Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-26
The Armenians.

The Arme mans.
LINCOLN. Neb., Nov. &.-To the
Editor OF The Bee: In order to under
stand the Armenian atrocities we must
understand their history. Geographically
as well az geographically Armenia is
the key to the Anatolian peninsula and
the lowland Of Mesopotania. AS the
Balkan states are the key to CONSTANT
nople so Is Armenia the key to the in
dependence of the Turkish empire.
At present the Armenians are divided
among Russia, Turkey and Persia. Since
the breakup of the Armenian kingdom in
the fifteenth century they have always
been under different alien rulers.
There are four important races in the
Caucasus. namely: the Georgians, the
Armenians, the Tartars and the Rus
SLAMS. The Tartars and the Armenians
occupy the eastern provinces.
The Armenian people number in all
some 100000 souls. In the Caucasus
there are about 100000 in Asia Minor
100000 and a few hundred thousand in
Persia and the rest are scattered ali
over the world.
In the towns the Armenians often con-
stitute a majority. but in the rural dis
tricts they are usually outnumbered by
the Tartars in Transcaucasia, or by the
Turks and Kurds In Asia Minor
The population OF Armenia contains a
greater variety Of elements than any
other country Of the same size in the
world-the languages are estimated at
forty-five. But the great majority of
these races are mere fragments of a few
thousands, In some cases hundreds, of
persons.
In the eighteenth century the Russians
began the conquest of Armenia, which
after a series of wars was completed
with the occupation of Kars and Batum
in 1878 by virtue of the Treaty of Ber-
lin. 1t was then that the Armenian des-
tiny became an international problem.
The six powers of Europe solemnly
pledged themselves to introduce. through
the sultan. administrative reforms into
the provinces inhabited by the Arme-
mans. The sixty-first article Of the treaty
stipulates that THE sublime porte un-
dertakes to carry out. without further
delay the improvements and reforms de-
manded by local requirements in the
provinces inhabited by the Armenisns.
and to guarantee their security against
the Circassians and Kurds."
In spite of that treaty the Armenians
were butchered and outraged in 1894 and
hardly anything was done to save the
handful of stray sheep from the hungry
wolf-that is the Ottoman empire.
The Armenians crave for a fair op-
portunity to develop themselves. They
ask TO be treated as men and women
They plead to be allowed TO live as free
citizens Of the Ottoman power.
At present whole villages are being
wiped out by fire. sword and deporta-
ton. 1t Is estimated that already 10000
have persisted at the hands of the Turks
and Kurds in their fiendish holy war"
The innocent Armenians are paying the
penalty OF the nations mutual rivalrles
and jealousies.
The United States is under obligation
to intervene in behalf of the Armenians
for the following reasons: The United
States. single handed. is more powerful
than the six powers of Europe, because
1t cannot be accused OF motives of ter
ritorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT In any effort put
forth for the welfare of the people of
Turkey. The voice which defended the
cause of Cuba-whlch demonstrated with
Roumania and Russia in behalf of the
prosecuted Jews, which stopped the par
tition OF China among the European
powers. which spoke TO Belgium in the
interest of the native OF Congo-that
same voice ought to speak again in dis
tinct human accent in the ears OF
Europe. Thus peace and order may come
out OF chaos to bless the people Of Ar
menia.
Meanwhile the atrocities are going on
without interference. II the surface Of
the globe were paper. the trees pens. the
lakes ink and all our civilized nations
were writer's, 1 assure you a millionth
part Of the cruelty and desolation could
not be expressed. FELIX NEWTON.