The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25

]
eye here in America in connection with
the recent murder OF II. S. Tavshanjian
perhaps the most prosperous member Of
the important colony Of Armenian mer-
chants Ia New York. The assassin Is one
Of his countrymen. and it is pretty gen
orally understood that political dssen-
sions and blackmail were tbs motives OF
this crime. which is merely one Of a long
series Of an almost identical nature which
have been perpetrated in recent years in
the United States. and in various parts
Of Europe. notably In London, Venice.
Paris, and Brussels. But people here are
curiously at sea with regard to the po-
litlcal aspirations Of the Armenians. as
10 the rival parties into which they are
divided, and as 10 their status. Indeed.
save among students. and those identi-
fed with the American missions in Asia
Minor. so useful through their civilizing
influences, only the vaguest ideas prevail
as to the whereabouts OF Armenia, as 10
whether the Armenians make their home
there, and as 20 their origin. With re-
gard 20 the latter question 1t is impossi-
BILE TO bi2me anybody for ignorance on
the subject. For the Armenians them
selves are altogether at sea about the be
ginnings OF their race, and whereas some
OF them claim 10 be the lineal descend
ants OF the ancient Assyrians, others as
sert that their nation was founded by
Haik son of Togarmak. who himself was
a grandson Of Japhet, and great-grand-
son therefore Of Noah. while there are
many. again, who believe the Armenians
10 constitute one or more Of the lost
tribes Of Israel Certain II Is that they
have many points in common with the
Jews, whom they resemble in feature,
character. and condition. Like them they
present the phenomenon Of a race dis
persed throughout the world. intermin-
Cling. but never fusing with other peo-
pie, possessed Of Incompatible abilities in
everything relating 10 commerce and f.
nance. immutably attached to their faith.
which Is based, however, not on the Tai
mud, but on the Bible. and cherishing
shadowy hopes OF a national restoration.
Before proceeding any farther Il may
briefly be mentioned that most Of the pO-
liticaI murders that have been perpetrated
IN America, and in other countries. by
Armenians against their co-religiOnists.
have been due 70 the antagonism exist
4 ing between the Hentchakiste Secret So
ciety. and that known as the Arpiarist or
ganizatlon. The Hentchakiste Associa-
ton was formed in 1S1, by an Armenian
journalist, a certain Avetist Nazarbek.
In reality for the purpose Of providing
himself with a means Of livelihood. but
ostensibly in order 10 secure the suppress
sion Of Turkish misrule in Armenia, BY
means Of bringing the woes of the latter
before the public Of Western Europe and
America. With this avowed object in
view. he founded in London, a newspaper
entitled the Hentcbak, which may be
described as the Tocsin or Alarm Bell,
and found no difficulty in obtain
4 ing generous subscriptions from wealthy
Armenian residents in America. in Eng
land. in France, Germany, and Italy, de-
scribing In lurid colors the terrible cruel
ties and savage oppression TO which those
Of their cOuntrymen were subjected, who
groaned under the cruel rule Of the Sui
tan in Turkey. As in the case Of all these
secret political societies, the Hentchakiste
organization attracted a large number Of
heelers and adventures, Armenians Of
the very worst type. who found il more
q agreeable 10 draw money as political
agents from the treasury Of the society.
and TO live on the subscriptions patriot
ically offered by their wealthy. industTi-
Gus. and reputable co-religionists. than
10 do any actual hard. honest work. The
Hentchakiste Society proved such a gold
mine TO scoundrels Of this class that. as
was only 20 be expected. another society
Of a similar character was founded not
long afterward by another Armenian
newspaper man. o. the name Of Arpiar, on
analogous lines. OF course. the two So
cieties commenced 10 fight with one an
other. The Hentchakistes accused the Ar
piarists Of being secretly in league with
the Turks. and about four years ago an
attempt was made 10 assassinate Arpiar
in Venice where he was very dangerously
wounded. presumably by Hentchakistes.
This greatly incensed the Arpiarists, who
are established in strong numbers at Bos-
ton, and the Arpiarist paper there prac-
tically called on the heads Of their So
ciety for revenge.
Indeed their opponents claim that they
advocated the killing OF the principal
leaders Of the Hentchakstes, and this
was followed by the shooting Of the edi-
tor OF Young Armenia, an aHti-Ap-
piarist paper in Boston. ana IN a MUIR
derOus attack near Lausanne. In Swift
erland, upon NJ. Nazarbek, the journalist
founder OF the Hentchakiste Society
Shortly afterward. another Hentchakiste
leader Of the name Of Sagatiel SagOuni.
was shot and killed at his home at Nun
head. one Of the suburbs OF London. and
il IS alleged that number of other muir
ders and attempted homicides here as
well as in Europe during the last three
or four years have been due to the blood
feuds between these two rival societies.
OF late the more unscrupulOus elements
of these organizations have received an
additional incentive to crime through the
withdrawal Of the rich and respectable
Armenian merchants abroad. The latter
having become alive TO the fact that all
the money which they had so generously
subscribed toward the relief of the suf-
ferings Of their co-reIigionists in Turkey
was being merely utilized to maintain in
relative idleness a couple of bands of ad-
venturers and desperadOes. who brought
both the name and the cause of Armenia
into disrepute, declined 10 continue their
contributions, aad closed their purses
This led the evil element of the Hentcha-
kiste and Arpiarist societies TO endeavor
TO eXtOTt by means OF blackmail and ter
rorism the funds which they had pre-
viOusly had no difficulty in obtaining on
the plea of patriotic charity, and there is
no doubt that there Will be many more
crimes such as the assassination of Mr.
Tavshanjian, the wealthy New York car
pet dealer, the other day, unless these
societies either purge themselves Of the
evil element in question, or else are
broken up by the authorities as organi-
cations the very membership of which
constitutes an offense against the laws
of the land.
II must thoroughly be understood that