The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-01

Interview With Ruler OF Turkey by
Ex-U. y. Minister Terrell.
IAN interview with the Sultan"

i ANutSH Vi luIhCy W
Ex-U. y. Minister Terrell.
IAN interview with the sultan is con-
tributed to the November Century by
| Hon. A. w. Terill, lately United States
Minister at Contantinople MIR, Terrell
says:
He said that the facts about recent dis
tprbances in Turkey have never ts,n
faithfully reported ty the press of tie
United States and that he hoped that
would make known to the American peo-
pie what he"was then about 10 say. Con-
tinuing, he said
Early during the Ottoman conquests
in Asia Minor, the Armenians. who were
being crushed by repeated invasions of
the Tartars and the Persians. emigrated
In large numbers and obtained protection
from the Ottoman rulers. They were
kindly received. Hospitality treated. and
received benefits in the protection of their
lives and property. No nation continu-
ally engaged in war can excel In indus
trial and commercial pursuits. thus IL
occurred that while the early sultans were
busy with conquests, all manufacturing
and commercial interests were monop-
olized by Christian races and chiefly by
the Armenians. Their religion was also
tolerated, for Mussulmans tolerate the
religion OF all men who worship God.
Thus the Armenians prospered, and re-
mained coptented under Mussulman rule
for over 400 years. They. became the manu-
facturers, contractors, and bankers of the
. III.
religion. openly worshipped for centuries
in their ancient churches and mopaster-
les. and built new ones when needed.
Their patriarch could always present their
| complaints at the Sublime Porte, and
they Were always protected in the employ
ment of their own methods of worship
ping God.
-Four books are regarded as sacred by
all Mussulinans, tho Koran, the book of
| Confucius, the Talmud of the Jews, and
| the Bible of the Christians. How could
Mussulnan murder Armenians merely
| on account OF their religion, when the
| Koran prohibits cruelty, and requires
that all men who believe in God shall be
protecte d, except during WARP
| oHo VI my tuo
grandson of the conqueror of Constanti-
nople-once thought that his empire
would be stronger If oil his subjects pro-
fessed the same religion. Some disturb
ances raised by Christian races caused him
| to ask the Sheik -ul Islam il IL wcould be
lawful to kill oil Christians who refused
to be converted to Islam. The Sbeik is
L crad fatua In rvh oh hn hot
it would not be lawful, and that Christ.
ians who were peaceful must be protect
ed. SO Selim respected the fetva Fire
worshippers and idolators alono have no
right to protection, and Mussulmans are
/ prohibited from eating meat cooked by
such people.
The Sultan then cited many evidences
and of the confidence reposed in the Ar
menians by himself and by
former sultaps, to show that
their religion was not the cause Of
their recent misfortunes.
The Sultan more than once repeated his
declaration that no Christians had ever
been prosecuted by his government or
|
their churches and monasteries. which
havelstood from the early ages OF Christ
ianity, had been respected, preserved and
worshipped in; that they had always Sc
lected their own patrisrchs and bishops
and were always protected ia the full en-
joyment of their religious freedom.
Referring to the massacres, he said :
1.-The truth. unfortunately. is never pub
lished in Christian newspapers about con-
flicts between my Moslem and Christian
subjects. Though no true Mussulman will
ever punish any man on account of his
religion. II he worsaips God, yet when
people bind themselves together by their
religion, and then use 1t TO destroy the
Ottoman empire. a different question is
presented. While Christian Europe was
excited against the Ottoman empire
about excesses committed by its soldiers
during the Greek revolution of 1927, 1t
had no sympathy to bestow upon the
butchery OF $1,000 deferseless Turkish
men, women and children, who were
|