The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-16
DR.. HAMLiN's: REPLY.
r. Hopkinson Smiths Interview on
Armenian Question Considered.


terview with T. Hopkinson Smith ol
New York. published January 10th and
widely circulated, Mr.. Smith presented
his case against the Armenians and
American Board missionaries in Turkey,
under the following six headings:
/. A Giant Conspiracy.
2. Armenians organized to assault
the Turks.
8. Armenians Seek Ketrib utiye Meas
ures to arouse Europe.
4. Il. Hopkineon Smith again coming
to defense Of His Position.
s. Arraigns Missionaries Of the Con-
gregational Faith.
6. Sultan Pictured as Just and
ID umane Monarch.
In reply DR.. Hamlin says:
The conspiracy must be very "Giant''
indeed 1t has, for its utmost founda-
ton, two and q half millions of unariuei
peasants, artisans and traders, against
lambs in the midst of tigers: Sultan
Hamid, with his immense arm, and Mr..
Hopkinson Smith, are awfuIly alarmed
lest every lamb should swallow up
ten or dozen tigers. Let them not fear
for, however great the Conspiracy may
seem, here is the whole ground work of
it. And are the Turks such towards that
they are terrified by few unarmed peas
ants? There has been no such organiza-
tiOn of Armenians as is alleged. There
will be none-there can bs none. The
humane Sultan can exterminate these
peaceful and useful subjects; but there
will he no organization against him.
He offers them life, if they will confess
Islam put eighty to hundred thousand
have chosen death, and died without re-
sistance. Only at Zeitoon, that eagles
nest in the Taurus, have they made re-
sistance, and that a. gallant one-besides
a foolish and insane attempt at Van.
If, as reported, these were all killed,
they earned their fate by their folly and
their wiokedness.
The allegation that Retaliatory Meas
ures to arouse Europe have been taken,
brings into view the Hunchargists for
short, the Hunchags. They are purely
a Russian invention, which the common
sense Of the Armenian people rejected.
Thea Hunchags were rent in to do the
same work which the "Apostles" did ib
Bulgaria, Tho so-called Apostles"
were nihilists, cutthroats. assassins; and
such these have proved to be. they have
levied heavy contributions. from all
wealthy Armenians. If they refused,
they were assassinated; or, if, after be-
ing depleted, they have informed the
government, they have been assassinated
by these patriotic Hunchags. Mr.. Smith
never tires of quoting my testimony
against them in the Congregationalisp
three years ago. Being only missions
airy, I have not wit enough to see how
I< L. hiah io 70,
us missionaries in league with the Hun
chags. I have always held the Same
views of the HuDchags; and have them
still; only 1 nav see they are greater
towards than I supposed them. They
have committed no outrages upon the
Turks. They have 0uly talked of them
thst was enough. That served Hamid's
plan Of converting or discriminating the
Armenian race; excepting the Papal
Armenians, whom ne does not attack.
Mr.. Smith boasts of the ArmeniaDs still
in office under the government. Does he
not know that they are Papal Armeni-
ans?
The Hunchags have assassinated or de-
pleted wealthy Armenians; and have
threatened to kill missionaries for not
Joining with them; all of which Mr..
Smith admits. | thank him for report
ing my opinion of the HunohaRs, only
let him add this, that they are sucn cow
ards they dare not touch Moslem.
The Hunchsgs since the InasAacres
which began Sept. !, 1894, have perhaps
gained adherents. In the terror ard des-
pair which have taken possession OF the
people, il would be strange if some
young men should not join the Hun
chags. They can do nothing. They
have no aims, no resources OF any kind.
They must become Moslems or die. All
who can are fleeing from this brave and
humane Sultan. No retaliatory mas
sacIe has been perpetratad, for two rea-
sons: the Hunchags are too great cow
ards to endanger their precious heads;
and, their boasts of intending to do it
answer the Sultan's purpose just as well. |
He will go on until the race is extermin-
ated, unless Russia Shot Id forbid.
/ have already taken his ground from |
Mr.. Hopkinson Smith by
showing that thers has been and can be, |
no banding together of menians to
assault the Turks. That is all loud talk
In the air. What the Hunchags boasted
they would do has never been done, and
alignment of the Missionaries Of the |
Faith" pronounoes them
5000 year men," of "nsither brain nor
sbility;' and 60 on and on.
Now, says Dir. Hamlin, he either
Knows These missionaries, or he does not. |
Ii, knowing them, ne SPEAKS Gnu6, he Is |
,uilty of malicious falsehood. If be |
Knows nothing of them. or their schools, |
colleges and churches which probably is |
tho case, and still makes these affirma- |
ions, he must bear the character of q |
.landerer; character always despised |
among men.
There is a large amount of matter,
which Mr.. Smith is pleased to call evil
lence of his position. A part Of it makes
against him; part he misapprehends;
part was uttered long ago, before these
matters were understood.
The whole, put together, amounts to
Mr.. Smith stands against all the evil
lence poured in from every quarter:
rom the diplomacy of Europe. from the
press in all European languages. and |
rom hundreds IF refugees, who have
with bitter suffering from the
humane Sultan. He stands solitary,
with his pen, against all this evidence,
ike Mrs Partington, with her broom
against the A tlanticl
The real crime Of the missionaries is |
heir bold and faithful stand by the VIC
inns OF the Sultan's bate. The most re-
,ent testimony from British dignitary |
IN some of the issues involved is that of |