The Yale expositor., 1896-02-28
MAKES YOUR BLOOD BOIL.
Horrible Coldbloodedness OF the Turks In
Their Oppression OF armenia.


Their Oppression of Armenia.
A special correspondent at Constan-
tinople, who has secured more than
ordinary privileges in visiting in Ar
menia, tells some awful tales of the
cruelty of the Turkish officials, sol,
diers and citizens toward the trem-
bling, suffering, starving, homeless
Armenians who have been fortunate
Tor would it be better to say unfortu-
nate1 enough to survive the horrible
butcheries of last fall when nearly 5O,-
600 men, women and children were
ruthlessly slain. The correspondent
says:
Some two months ago tho sublime porte sent
forth commissions, presumably to investigate
the condition of the Armenians ana 10 ORDER
that no further massacres occur, but they evil
IDENTIFY forgot their instructions. they traY-
eled rapidly from one settlement to another
and made no attempt at investigation. put upon
their arrival they summoned before them
number of leading men. Mosiems ana Christ
iGnS. These were admitted TO the presence
OF the commissioners separately hrst the Mos
lens, atterward the Christians. TO the former
they SAID: I'VE did not expect so much OF you.
but now you have done IL never mind Hence
forth you must keep the peace" When the
Christians werc admitted the commissioners
at once began TO read an address recitlng the
benefits received during the reign OF the be-
neticent sultan and the perlidlouS conduct OF
the Armenians After the reading, OF tho ad-
dress Abdu'ah Pasha began TO address the
Christians in u much more violent strain. he
said II the Ar!ncnianS should again begin TO
agltate. not even the name OF Armenia would
be allowed 10 remain; they would all be booted
out Drawing himself up TO his full height
and stretching out his arm like sword he
said: What We have gained we gained with
blood, and when we give up TINS morSel we
will give II up with blood, blood. blood.
Another fact OF interest is tne sending out OF
officials TO enroll in the government lists the
names of Christians who have become Moslems.
Multitudes have been forcioly converted to
Islam. do not mean simply that they have
MoSlems or perishing by The sword, but that
they have been bound or held while the rite OF
circumcision was performed without their con-
sent. Many begged To be killed, but their
Turkish nctghbors said to them: No. we want
you TO TIL tao fields We VIII make you Mos
lems.' The CARRYING out of Christian girls and
women. too, StiIl continues. In the city of
Ialu, Turks carry off girls, keep them for
few days ana return them dishonored. The
same Is done Ia many other places.
The restitution of the Armenians arc awful.
Men who were wealthy IN October were beg
ging for bread in November Villages were
plllaged OF every scrap OF food and clothing.
When the plunderers could find nothing moro
TO carry on, the villagers returned and siiteI
the dust to gather a few kernels OF wheat or
barley Wherever YOU go you meet wan.
pinched faces and people clad IN scauty gar
monts. And you know that multtudes spend
the long cold nights huddled together with
nothing to lie down upon and nothing to cover
them. OF course disease sets in and carries
them off, 1t is estimated that there are be-
tween 40 900 and 100000 people in extreme des-
titution. The government has given little
aid occasionally. III many cases the allowance
Is one-sixth as much as Is given to u Turkish
soldier. The Turks are hostile TO relief work
and oppose ii in various ways. No Christian
dares to receive or distribute relief funds.
happen to know that the Armenian missionar-
les tried TO send money into Palu and other
places and il was returned to them because no
one dared TO receive ana distribute II.