The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
the history of Armenia, in the course of

which he said:
Armenia was the cradle of the human race in
the legends OF old. There were kings in Arme-
mia when Athens was unknown and Rome was
a swamp.
In redistribution of territory Armenia fell
TO the portion OF Turkey. The usual oppression
the Kurds have been bandits. They are not
unlike what our Apaches were before they
were confined to our reservations.
In course OF time the population of Armenia
They have for years and years appealed for
aid and protection to the European powers
Sultan was made to covenant TO protect the
Armenians, but the treaty proved worthless,
so far as being OF any benefit to the Armenians
who continued at the mercy OF the Moslem.
he Armenisns had rights in theory only.
The Armenians are but handful and unfit
for war. The Sultan equipped the Kurds as
cavalry and flung them into Armenia. Though
the Kurds proved themselves poor soldiers in
SIS, they were yet just the kind of soldiers
the Sultan wanted in Armenia; their preda-
tory instincts served his purpose exactly, as
they could be depended upon 10 make contin-
nous and cruel warfare on al unprotected peo-
pie
Numerous instances of outrages and cru
elites of q horrible character practiced on
the Armenians by the Turks were described
in detail and brought frequent murmurs of
horror from the audience. Continuing, he
said:
going on for two years. Some of the worst
deeds were instigated by high officials of the
Turkish empire.
It required but word to blow the old fanati-
cal spirit of persecution into flame, and this
word was spoken by the Sultan.
II we can do nothing more we can at least
tender our sympathies to the oppressed and
crust OF bread TO the starving.
Samuel NJ. Shortridge was then an
nounced to make brief address, and his
appearance called forth long and hearty
applause His eloquent apostrophe to
liberty was an effort that stirred the blood
in the veins OF all the vast audience. His
fe-vor was of that intense character that
his first score of words were interrupted by
an emphatic demonstration of approval.
His description of the metaphorical flight
OF liberty to the mountains OF Europe and
thence to the caves of those mountains;
then OF her breasting the waves of the
ocean, TO find final safe and permanent
abiding place in this country, and his plea
for keeping her scepter free from blemish
by courageously and manfully aiding the
oppressed, wherever they may be, met
hearty and yociferous response from his
auditors. He spoke in part as follows:
came here tonight to utter one simple
thought and that thought is in favor of liberty
[applause[ to worship God whatsoever and in
whatsoever manner person desires in accord
ance with his own true conscience. tApplause.]
We are here to-night-Jew, GENTLE Protes-
tant Catholic and adherents of other ereeds-
willing TO lift our voices in behalf OF religious
freedom. [Applause.l
From the second century, when Christianity
was first planted in Armenia, TO the present
day, it has been the object of oppression and
its people the victims OF torture by unscrupu-
lous rulers.
Should America stand idle when these atroci-
ties are going On?-America, whose President
dares say to great and powerful and domin-
eering Government that it shall not strip little
Venezuela of her power [Applausel.
Dare America not TO say to the Sultan OF Tur-
key that he shall not prosecute the almost
helpless Armenian?
/ here eTreign tn at baTbGric Government at
the bar OF public opinion.
This land, devoted to the idea OF liberty the
idea of self-goYernment and the idea OF the
divorce OF state from church. should be light
in the heavens for the nations OF men.
We should at all times lift up our voices
against persecution wherever it may be prac-
ticed
Let US join in voting for the adoption of reso-
IutIons calling upon our representatives in
Congress to protest against these atrocious OPP
pressions
Rev. c. H. Minton then presented the
following preamble and resolutions:
The civilized world has for the last few
months again been Mortified by reports of
wholesale lawlessness and slaughter among
the Armenians OF Asia Minor. The monoton-
GUS continuance OF these reports raises strong
presumption that there is corresponding truth
at their basis. EXaggeration and perversion
may do their part; the intrigueS OF diplomacy
may, with sinister intent, revise these reports;
certainly it is impossible for one who Is not
on the ground accurately to measure the re-
ports by the facts. Nevertheless, making all
possible allowances there is indisputable evil
dence that these facts challenge the horror and
the censure OF mankind.
Enterprising journals have sent trustworthy
news-gatherers 10 Armenia, only 10 confirm re-
ports already sent forth; private advices and
correspondence abundantly verify the gravest
suspicious; the history of the Kurds and the
Armenians-a history OF internecine plumber
and rapine and violence-prepares the world
TO accept the perpetuation OF this sauguinary
regime as the situation of affairs at the present
moment; the feeble and ignoble efforts of the
sublime Porte for the preservation of order
among the remote provinces of the interior
fasten the conviction that there exists to-day
precisely such reign OF terror and crime as is
described from day to day in the reports from
Asia Minor
1t is not forgotten that every consideration