The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-24
WHERE THE FUNDS co
The Pockets Of Officials Are Enriched
While Armenians Starvs.
INSULTS TO CHRISTIANS
Abdul's PerfIdous Conduct Carried
to Extremes-A Hundred Thou
sand People In Actual Want
Have No Comforts.
From a Correspondent of the Associated

From a Correspondent of the Associated
Press.
Constantinopie, Feb. 2s.-It will be re-
membered that the sublime porte, soon
after the massacres in this country.
sent out commissioners TO Investigate
the recent disturbances and take meas
ures for quieting the country. One
group of commissioners went to Erze-
roum and the other entered the coun-
try OF Sassoun and came to Sivas. This
commission did its work very rapidly.
spending only a few days in each OF
the principal cities on their route. The
day after their arrival, when summon
ed. there appeared before them a num-
ber OF leading men, Moslems and Chris
tians. These were admitted to the pres
ence of the commissioners separately.
first the Moslems. then the Christians.
Report says the commissioners said to
the Moslems: I'VE did not expect so
much of you; but you have done 1t.
never mind. Henceforth you must keep
your peace"
When the Christians were admitted,
the commissioners received them stand
ing and at once began to read an ad-
dress, reciting the benefits the Chris
tians had received during the reign of
the beneficient sultan, Abdul Hamid
Khan, and the perfidious conduct of the
Armenians. who had started the news
papers and sent men to Washington
and Chicago to agitate and stir up ma
tions against their government. In
conclusion, the address said: "Hereaf-
ter. IL either Turks or Armenians stir
up trouble there will be no imprison-
ments, but the death penalty will be
visited upon such offenders"
After the reading OF the address. Alb
dul Pasha began to address the Chris
tians in a much more violent strain.
He said IL the Armenians should again
begin to agitate. not even the name of
Armenia would be allowed to remain.
They would all be blotted out. Drawing
himself up to his full height. and
stretching out his arm like a sword. he
said: What we gained we gained with
blood. and when we give up this morsel
we will give IL up with blood, blood.
blood
So fas as I can learn, I'm Harpoot
Vilayet the commissioners spent all
their time in Mezren. and did not even
visit the city of Harpoot, which was
plundered and burned. although IL is
only n rev miles from MCZTen. NO
questions were asked Of the Christians
summoned before them. When the COM
missioners had finished their speeches
they dismissed them. In the village OF
SheikhaJ the officials said TO the Chris
tians: II write your names on a separ-
ate list TO satisfy the Turks there is no
force about it," But one acquainted
with Turkish ways may expect TO find
these Christians soon enrolled as Mos
lem citizens.
The destitution OF the Armenians beg
gars description. Men who were
wealthy in October were begging for
bread I'm November Villages were pill
laged OF every scrap OF food and cloth
Ing When the plunderers could find
nothing more to carry off. the villagers
returned and sifted the dust to gather
few kernels of wheat or barley
Wherever you go you meet want
pinched faces and people clad In scanty
garments. And you know that multi
tudes spend long. cold nights huddled
together with nothing to lie down upon
and nothing to cover themselves. II
is estimated that there are between so.
900 and 100000 people In extreme desti-
tuition. A large share of the govern
ments appropriation for the relief OF
the destitute goes In to the pockets OF
officials.