New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-09
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Though | do not want to enter into
any kind of polemics, cannot refrain from
asking you to give prominent publicity to
my answer to Mr.. o. T. Malghazouny's letter
published in your issue Of the 4th inst.
Let me first draw the attention of your
readers to the fact that this gentleman does
not deny the rebellion of the Armenians at
Van In any part of the world rebellions are
queled by the organized military forces of
the legally constituted government respon-
sible toward its citizens for the integrity and
security of their country, and whose duty 1t
is also TO take necessary steps to prevent
the repetition of similar revolutionary move
ments-ths is the action followed by the
Turkish government. which, therefore, was
legal and justified. Such measures are called
disciplinary" when taken by England or
some other country, but when it comes TO
Turkey they are given the denomination of
atrocities" by some people envenomed by
their fanatic hatred
Ny contention of fanatic hatred" is fur
Their evidenced by the tone of Mr.. Malgha-
zouny's letter, in which he piles without any
restraint bitter and grave accusations on a.
whole race. 1t is very easy to accuse with
out giving details or facts; to talk Of ire
suits" completely ignoring the causes" and
thus give to uniformed hearers the impress
sion that legally right reprisals were GRIM
inal actions. Following this system, Lieuten-
ant Becker and the four gunner could. for
instance, accuse in another world their execu-
TONERS of being murderers, and If their
hearers had never heard of Rosenthaps MUIR
der their theory would unquestonably re-
ceve credit.
Just one example of the similarity of
my above parallel let me point out that Mr..
Malghazouny forgets, of course, to mention
the fact that the Armenian question Of 1896
'9S was preceded by long and very active
campaign of the Armenian revolutionary
committees, which eliminated in their at
tempt to blow up the Imperial Ottoman Bank
of Constantinople.
All the other instances quoted by Mr. NAL
ghazouny as ATROCITIES" were revolutions
queled by the organized and legal forces of
the empire, as can be evidenced by the very
same books of the Public Library to which
my witty answerer advises me TO "give the
once over" So it is useless for me to length
lily cite documented facts to justify the
wholesale accusations. II any one is inter-
ested to know the truth, history is always
easily proved.
Mr.. Malghazouny, in talking Of the capture
of Constantinople. says that it marked the
beginning of terrible saughters of European
Christians. This is the biggest Justification
and, to use his expression, the most manifest
"libelous accusation" Permit me to refer
him to the following lines:
"Mahomet III (the conqueror Of CONSTANT
nople) granted wide privileges TO the Greeks
and their Patriarch" Encyclopedias Britain
MICA, Vol. p, p. 446). And on page 426 of the
same volume:
THE non-Mussulman population is divided
into millets, or religious communities. which
are allowed the free exercise of their rel-
gion and the control Of their own monas-
teries, schools and hospitals"
The first mentioned imperial decree estab-
fishing the freedom of religion twenty-six
years before the Spanish Inquisition of Tor
quemada has always been respected in
Turkey.
AS for Mr.. Malghazouny's claim that the
laws in Turkey are not for Christians, but
for Mahometans. let me remind him that if
he speaks of public laws, as military service,
taxstions. public security, etc, difference of
religion cannot be, and is not, considered in
any country. If he speaks of private laws,
let me remind him that all the different
Christian sects in Turkey have been under
the jurisdiction OF their own ecclesiastical
authorities. and therefore if they are not
satisfied they have only their clergy 10 blame.
Without wishing to make my argument any
longer, would add that the development for
hundreds Of years of the Armenians and
various Christian communities in Turkey as
political entities with special privileges be-
lies in itself Nj. Malghazouny's charges Alb