The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-12-18
FOREIcN AFFAIRS.
The Armenian Massacres.

The Armenian Massacres
Al he outset Of a reference TO the more inn !
,6ftlnt matters affecting our relations with |
.pIgl powers II would nnOrd me satisfaction |
Ir0lld assure congress that tne ul tufDeu |
rld ION in ASiatic Turkey had curing the
,..t wear assumed a less hdeous and bloody
sstect aud that either as consequence OF
~ waIeulng OF the Turkish government 10
fhe demands OF humane civilization, or as the
result Of decisive action on The part OF the
great nations having the right, ~ treaty, 70
Interfere for the protection OF those exposed
10 The rage OF mad bigotry ana cruel ianatl-
esrn the shocking features Of the situation
had been mltguted.
disuesition or positive Intervention, we have
been aniicted by confirmed and not unfrequent
reports OF the wanton destruction OF homes
ana the bloody butchering OF men women and
children, made martyrs TO their profession OF
Christian faith While none Of our CITIZEN 5 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
our minister at Constantinop.e have lett MOTH
ing undone 10 protect our missionaries IN Ot-
toinan territory. who constitute nearly all the
individuals residing there who have right 10
claim our protection on the score OF American
several naval vessels are stationed IN the
Mediterranean as Il measure OF caution ana 70
furuish all possible relief and refuge IN case oi
emergency.
The Cuban Insurrection.
The nsurrection In Cuba sun continues with
4
that any progress has thus Tar been made To-
VS. s the uacihcatiCn OF the island or that the
situation Of affairs as depicted ~ my ias' an
spain stu holds Havana and the seaports ana
oil The considerable towns. The insurgents SUI
roam NJ will over at least two-thrus o. thc
inland country. II the determination OF SPAN
to put down the insurfcction seems Dul 10
strengthen with the lapse OF time, ana Is egi-
dencrd by her unhes !tatng devotion OF largely
increased military and naval forces 70 the
task, there IS much reason 10 oenese
point OF numbers and character and
resources. and are none the less inheAple IN
their resolve not 70 suceump, wthout ptae
ticaily securing the great objects for which they
took up arms II Spain has not yet re-estab-
nshed her authority, neither have the insur.
gents yet made good their title to be regarded
As an Independent state. Indeed. as the con-
test goes on the prctense that clvli govern
ment exists on the Island except 80 iar ~
Spain is able TO maintain IL, has been practicai
ly abandoned Spain does keep on loot
such a government, moro or less imperfecty
In the large towns and their Immediate SUP
urbs But. that exception being made. the
entire country Is either given over to anarchy
or Is subject to the military occupation oi one
" 7, i reported. indeed. on reliable authority
that, at the demand OF me % .l,,,a,are
Cuban government has now given UP an at.
tempt 10 exercise its functions, leaving ina,
government con fessedly .what there Is the bes'
reason for supposing It always to have been II
fact a government merely on paper.
Were the Spanish able to meet their aftng
onists In the omen, or In pitched battle. rromp
ana decisive results might be looked for, an'
the immense superiority OF the Spanish forc.
In numbers. discipline and equipment colI'
hardly fail TO tell greatly to their advantage
But they are called upon TO face Zoe ina
shuns general engagements; INA, can ,r enoos -
nature OF the country is visible or Invisible a
pleasure and that fights only from ampuscaae
and when all the advantages OF position an
numbers are on It's side In country wher
ali that is Indispensable to life In the way
food. clothing and shelter is SO easily ooeo,n
1lx,h nv hos
soil it * obvious that there Is hardly unit
the time during which hostilities OF TINS sol
may be prolonged Meanwhile, as IN all case
Of protracted civil strife. the passions OF IN
conihatants grow more and more infiamed. an
excuses on both sides become more irequei
They also are participated In by bands Q
rnarauders who now In the name OF one part
and now i'm the name OF the other. rs may Des
suit Inc OCCASION harry the country at will an
plumber its wretched inhabitants Tor thelr ow
advantage. Such condition OF THINKS wou Won.
Inevitably entail immense destruction OF prof.
erty even II II were the policy OF both parti'
TO prevent IL as far as practicable. But whi
such seemed 70 be the orlghai po, ,na % =
abandoned II, and Is acting upon the san
,heory As the insurgents, namely, thal u
snnhiiation OF property, that II may
sroye OF use and advantage to the enemy
IL is to the same end that In pursuance
general orders. Spanish garrisons are now .
Ing Withdrawn from plantations ana tne ru !,
population required to concentrate Itself IN !, '
the Industrial value OF the island Is fast
minishing and that unlesss there Is spec
and radical change In existing conaitions;
viii soon disappear altogether That val
consists very largely. OF course, In us capao !
20 produce sugar-a capacity already much i,
duced by the interruption OF tillage, which q
taken place during the last two years.
II is reliably asserted that should these
terruptions continue during the current ye
and practically extend. as Is now threatcn'
to the end, the sugar-producing territory
the island so much time and 50 much mon
normal productiveness that It l.. extreme
doubtful IL capital can be induced 10 eN
make the attempt The spectacle OF the W
ruin OF an adjoining country, by nature one
the most fertile and charming on the glo
would engage the serious attention OF the g
ernment and people OF the United s'a. I'VE, !,
have q concern with 1t which Is by no mean
wholly sentimental or philanthropic char
ter. IL lies so near 10 us as 10 oe haruiy
arated from our territory.
Our actual pecunary interest In u Is sect
only to that OF the people and government .
Spain IL is reasonably estimated that
least from s3O.0o0.O00 to s50'0oon0J OF Ameri
capital are invested in plantations and IN r
on ' he isand "n The V, Volume Of trade beiw
tho United States and Cuba which, 10 !
amounted to about s5tVDuoo rose IN ~
about sos 900 100 and In 1894, the year bel
the present instruction broke out, amour
TO nearly S8e.Co0 600. Besides this large PC
,ss sin nas Y s .ns involved
present contest In other ways, both vexat'
and costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country and
directly promote the resurrection through
press, by public meetings. by the purci
and shipment OF arms, by the raising OF ~
end by other means, which the spirit OF
Institutions and the tenor OF our laws do
permit to be made the subject OF Grim
prosecutions.
Some Of them, though Cubans at heart
IN all their feelings and interests, have IN
PVT papers rs naturalized citizens OF
United States, a proceeding rcsorted to wi
veW 10 possibl1 protection Ivy this gov
pvb. and not tl1naturally regarded with q
sn2igsation BY the country OF their
IN The Insurgents ere undoubt
ssseassGed and supported By he widssp