The evening times., 1899-09-30


obtaining their support by working on the
sympathy Of its people on the ground OF
injuries received from the hands Of the
Turks. Moslem rule is simply rule by
brute force. 1t is unjust, despotic, capri
cious, and cruel alike to Jew, Moslem, and
Christian. In Eastern Turkey the malad-
ministration is of peculiarly aggravated
character. The long standing enmities
between the Kurds, always lawiess, and
the Armenians, oftimes. oyerreaching, with
another people on the border, having close
relations with both classes. and ready to
avail itself Of local disturbances for ulte-
rior political purposes, all combine to fur
nish a very tangled problem. The region
is ever in condition of unstable equilibri-
um-needing but the slightest occurrence
to bring about a social and political earth
quake. .
Such had long been its condition, when,
eight years ago, without any action OF
the Turkish Government worse than usual.
an agitation arose among portion OF the
Armenians in favor of Independence, This
action had no definite plan for the future.
There was no possibility of its promoters
gaining their independence by their own
exertions. There was no organization or
concert of action, except on the part OF
those known as the revolutionists OF
Huntchists. There was no preparation loI
any national struggle with Turkey. All
that was contemplated was series OF
local disturbances which should Involve
conflicts with the local police. This plan
was adopted in the hope that Great Brit
ain would interfere and engage IN war
With Turkey in their behalf. AS one of
them said to me: oh, we intend yet to
force her into doing so.' They built up
such a hope without the slightest com
munication with Great Britain or assur-
ance as to what she would do under such
circumstances. Its promoters deliberately
and hopelessly exposed all who took part
in it to the wrath of an Eastern Mosiem
potentate.
Tried to Involve England.
Certain Russian Armenians suddenly
appeared at different points in Asia Mi
nor asserting in positive terms the obli-
gation of Great Britain to do as the Ar
'menians wished, accompanied with some
mysterious statements that II she faiied In
SO doing Russia would come TO their as
sistance. In support of these words they
showed money, supplies, and magazine ri
fies made by the Russian Government and
bearing the stamp Of the state factory at
Tula, stamped also with revolutionary
symbol of flag and dagger crossed. l
have had in my hands some rines go
stamped. Armed with these credentials
the Huntchists won over TO their views
number of their countrymen Tor the max
ing of local disturbances, the organizing
of secret societies. and the aiding OF the
movement generally.
"At first IL seemed the schemes OF the
Huntchists would be realized ana drea.
Britain would interfere. When l asked
what led to this Jelief they referred me to
the treaty of Berlin, to the speeches OF the
political leaders of England, and to the
words of certain high church dignitaries-
Turkey soon showed Russia that she was
quite able to deal with these troubles, whiie
the course of Great Britain was plain from
the history and actual position OF the Ar
menian people. The prospect of an Euro
yjean war led her to withhold her hano, ana
so the Sultan was allowed to suppress the
troubles in his own way. Such is the
nearest approach can make. from the in
formation given me, as to the origin OF the
troubles. The Huntchists made the trouble
to secure an opening for a forward move
ment on the part of Russia. The very
ground was drenched with the blood OF
their countrymen to promote RUSSIAN
schemes whose success would have resulted
in an European war. But the scheme faii-
ed. and hence they are now disowned by
the power that had hired them.
Losses About Fifty Thousand.
Il am no apologist for the government OF
the Sultan. From a Christian standpoint
or that Of humanity, nothing can be said 10
lessen the universal condemnation passed
upon the Turkish government. Yet. from
the Sultan's point of view, he had neither
prescribed a people because Of their relig-
ion nor enriched himself by their wealth.
but simply, in necessary self-defence, In
fiicted on rebels and conspirators the pun
ishment they had merited.
NO reliable computation can ever be
made as to the loss OF Armenian life IL
has been estimated at $4,000. Jealous pro-
Armenians affirm it amounted to 1000
The Armenians are now and Will be for
many a long year crushed and broken
people-partly through the actual losses
sustained. and partly by the conviction that
no European power will for their sakes en-
kindle an European war. Their wiser and
safer course is thus to accept their situa-
ton. as a Christian people living under
Moslem rule, and so long as they remain
their by choice to make the best Of it,
The men who provoked these terrible
massacres-the Huntchists-NaZarek says,
number many thousands, and that the
Turkish police succeeded in putting fifteen
to death. II this be true, then no words
can EXPRESS the folly of the Armenians and
the wickedness of the Huntchists. Where
were these many thousands when their
eountrymen were falling by the tens of thou
sands And how came it 10 pass that only
fifteen of these heroic leaders lost tnelr
lives despite all the carnage. whlch thelr
hapless victims endured. III our sympathy
has gone out to the Armenians as suHering
,,1s hi q th
is increased a thousand fold when We see
how they have been fooled by their country
men now living in European countries and
receiving support from Christian people oil
the ground of being refugee Armenians, in
exile for their patriotism and love for Ar
menia.
1.-The last point about which l enquired
was the actual condition of the Armenian
people today. The storm has at present
subsided and some who survive may still
possess a little money which they concealed
from the plundering soldiery or the black
mailing Huntchists- These men are now
gathering themselves together again, and
are engaging in their little business, aided
by the missionaries. For these men Chris
tian sympathy and encouragement are
neeQeu, Wnlle Tue uiiSsioaaiy oh thc siooAu
may be safely trusted with money to help
those whose lives were spared, but who lost
all.
''The great class of the community con-
sists of the sorrowing widows and orphans
"a legacy to humanity. Here there is a
large. field for Christian philanthropy. The
widow has tc be helped to earn her bread,
and there are few ways Of doing this in
the East Needlework was formerly used
to add some little additional comforts to
the home life, but now when it has be-
come the sole support, it has to be sold