The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-11
ATROCITIES IN ARMENIA.
REV. GEORGE s.~BARsoOM's EXPE-
RIENCEs WITH THE TURKS.

The Condition of Affairs in Armenia,
lie Says, Is as bad as Has Ever
Been Overwhelmingly Has Never
Changed Her PoIicy-Instead of
Open Massacres of Armeninns, the
Turks Are Now slowly Extermi-
mating Them.
Rev. George s. Barsoom, an Armenian,
and until recently a resident Of Constan-
tinople, delivered an interesting lecture at
the mems meeting of the Young Mems
Christian Association yesterday afternoon,
his topic being the condition of the Chris
tans in Turkey
While now a resident of this country,
Mr.. Barsoom has had some very feeling
experiences of the barbarities of Turkish
rule and his personal experiences added
interest to his narrative. Mr. Barsoom as
serted that Turkey has not changed her
policy toward the Christians in her terri
tory, especially the Armenians. Instead of
open massacres, he said, the Turks are
now pursuing policy of slow extermina>
ton, but he predicts another wholesale
massacre at any early day, the Turks be-
lleving that the attention of the leading
Christian nations is distracted in other d.
rections, the United States in Cuba, Eng
land in her affairs in India and the other
nations by the prospect of a division OF
China.
MIR. Barsoom paints the condition of af-
fairs in Turkey as fully as bad as it has
ever been described. He was born in Tur-
key and educated at Robert College in
Constantinople. When he had completed
his studies lecture he delivered at the
college won him a prize, which attracted
to him the attention and jealousy of the
Turkish students. A delegation of the
students, headed by a priest, called upon
him and endeavored to persuade him to
accept Mohammedanism. He refused and
they left, making threats against him.
Some time later he was surrounded upon
the street by a band of Turks, who de-
manded that he accept their religion Upon
his refusal he was stabbed four times in
the back and left for dead. He was picked
up in the street and taken to the hospital
where he remained several months
Upon his recovery he placed him
self under the protection of the
British embassy, and was selt
to England, afterwards coming to this
country He was in this country during
the terrible massacres of the Armenians
during 1S94-96.
One of the most interesting features of
| the lecture was the reading of a letter
| received by Mr.. Barsoom from his mother
| during this time, in which she described
the heartrending conditions of the
| Armenian Christians, a massacre having
| taken place at his own home and broth
er and sister of the speaker being among
| the slain. The horrible treatment of their
| victims by the Turks was described and
| especially their inhuman treatment of
| women.
There is no Justice for the Armenian in
| Turkey, Mr.. Barsoom said, even in times
| OF peace. Let a Christian be ever so
| greatly outraged by a Turk and if he
makes complaint to the officers of the
law, 1t Is the Christian who is beaten and
punished and sometimes killed, and not
the Turk. The greater part Of the massa-
cres were committed by the
Kurds, the half savage subjects
OF the Sultan, who are rominally NOLAN
medans, but really fire and devil Worship
! pers in their mountain homes The Turks
are not far behind them, however and up
hold them in their acts. Law and order
are practically unknown in the country,
ne sdlo, ana murder and robbery are fol-
! lowed openly IS profession His mother's
| appeal for relief from their perilous situa-
| ton was so strong that it could not be
resisted, and he left this country to GO
| to their assistance. When he first at
tempted to enter the country he was driven
out, not having a passport, but finally
entered through Russia, where he secured
| a passport, He appealed TO DR.. Angel of
the American College for assistance and
by means Of influence brought to bear by
the American and British embassies,
was able to obtain passports for his father
and mother and remaining children. They
were brought to this country, and are now
| in Boston.
The only hope of the Armenians in Tur-
key, Mr.. Barsoom said, is to escape from
the country. as they are certain to be all