The herald., 1896-01-28
In THE HOUSE
The Senate Armenian Resolution Passed.-Au
Indian Bill

Indian Bill
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-In the house to-
day the bill was passed, on motion of
Iowne of Minnesota, to amend the act of
1889, for the relief and civilization of the
Chippewas, so as to permit the secretary of
the interior, in his discretion, to sell pine
lands in the reservation in blocks of 1OO,-
600 acres or less. Some 100000 acres
are to be sold under the act of 1889.
When the passage of the senate Armen-
ian resolution was announced, Quigg of
New York, member of the foreign affairs
committee, moved that the senate resolu-
ton be substituted for that OF the house.
He explained the difference between the
resolution was so slight it was not advisable
in Wow of the passage Of the senate reso-
luton, to press the one prepared by the
hoIlse committee. He made a brief state
10 ent of the facts which called upon con-
g.ress to express its Indignation at the sit
uation. Our interest was purely humane.
Although the newspaper accounts occa-
sionally reported atrocities on American
citizens there were assurances from the
state department that no American citizen
had suffered in their persons.
Our duty was one of humanity, and it
was matter OF profound grief, said be,
that the American people were now forced
to protest to those who had given bonds
for the good behavior of the Turk. L was
not necessary for us, he said, to inquire
into the motives which actuated European
power which denounced the outrages in
Turkey with one hand and upheld the sui
tan with the other. With the iealouses
and political Vaccinations OF Europe we
are not interested. But since European
powers, in tho name of government aud
humanity, had pledged the sultan, and he
had acknowledged the pledge, that liberty
of conscience and freedom of worship
should exist in every part of the Ottoman
empire, we had the right to summon those
powers before the high court of good faith
to explain why they rest idly and supinely
inactive, while 10000 Christian homes
were destroyed, while men and women
were murdered, women dishonored and
children sold into bondage because they
refused to cry out that Mahomet was the
great prophet.
He characterized the Armenians as
noble and intelligent race, who had for ten
hundred years preserved their Iarg aga
and national characteristics and had re-
sisted the effort TO Russianize them.
Mr.. Quigg intimated belief that the
only responsibility lay with Great Britain
and said he wanted the European powers
to know we were watching with horror the
hapless struggle OF people who had for
centuries retained their religion and who
were suffering not for what they did, but
for what they thought. The offense against
them, he declared, was an oHense against
Christian civilization.
II will not say" concluded Mr.. Quigg,
''whose duty it is to stop these outrages.
But | submit TO the serious judgment of
the American people that the time has
gone by when one Christian country can
close it's eyes to such outrases and solemnly
aver Il am not my brother's keeper" APP
plause.
MIR. Sayers, Democrat, of Texas. asked
whether there had been any neglect on the
part of the American minister, to which
Mr.. Quigg replied that the information
from the state department was to the effect
that Mr.. Terrell had performed his duty
with great intelligence and zeal, and from
other sources of information he believed
he was able to say that he had done his
duty with signal ability.
"Ha5 the committee on foreign affairs,'
asked Mr.. Bailey, Democrat, of Texas,
considered the propriety of requesting
the enforcement OF treaty TO which the
United States is not a party?"
"The committee" replied Mr.. Qugg,
''considered it obviously proper to call up
on the European powers which signed the
treaty to do their duty"
Mr.. Bailey thought that at a time when
we were maintaining the improperly of
European interference with the affairs of
this continent, it was improper that we
should seek TO interfere with the affairs of
Europe.
Thus opened. the debate took a wide
range, and evoked several eloquent
speeches in deDuncation of Turkey, which
were applauded to the echo.
Senor Mendonca, the Brazilian minister,
was an interested auditor in the diplomatic
gallery.
MIR. McCreary, Democrat, Kentucky,
supported the resolutions because he
thought the cause of the Armenians was
the cause of humanity and Justice. Itwas.
he urged, our duty to plead with European
powers to enforce their treaty obligations.
MIR. Bailey. while in entire sympathy
with the spirit of the resolution, again ex
pressed doubt of the propriety of the
United States insulting European powers
by declaring that they had entered into a
contract which they had violated or had
allowed the other party to violate, He
thought the resolution should be confined
to single denunciatian of the atrocities
against the Christians.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican of Iowa, in a
bold speech, advocated going even further
than the resolution did. His position evi.
IDENTIFY suited the temper of the house, for
his utterances evoked great enthusiasm.
The house had listened, he said, to a re-
cital such as seldom fell ON human ears,
Thirty thousand Christians slaughtered by
the unspeakable Turk because of their re-
ligious views. And what was it we pro-
posed to do? First make mild protest:
then express sympathy with those who yet
remain, menaced by peril and safferiug
Guiaf for Alaug ghtesod fgiendA