational Church,
and Rev. DR.. Butler, pastor Of the Lutheran
Memorial Church. Beside DIR. Newman
Rev. Father Stafford Of St. Patrick's Roman
Catholic Church was seated, and next to
him, on the end Of the row, was Dr. Tai
mage Of the First Presbyterian Church
On the other side of the platform was Miss
Clara Barton, whose work in the Red Cross
Association has made her famous through
out the world: Rev. Frederick ID. Greene.
who has served as a missionary in Armenia,
and Miss krikorian, a native Armenian,
who embraced Christianity and was edu-
Gated in the Christian schools of CONSTANT
ncple. Rev. DR.. Newman opened the pro-
ceedings and announced the names of the
members Of the Washington relief commit
tee to whom contributions can be made of
money to be carried to the afflicted Armen-
ians by Miss Barton, who will probably be
on her way to the blighted land of the
Turks within couple of weeks. This COM
mittee consists Of Justice Harlan, presi-
dent; Bishop Hurst, vice president; Gen.
Whittlesey, F. H. Stier, President Whit
man of the Columbian University, DR.. ].
E. Rankin, Bishop Keane, Charles Lyman,
ex-civil service commissioner, Rev. DR.. ].
III. Elliott, A. f. Fox, b. H. Stinemetz G.
W. Shelton. Judge Kimball Mr.. Simon
Wolf and W. C. Alexander, secretary
Judge Hnrlan's Address.
Justice Harlan, in opening the meeting
said:
Fellow Citizens: We have met tonight to
express our sympathy for the deeply
wronged Christians Of Armenia. The dis
tance which separates Us from those un-
fortunate people is very great. But they
have a place in our hearts. and are our
brethren, not only because they and we
hold the same faith, but because they are
human beings, entitled TO worship God ac-
cording to the dictates Of their own con-
science. If half of what has been pub
lished In reference to tie outrages perpe-
trated upon the Armenian Christians be
true, 1t is safe to say that their sufferings
are almost without a parallel in the history
that tolerates such outrages within it's jur-
isdiction, or which remains inactive while
they are being perpetrated. ought to perish
from the earth. Our own government is
restrained by the established policy of this
country, If not by Its fundamental law,
from interfering in the internal affairs Of
any other nation, except as Ii may become
necessary to protect the lives and property
of American citizens. But there are sew
eral governments near the scene Of these
outrages or who have interests in that part
of the world whose laws do not prevent
them from interfering when the dictates of
humanity require. 1t is to be hoped that
those who have the power to interfere
will no longer hesitate, and will do all that
the situation requires. The world will be
better off il the great powers. postponing
balance of power, will, in some effective
mode, see to 1t that the Christians of
Armenia enjoy that immunity from perse-
cution to which they are entitled. In all
enlightened countries freedom in matters
of religion is recognized and en\'rced. The
| time has come when barbarous or cruel
nations should be taught, IL need be by
| force, that Christians are not to be perse-
cuted or massacred because Of their re-
| ligion."
Rev. DR.. TaImage's Address.
Justice Harlan introduced as the first
speaker of the evening Rev. DIR. Talmage,
who made a stirring appeal to all Ameri-
cans to be alive to the great wrongs being
| inflicted upon the helpless Armenians and
| whose ringing words brought round after
| round of arplaus.. He paid glowing trib-
ute to the work of the Red Cross Society,
| and said:
1T has been said that IL We go over there
| to interfere on that continent that will i'm
ply the right for other nations TO interfere
| with affairs on this continent, and so the
Monroe doctrine will be jeopardized. No,
| no; President Cleveland expressed the SEN
| timent of every intelligent and patriotic
| American when he thundered from the
| White House warning TO all nations that
| there is not one acre or cne-duarter Of an
| acre of ground on this continent for any
| European government to occupy. And by
| that doctrine we stand now and shall for
| ever stand. But there is doctrine as
|
| the heavens are higher than the earth and
| that is the doctrine of humanitarianism
and sympathy, and Christian helpfulness.'
| DR.. Talmage continued with much feeling
| in strong and eloquent words to plead the
| cause Of the Armenians. and showed that
| he believed that a failure to accord to these
| stricken people the relief that common hu.
nanity would suggest would be as great q
| sin of omission as any of commission thai
| could be committed. His remarks were fire.
quently interrupted hy applause.
Rev. Mr.. Grecne's Remarks.
| Rev. Frederick D. Greene, secretary OF
| the national Armenian relief committee
and who for many years resided In Turkey
spoke of his perso, al knowledge of the
| wrongs with which the Armenians are in
iicted. Mr.. Greene said that Trustworthy
l reports show that $1,000 Armenians had
been massacred and that at least 350.O0t
are now in danger Of periShing from star
i walton and exposure. He said that $780, 90
| were needed at once, and in order to car.
for the Armenians until next year 81 ,0O0, ,0Ot
could be spent to advantage Mr. Green,
| showed the feeling of contempt which the
Turks have toward Americans, and as al
| instance, he cited his own experience II
| travelling there with guides. Meetinl
Turkish outlaws the guides would be stop
ped and asked of what nationality theil
| charge was.
| .aThe guide would always tell them
said Mr. Greene, that l was An English
| man. for that would protect me- Do wha
1 could. 1 could never get them to tell III,
| TRUTH for had it been known that / was ar
| American 1 would have been the prey t
| these robbers, who dare not injure ar
| Englishman. The truth is, and We may a,
well realilize 1t on this side of the Atlantic
that an American in Turkey is a sort Of
third-rate Englishman."
The Sense of the Meeting.
Mr. Alexander, secretary of the Washing
ton relief committee, read the following
which was adopted as the sense of the meet
| ing:
The citizens Of Washington, d. c., in mas.
meeting assembled, this tenth day Of Janu
airy, 1896, herewith express. in common will
their fellow citizens in various parts of ou
country ard the civilized world their sens,
of profound horror and Indignation over tn,
cruelties that have been and are still being
| inflicted upon the people of Armenia ant
| other parts of the orient, at what seems {,
be the instigation, or by the sanction of tn,
Turkish government.
| We declare our faith in that brotherhoo,