The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-01


what would be better, the churches
of the United States of America
ought to appeal to the federal gov
eminent to appoint commission
representing the church and the Su-
preme Court to visit the sultan and
in the name of God and humanity
appeal to him that ne stop this terri
BILE slaughter of innocent human be-
ings. Let the United States invite
every Christian nation of the globe
to join them, and then with the COM
mission on board let the white squad
ron sail for Constantinople. Place
our national flag with her forty-ive
glittering stars at the topmost mast,
and beneath it unfurl to the breeze
a white flag upon which shall be in
scribed an olive branch. Wire the
sultan that we are coming on an en-
bassy of peace, but that we are com
ing. l can conceive of no higher
mission for our war ships to be de-
voted to than this. Our country's
flag would lose none of its lustre but
would gain new glory when floating
above the deck of a ship where
walked men representing the church
and the state of the highest civiliza-
ton on the globe-men who hold in
one hand the Bible and in the other
the scales of justice, going on an en-
bassy of peace to demand in the
name of God and humanity, protec-
ton for our innocent brothers in an
other land. l believe it is the duty
of our churches to go on this mis-
sion.
As citizens of the United States of
America I believe this is our duty.
1t is a call from God heard amidst
the dying groans of one hundred
thousand men, women and children,
and baptized in the tears of half a
million starving, freezing, mourning
human beings-members of our own
family, whose sorrow and suffering is
greater than we can possibly con-
ceive.
What the effect would be upon the
sultan for our embassy of one hun
dred men representing the Christian
nations of the globe appealing to
him to stay this crimson tide we do
not know. But the appeal should be
made and it should be seconded by
the warship of these nations within
easy reach of Constantinople. The
appeal should be made that the sui
tan make restitution so far as money
can make it, for the lives and prop
erty destroyed, and that he bind
himself and his successors forever to
the extent of his empire, that such
murderous practices be forever dis
continued. If the appeal is refused
then let the request be demanded; if
this is refused, then exact it, and if
this is denied, then resort to sterner
measures. do not believe in war
God forbid-neither do I believe in
the kind of peace they have in Ar
menia. Upon the conditions named
it would be the Christian nations of
the world pitted against Turkey, and
such a conflict would be short and
decisive. Better the ruin of the best
nation upon the globe than the con-
tinuance of the order of things which
exists in Armenia.
If war is ever justifable it is when
it is waged for the own-trodden and
the oppressed, and if there ever was
depressed people they are to be
found within the domain of the Otto
man empire today. The sultan toll
crates Christianity for awhile and
then murders its adherents. 1t is
said that no dictionary is allowed to
circulate containing such words, evo
luton, equality, liberty or insurrec-
ton. Theatrical pieces such as
Hamlet" and Macbeth" are not al
lowed upon any stage. "Othello" is
permitted in mutilated form. The
Bible is also expurgated to please the
sultan before it can be circulated.
The passages which are most objected
to are those which relate to the res
toration of the Jews and to the king
dom of God. All such phrases as
"Kingdom of God" Kingdom of
Heaven" Kingdom OF Christ" must
be left out Also the words Sew"
and "Hebrew."
The United States must take the
initiative in this work. Our geo.
graphical position, our high civiliza-
ton, our broad domain and great
power, qualities us for this important
work. believe we have been called
of God to carry light, liberty and
happiness to our oppressed brothers
| in the East, No other nation can do