The Dickinson press., 1896-12-12
TURKEY ON TOAST.
The Massncre of Armenian In
nOuuCeal I'm mn ltncertnfn 'lerm Il

The Massncre of Armenian In De-
nOuncei In mo- Uncertain Terms.
In obedience to u constitutional require.
ment ] hereby submit to the congress GER
tain information concerning national affairs
with the suggestion Of such legislation as
In my judgment is necessary and expedient
10 secure brevity and avoid tiresome nara
tion shall omit many details concerning
matters within federal control which by
no means unimportant are more probably
discussed In department reports. shall
also further curtail this communication by
emitting minute recital of many minor
incidents connected with our foreign rcla-
tiOns which have heretofore found Il place
In executive messages but are not contained
In Il report Of the treasury OF state which
is herewith submitted.
At the outset Of a reference to the more
important matters not effectlng our relations
with foreign powers. 1t would afford me
/ satisfaction IL l could assure the congress
| that the disturbed condition In Asiatic
Turkey had during the past year assumed
Il less hideous and bloody aspect and that
either as a consequence of the awakening
Of the Turkish government to the demand
Of humane civilization or as the result of
decisive action on the part of the great
| nations having the right by treaty to inter-
fere for the prot ection Of those exposed to
the rage OF mad bigOtry and cruel fanati-
| cisn. the shocking features Of the situation
welcoming a softencd disposition or pro-
| tective intervention, we have been af-
flicted by continued and not infrequent re-
ports of the wantOn destruction Of homes
and the bloody butchery of men. women
and children. made martyrs to their pro-
fession of Christian faith.
| While none of our citizens in Turkey
have thus far been killed or wounded,
though often in the midst Of dreadful scenes
Of danger, their safety in the future is
by no means assured. Our government at
home aud our minister ut ConstantinOple
have left nothing undone to protect our
missionaries in Ottoman territory, who con-
stitute nearly all the individuals residing
there who have IL right to claim our pro-
| lection Gil the score of American citizen-
slip. /;
| Our efforts in this direction will not be
relaxed but the deep feeling and sympathy
| that have been aroused among our people
ought not to so far blind their reason and
Judgment as to lead them to demand i'm
possible things. The outbreak oe blind
fury which lead to murder and pillage in
Turkey occur suddenly and without notice.
and an attempt on our part to force such
n hostile presence there as might be ef
fective for prevention of protection would
not only be resisted by the Ottoman gov
eminent but would be regarded as an in
IterruptiOn Of their plans by the great ma
tiOns who assert their exclusive right TO
intervene in their own time and method for
! the security of life and property in Turkey.
Several naval vessels are stationed in the
Mediterranean as measure Of caution and
to furnish all possible relief and refuge in
case OF emergency. We have made claims
against the Turkish government for the
pilage and destruction OF missionary prop
ery ut Harpoot and Marash during up
risings at those places. Thus far the valid
ity Of these demands has not been adj
mitted. though our minister, prior to such
RACES and in anticipation Of danger, de-
manded protection for the persons and
property OF our missionary citizens In the
localities mentioned, and Notwithstanding
that strong evidence exists of actual COM
pllcty OF Turkish troops in the work of
destruction and robbery. The facts as they
now appear do not permit to doubt the
justice Of these claims and nothing will be
omitted to bring about their prompt set
Element.
| A number Of Armenian refugees having
arrived at our ports, an order has lately
been obtained from the Turkish government
permitting the wives and children Of such
refugees to join them here. 1t is hoped that
heI Ieafter no obstacle will be interpLsed to
prevent the escape Of all those who seek to
avoid the perls which threaten them In
| Turkish territory.
Our recently appointed consul to Erzer-
num Is ut his post and discharginS the
duties Of his office, though for som" un-
accountable reason his formal e:ecnatcur
from the sultan has not been issued.
| ] do not believe that the present sOmbre
prospect In Turkey will be long permitted
to offend the sight Of christendOm. II so
mars the humane and enlightened civiliZa-
ton that belongs to the close Of the nine
teenth century that it seems hardly possible
| that the earnest demand Of good people
| throughout the Christian world for its cor
receive treatment will remain unanswered.