New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-25
THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE.
Blemishes and Virtues of an interest
ing and Mysterious Race.

| Armenia is just at present in the pupno eye
| here in America in connection Win 'he ie0eh'
murder of H S. Tavshanjian. perhaps Inc hio't
nrosnarous member of the important colony OF
Armenian merchants in New York Inc as
ca ssin is one Of his countrymen and 1t is pretty
generally understood that political oisSensioh'
.,a b,ackmail were the motives Of this crime.
which is merely of long series OF an al
most identical nature which have been perpe-
trated in recent years in the United states anu
IN various parts of Europe. notably in LONDON
x-en;ca Paris and Brussels. But people here
ara c,,riousv at sea with regard TO the political
aspirations of the Armenians. as to the rival
partfes into which they are divided ana hS 10
| their status Indeed. save among students ana
those identified with the American missions IN
Asia Minor so useful through their civllizing
| Influences only tho vaguest Ideas prevail as 10
| the wherea bouts of Armenia, as 10 whether the
Arnenians make their home there ana as 10
their origin.
with regard TO the latter question II is i'm
ross,b1e ~ blame anybody for ignorance on the
subject For the Armenans themselves are al
.oeatber at sea about the beginnings OF their
race and whereas some OF them claim TO be the
Iineal descendants OF the ancient Assyrlahs'
others assert that their nation was founded py
Haik son of Togarmak. who himself was
grandson of Japhet. and a great-grandson there
fore of Noah; while there are many again.
who believe the Armenians TO 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 features. charac-
ter and condition. Like them. they present the
phenomenon OF race dispersed throughout the
world intermingIing hut never fusing with
other people possessed of Incompatible abilities
! IN everything relating 10 commerce and hnance'
| iuimutably attached to their faith (Which is
based however. not on the Talmud. but on the
Bible) and cherishing shadowy hopes Of a ma
tional restoration.
/ Before proceeding any further it may briefly
| be mentioned that most Of the political murders
that have been perpetrated In America and in
other countries by Armenians against their CO.
religionists have been due To the antagonism
existing between the Hunchakist secret so
ciety and that known as the Arparist organi-
cation The Hunchakist association was
formed IN 1877 by Armenian journalist. n
certain Avetist Nazarbek, in reality for the pur-
pose of providing himself with a means of live
lihood, but ostensiby in order TO secure the
suppression 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 newspaper entitled the "Hunchak.
which may be described the "Tocsn' or
Alarm Bell" and found difficulty in obtain
ing generous subscriptions from wealthy Ar
menian residents in America, in England in
France. Germany and Italy by describing in
lurid coors the terrible cruelties and savage op-
preston TO which those of their countrymen
were subjected who groaned under the cruel
rule of the Sultan in Turkey. AS in the case of
all these secret political societies, the Huncha-
kist organization attracted a large number OF
heeers and adventures. Armenians Of the very
worst type who found It moro agreeable To