La Junta tribune., 1909-12-18

| AT that time We were all
ll talking OF bright hopes for
the future. A future that We hoped
would bring this land into the class
OF civilized nations after so many
years of strife and tyranny But,
alas our JOY was ere long turned to
mourning and our brightest hopes for
this downtrodden people were blasted
First, as you are aware the trouble
began in Constantinople by the
ireachery of the Sultan. Then came
his overthrow. While things were
beginning TO quiet there we were
awakened by the screams OF the Ar
menians from Adana to Kessab. The
only offense that they had committed
was that they were Christians and
dared believe 1t and live it, | know
you have read OF other reasons and
so have |, but these have been rea.
sons given by those who were more
Interested In the matter from dip
lomatic standpoint than from n real
humanitarian view.
1t Is true that the Armenian had
done some talking about his new lib.
erty. and some had even bought
arms. but what was this but child
play. measured with the governments S
power that was over them. To stop
Il this dib hag
people should be killed In the Valley.
ct OF Adana. Remember the attack
was begun from the Moslem side and
all ths Armenian could do WAS done
In defense Of home aud family Ot
course the odds were against them
and soon the streets ran with blood.
Villages were sacked and young girls
carried off to the Moslem harem. WI
dows also. while the orphans and
or die for all the government cared.
Some eighteen ministers Of the Ar.
menian Protestant church were kill.
ed either In Adana or on their way
there for the annual meeting. and
the wires the world over quivered
with the bloody news that two Amer
lean missionaries were killed while
defending their own American prop
erty. As you know they were trying
TO put out u fire that was eating up
poor woman's house that stood be
tween their schools and the raging
flames Here Maurcr. a Mennonite
and Rogers. OF the American Board
OF Missions. fell. while In IA bathroom
In the adjoining school were hidden
for safety eleven OF the American
ladies' who. found that this was IN,
only spot protected from the Moslen
bullets, Can you imagine those hour,
Of suffering1
But then what was this to tha
which Was all around II is given OF
good authority that In Antioch ther,
was not single man left alive o
the Armcnlans. The buichcry II
1t would run at all, Men were ,aker
and hacked Into pieces before thoii
wives and children. Then the young
or women abused by brutal lust ol
carried off to that which is wors,
than death.
But enough for this. Had 1, mo-
been for the hand OF our Lord touch
ing hearts In England and Anicrict
the refugees would have died by tn,
thousand. But the response Was i'm
mediate and We praise our Lord foI
what WAS done for the oppressed IN
that hour. You VIII be- xlad to know
that ut present. In the places where
there WAS such havoc. that the gov
ernment has really given money. moi
enough. but n goodly sum for the re-
building Of the houses. You will note
this. for II never WAS known TO have
done anything like this before. Thi,
We take Ms real confession al
wrong and that Ii an enormous thini
Tor the Turk To confess. But cvst
with this charity. years will not built
up that which hss been torn dow
nor win time blot out the blood stain
that shall ever mark this land ~ IN,
scene Of tyranny and horrid crueitic~
Remember that during all this tim,
American citizens were depending
upon British and French protection
chiefly. These nations had their bat
tlsships on the ground Immediately
and TOO much caanet b. saiA for wha
thev AA Thea vhaA All vvaa nvee ,