The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-01
\ SID STATE Of AFFAIRS.
FIVE HUNDRED DESTITUTE AR
NENIANS ARE IN MARSEILLES,
FRANCE.
WANT 70 REACH The UNITEDSIAIES
Armenian Associations Throughout the
World Have Entirely Overlooked
Thcm-Escapcd the Bloody Turks
and Starvation Now Threatens.

NlarScillcs, Sept. 29.-(Copyrighted.
1896. ly the Associated Press There
exists Il condition of affairs III this city
at present which seems to be disgrace
to Europe and 20 the Armenian associa-
tons generally throughout the world.
SubsiStimg on government, municipal or
private charity here G.c 800 unfortunate
Armenian men, women and children.
young and old, healthy and sick, who
have succeeded in escaping from the
bloody maSsacres at Constantinop'a and
who were one and all buoyod up ~ the
hope of landing here and being an,c
eventually to reach the land of freedom
the United States. But weeks have al
ready elapsed and nothing definite ap-
pears to have been done for their relief,
much less towards finding them homes
by any one of the many associations for
the relief Of the suffering Armcnians
which have been organized III England
or America. To these the hand of char
ity should be first EXTENDED. They are
homeless. nearly all pennless. many en-
during the pangs of hunger and yet NO
body seems willing to step in and guide
this band of refugees to some place where
they can begin life anew.
The Armenians in Armenia certainly
had their cO-religioniStS and fellow c0ua-
trymen to fall back upon but the poor
people here seem 10 have no friends i'll
the wide world. yet they are as honest
and industrious Il class rs you can find
ON the shores of the Mediterranean.
Some South American spectators, il j.
true. taking advantage of this dCplorab.,
situation. have prevailed upon 300 of the
Armenian refugees to allow themselves
TO be transported to the Argentine Re.
pubic, there. in all probability. to meet
the fate of thousands of the Hebrews OF
Russia. who. thanks to the philanthropy
of the late Baron Hirsch. cmigratcd tC
South America, only to find themselves
tiguratively speaking. tossed from the
frying pan into the fire. 1t is true that
the climate the Argentine Republic is
said to be more healthy than that of the
regions where the Hebrews tried to set
tie. But the end is likely to be the same
in the case of the Armenian refugees
who are not Il class of people who are
nm - W 'iii'' VII i'N-hlN I'''!I'iNN wv
OnicS.
Only about Is of the 500 Armenians
who reached here have as vet been abb,
to start for the United States. THESE
few emigrants are of the better class
They are fairly well supplied with fund,
and will possibly start for New York via
Southampton.
But what is to become of the remain
ing unfortunate Christians. fleeing from
the blood-Stained Turks. who are Twin:
ON charity here with their eyes turne,
longingly toward the United States?
would seem that these poor people woul,
he barred from reaching the Unite,
States. They may be forbidden to Ian,
there. even if they succeed in securin!
transportation to North America Surcl,
if there ever was case i'll which rule
might be relaxed it is in the case of thes,
stricken people, flying from the persecu
ton and butcheries which have prevailed
in their own land. There is material her
for the foundation of strong Armenian
colony, and it would appear that Their
must be some spot on earth where thcs
victims of the bloOdthirstyness and mis-
government of the sultan of Turkey. who
according to generally credited reports
must have caused the massacre of som
I $4,000 Christians during the last few
| wears, can earn an honest living.