The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-18
ARNEN|ANS LOST OUT
Attention Diverted by Other
Exciting Events,
RUSSlA'S MOVE EASTWARD
Likely to Again Bring Them
Into Prominence.

| Armenia and Armenians have remain
ed in eclipse, though not entirely in peace,
for the past few years. Succeeding the
great massacre of Armenians at Sassoun
/ in 1895, the nations of Christendom swell
| ed over with indignation at the 'unspeak-
able Turk" But political consideration
kept their fingers off-they were all so
busy watching each other-all, that is, ex-
| cept the United States. Popular clamor
here was for interfering with the Turk
and his cruelties, but the United States
was then building up its navy.
1t learned a whole lot about the
strength of that navy in the late I'M
| pleasantness with Spain-so did the Eu-
ropean nations, some of which would, in
1926, have scoffed at the idea of American
interference in Turkey. Should there be
another such massacre of Armenian
Christians as that of 1898 it is safe to say
| that this country, having proved its war
strength once more and having its mar
tial spirit kindled, would likely dispatch
a few warships in Turkeys direction. 1t
would probably, too, be case of hands
off, with ali the other nations, if assured
that we sought merely reparation from
Turkey and had no territorial designs.
But no such massacre as that of Sas-
SCUM maybe expected under present con-
ditions. The pent-up anxiety of the Eu-
ropean nations about Turkey and about
what each other nation was grabbing for,
there was let off, to some extent, when
there was interference in Crete in 1897.
c],., IL.
The Sultan, back in his lair, may be look
ing out with fiercer eye, but even he be-
gins to realize his limitations. The Sick
Man" has a respite in which to enjoy con-
valescence before the fatal illness shall
come. Russia is busy in China and Per-
STA, and the eyes of the other European
nations have been drawn further east al
50 during the past two years. The Fill
pinos and the Beers are Offering the
Americans and the English quite enough
to think about tor the present without
worry over the Armenians.
And yet Armenia may spring into in
ternational prominence again soon It
will hardly be through another great
massacre; for, though there are contin-
ual abuses of taxation and individual
disregard for liberty and life, the Turk
ish Empire knows well it must not let
the Kurds break loose as they did before.
Russia's moves in Southern Asia and
Persia and her plans for a railroad and
territory that shall give her an outlet on
the Indian Ocean are what may bring!
Armenia once more into the middle Of
the international question.
Russia's Asiatic territory is the north
ern part of Armenia. Titles, from which
it is reported $1,000 Russian troops set out
for Persia, is not over seventy-five miles
from the Armenian border. Baku, on the
Caspian Sea, from which it was origi-
nally planned to run the new Russian
railway to the Indian Ocean, and to the
very gates of British possessions in India,
is hardly more than 100 miles from Ar
menia's northeastern territorial limit The
other proposed route for a Russian rail-
road to the southern ocean would run
much closer to the Armenia than this
in fact help to complete Russian semi
circle about their land
Filled with patriotic eager subjects OF
the Sultan, this might prove a dangerous
place for the Russians to infringe. But
filed. as it is. with a native people whose
church is Christian and more like the
Greek church of Russia than like ours,
and with savage Kurds ready to become
furies and prey on the inhabitants when
ever the Turk viii let them, here may be
a chance for the Car to play peace-lover
and territory-grabber all at once. Arme-
MIA would be very large entering wedge
to Asia Minor. where the German Empe-
ror played his peaceful, territory acquir-
IN o. 90 M y r-na,. aud a half ago