The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-07
THE ARMENIAN QUESTION.
story OF rurltl,ll Persecution told by one
who Essapsd 0IahlAers.

/ story OF ruritlth Persecution told by one
who Escaped 1IAhiAers.
In a recent address in Brooklyn, Dr.
Garabedlan. who escaped from constan-
tlrople. during the recent massacre of
Armenlans, spoke as follows:
1T first propose to give short sketch
in order that you may better under
stand the Armenlans-of the nation IT.
self We are proud TO say that we arc
descendants OF the great grandson OF
Noah and one OF the very Oldest races
In the world. Although we have pass
ed through three thousand years of the
most dlficult and trying existence, we
have nevertheless managed to survive.
This, too, Is most remarkable. when
you take into consideration the fact
that whenever there have been nigga
lions fiom Asia to Europe, Armenia has
been trodden down. The same thing
has been repeated when the armies OF
Europe entered Asia 20 repay In blood
the raids of Asian hordes and the bat
fairgrounds have for the most part
been on Armenian soil. We have been
a powerful nation In our day and once
numbered over fifty millions OF people.
although to-day there are not more
than four million Armenians alive
Their service to humanity is not par
ticularly striking or great, but they
have clung faithfully to the Christian
religion"
The speaker referred for a few mo-
ments to the early history OF Turkey
how the Armenians became under their
sway, and OF their early prosecutions OF
the people.
"The Turks have always taken ad-
vantage OF the dlscord among Chris
tlans," continued Dr. Garabedlan, and
when they became masters OF Constan-
tinople they extended their ddminions
eastward as well as westward. and the
ArmenlRns finally came TO be subject TO
the sultan, whose sway has always been
n rigid one, but 1t is only recently that
the massacres on large scale have ia
ken place. Formerly the Mahometans
despised the Christians, hut practically
lived upon them. When the present
sultan came to the throne, and even
previous TO his ascension, there had
been a great deal OF wrong going on.
/ do not deal IN superlatlVes, but the
condition OF things In Armenia IS GER
tainIy without 4 parallel In the world.
After the intervention OF Europe the
Turks became imbued with such a
hate OF Christians as thCV had never
felt before. 1T Is because OF these peo-
pie the sultan said, that Europe has
INTERVIEWED AID so he naturally enough
determined that there should be no
Christians In his domlnions. With the
Christians out o: the way, he argued, It
would not be necessary for Europe TO
intervene. These Armenians'' he said
won't adopt Mnhometanlsm, SO the
best way for me to do Is to obliterate
them entirely
at is not my intention to harrow
you with the details OF these massacres
which are more or less familiar to you
ALL" said the speaker In conclusion, but
simply 20 point out the present condi-
tion OF that downirodden people and
to forecast their future. The eTterml-
nation policy is apparently one that is
to be applied In Armenia. Although st
IS Just possible that this may be niodl-
fed somewhat and 4 sufficient numher
OF ArmenIans killed 20 that the sultan
can sag that they are In the minority
and that theF do not need any special
legislation. There are so many other
interests In the public mind that there
does not appear 20 be any attempt 20
aid these peopIc at present. II there
fore looks to me as II the history OF
that ancient people were soon 10 be OF
the past. All the outraEes have been
concocted and carried on by those In
newer. chiefly by the sultan. and those
who have distinguished themselves IN