The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-01-08

from the middle of the fifth century
scarcely year has elapsed IN which
Armenian women have not unhesltat-
inglv laid down their lives for their
religious belief. The murder of Sas-
soun, of Van. of Erzeroun, were
Christian martyrs and any or all OF
those whose eyes were gouged out,
whose Quivering flesh was torn from
their bodies might have obtained life
by embracing Islam and abjuring
Christ. But, instead, they died like
Christian martyrs. Why is it that
our compassion for these, our fellow
men, has not yet assumed the form OF
effective help2 Fer reasons OF higher
politics.
The condition of Armenian Chris
tians until we first interfered lS7S) was
deplorable. Laws existed only on pa
per. Mohammedan crimes were pun
ishable only in theory. Russia was
willing to substitute law and order for
crime and chaos and to guarantee to
Christians the treatment due to human
beings, But we then denied her right
to do this, and she refuses to admit
our claim to undertake this single
handed. We said in effect, though
our political interests may clash with
those of Russia, we will see to it that
they are not suosersive of the element
ary principles of human justice and
| immutable law of God Yet we never
took any efhcacioas step to fulfill that
solemn promise. Our consuls forward
edexhausted reports, the press publish
ed heartrending details and Armenian
ecclesias.ics presented piteous appeals,
but we pigeon -holed the consular re-
ports. pooh hooed the particulars pub
lished by the press and ignored the Pc
titious of the priests. We pressed a
knob as it were, in London, and there,
by opened hell's portals in Asia Minor,
letting loose legions of tends in human
shape who set about torturlng and ex.
terminating the Christians there. And
lest it should be urged that our gov
ernment was ignorant OF the wide
reaching effects of its ill-advised action,
it is on record that for II years 1t con-
tinued to watch the narrowing results
of that action without once interfering
to stop it.
During all those II years written
law, traditional custom, the funda-
mental maxims of human and divine
justice were suspended in favor OF a
Mohammedan saturnalia. The Chris
tians by whose toll and thrift the en-
pire was held together were dispoiled,
beggared, chained, beaten and Danish
ed or butchered. Thousands Of Arme-
mans were thrown into prison and tor
tured and terrorized till they delivered
up the savings of a life time. Whole
villages were attacked In few years
the provinces were decimated. Alogh-
kerd, for instance, being almost en-
tirely purged of Armenians. Over
5000 woe-stricken wretches fed to
Russia or Persia. On the way they
were seized over and over again by the
soldiers of the sultan who deprived
them of their little money and clothes.
outraged the women and girls and
drove them over the frontier to hun
ger and die. Those who remained for
time behind were no better Oft. Turk
ish tax gatherers followed these CLEAN
ing what the brigands had left, tortur-
ing and fogging their male victims,
dishonoring their wives and dehower-
ing their daughters.
s.Stories of this kind in connection
with Turkish misrule in Armenia have
grown familiar to English ears of late.
It should be remembered that these
statements are neither rumors nor ex-
aggerations concerning which we are
justified in suspending our judgment.
History has set its seal upon them;
The Turks have admitted these and
worse acts of savagery; the kurds
glory in them trustworthy Europeans
have witnessed and described them,
and Americans have groaned over
them in blank despair.
'.In accordance with the plan OF ex-
termination which has been carried
out with such success during the long
years of Turkish vigor and English
sluggishness, all Armenians who pos
sessed money or moneys WORTH were
for time allowed to buy immunity
from prison. But as soon as terror
and confscation took the place OF ex-
tortion the dungeons of Erzerounl, Err
ingham, Marsovan, Hassankaleh and
Van were filed till there was scarcely
standing room. Educated school mas
ters, missionaries, priests and physl-
clans were immured these noisome hot
beds of infection and forced to sleep
night after night standing on their
feet, leaning against the foul, reeking
corner of the wall. Hunger, thirst
and Shiny water rendered their agony
maddening. Yetthese were not Grim
inals nor alleged criminals, but up
right Christian men who were never
vet accused of an infraction of the law.
Into these prisons were venerable mis-
sionaries, teachers, ministers OF rellg-
ion, merchants. physicians and pea
SAINTS. Those among them who refus-
ed to denounce their friends or con-
sent to some atrocious crime were sub
iected to tortures indescribable, often
occupying days, while their torment
ors laughed and howled in glee.
NiSutS were pdSSSo IL eoOh 1ASAAA'o
orgies anu days in invertiug new tor
lures or refining upon the old. Some
Of them cannot be described, nor even
limited at. In the homes Of these
| wretched people the fendish fanatics
were equally active and successful.
Rape and dishonor with nameless ac-
compartments menaced almost every
girl and woman in the couutry. Chill
dren were often married at the age Of
II, even 10, in the vain hope of lessen
ing this danger. But the protection
of a husband proved unavailing; 1t
merely meant one murder more and
one Christian dog less, and what as
tonishes one throughout this long.
sickening story of shame and crime IS
the religious faith of the sufferers.
Such in broad outline has been the
normal condition Of Armenia ever
| So of porli,, nwjno at