The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-21
THE ARMENIANS AGAIN.

We are going to have the Armenians
and their woes with our toast and cof-
fee for some time from this date on
ward. But this time it is Russia and
not Turkey that is charged with being
the oppressor. Strange, indeed, for the
last time Armenian sufferings and walls
smote the ears of the world the plant
was accompanied by an appeal to Rus
STA to intervene and throttle Turkey
and thus prevent her choking the life
out of all Armenians.
The prosecutions of the Armenians by
the Turks from 1896 forward drove tens
of thousands of them northward into
Russia, that Government welcoming
them as a desirable acquisition. But
Russia now discovers her error. Those
who came were mostly poverty stricken.
The Turks saw to that They will not
be Russianized. They maintain their
distinctive character as people and
viii not take ON Russian customs, nor
for that matter will they be content
that Russian nefghbors Of theirs shall
follow old Russian traditions of right
living. AS many of them are paupers,
they draw upon the Russians heavily,
and those who have been benevolent so
long are now wearying of SO much
doing of good, and pray the Car to
drive the Arnenians out to prey upon
some other kindly disposed people.
Some, nay many, Russians, however,
do not trust to appeals but have begun
to prosecute, and misuse these strangers
whorn so short time ago Russia was
welcoming joyously.
C,n their part the Armenians have de-
vsloped as peace disturbers very often,
as breeders of rows of several orders,
and as skilled in setting people by the
ears. So the Russian Government has
been legislating against the Armenians
in the hope to apply correctives. Such
regulation relates to distinct schools Of
the Armenians, the Russians demand
ing that only Russian schools shall be
permitted within Russian borders 1t
is the aim of another law to bounce all
Armenian ecclesiastics out of the coun-
try Of the Gear, while still another law
seeks to put a stop to foreign mission
airy work.
These and other measures are in
tended to make it so uncomfortable for
the Armenian that he will rise up and
depart. But this time he has not mani
tested any disposition Of that kind. He
remains and weeps and complains and
does some fighting. AS it takes two
to make a fight there is always a Rus
we are receiving now and then, and
they are uncomfortably increasing
stories of Russian cruelty toward the
Armenians. On top of it all it is re-
lated that Russian decree has been
issued which amounts to a move on
order, and practically confiscates what
little property they have.
The Armenians in Russia are in a bad
fix. They will not venture to take VI
their old residences in Asia Minor under
the Turk. They have not the money
with which to travel any great dis
lance. No country stands with wide
open expectant arms asking them tc
come on and be embraced. Everybody
appears to have taken just now a dis
like to the Armenian, though confess
ing that his case is one worthy of deer
sympathy and arousing painful pity
Yet no one holds the Armenian desir-
able immigrant He remains distinct
he does not assimilate, he does not
readily enough adapt himself to new
conditions-that is, the Armenian is un-
desirable when brought in in large
numbers.
We know many Armenians living in
California who, singly, are desirable as
residents, and some of them have be-
come good Americans. but they have
long lived here, most of them came
when young men, or children. 1t is Of
the wholesale immigration of the ar
menian of the present into country
OF which we are speaking. Knowing
nothing about the effects of such in
cursions we must take the testimony
OF others, those who have had expert