Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-08
The SULTAN SPEAKS.
AMERICANS ABOUT THE AR
MENIAN MASSACRES.
An Interview With the Ruler of Tur-
key by Ex-Ministcr Tcrrcll-Sul-
tan Says He Wants Ameri-
cans to Know.

IAN Interview With the Sultan" is con-
tributed to the November Century by the
Hon. A. w. Terrell. lately United States
minister at C~onstantinople. Mr.. Terrell
says:
He said that the facts about recent dis
turbances in Turkey have never been faith,
fully reported by the press of the United
States. and that he hoped that l would
make known to the American people what
he was then about to say. Continuing ne
said:
Early during the Ottoman c%onauests in
Asia Minor; the ArmenianS; WHO were re Pc
;Tartars and the Persians,. erligrated in
large numbers, and, obtained protectlon
from the Ottoman rulers. They were kind
ly. received. Hospitality treated. and re-
ceived benefits in the protection OF their
lives and property. No nation c~ontinu;siy
engaged IN war can excel IN induS.r!al aau
while the early sultans We're busy with
conquests. all manufacturing and com
m rSriiiian interests Taere and were sbiseT m on Ise Arme ny
ians. Their religion was also tolerated, for
Mussulmans tolerate the religion OF an
ians prospered and remained contented
under Mussulrlan rule for over 4O years.
They became the manufacturers, contract
OrS and bankers of the ottoman empire.
They enjoyed their religion, openly Wor.
SHIPPED for centuries IN their ancient
ones when needed. Their patriarch could
always present their complaints 10 the SUI,
lime porte, and they We're always protected
in the enjoyment of their own methods OF
worshiping God.
-Four books are regarded as sacred by
all Mussulmans, namely, the kofan' tme
and the Bible of the Christians. How could
a Mussulman murder Armenians merely on
account of their religion, when the Koran
prohibits cruelty. and requires that all men
who believe i'll God shall be protected, eA-
cept during war?
lone of my ancestors-Selim l.. the
| prgpiSnD nf the -cnDuIerOr OF constants
nople-once thought that his empire would
be stronger if all his subjects professed the
same. religion. Some disturbances raised
by Christian races caused him to ask the
Sheik-ul-lslam if it would, be lawful Tor
him to kill all Christians who refuse re to be e
fetva. in which he answered that 1t would
not be lawful, and that Christians who
We're vssned peaceful sha f mnst be Pro pr9te w6rlbiS So se and
idoiators alone have no right to, protection.
and Mussulmans are prohibited from eating
meat cooked by such people"
The sultan then cited many evidences of
the favor and Partially extended to, ana
of the confidence reposed in, the Armen-
ians by himself and by former suitans. TO
show that their religion was not the cause
of their recent misfortunes.~ -
The sultan more than once, repeated the
declaration that no Christian had ever been
prosecuted by his government or people iOr
their religious faith. and that their church
sb and sar mon asss of c Mmist nafy si had been
respected, preserved and worshiped In; that
they had always selected their own patrl-
archs and bishops, and were always pro-
tected in the full enjoyment of their re-
ligious freedom.
referring to the massacres, he said: The
truth. unfortunately, is never published IN
| Christian newspapers about conflicts be-
tween my Moslem and Christian subjects.
| Though no true Mussulman will ever. pun.
ish any man on account of his religion if
he worships God. yet when people BIND
then use it to destroy the Ottoman empire.
a different question is presented. While
| Christian Europe was excited against the
ottoman empire about excuses COM
mitted by its soldiers during the
Greek revolution of 1877, 1t had
no sympathy to bestow upon the
butchery of twenty-seven thousand de-
fenseless Turkish men. women and chill
dren, who were massacred In one city after
it surrender" '~r