New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-22
The Armenian Race

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The President of the United
States having designated October Il
and 90 as special days on which con-
tribution may be made by the American
people for the relief of the remnants
of the i'll fated Armenian and Syrian
races in Turkey, a brief sketch OF the
career and case of the Armenian would
be timely.
According TO Herodotus. the Arme-
mans, a race of the Latin branch Of the
human family, about 1900 years B. C..
left their original home in Thrace,
Southeastern Europe, where they
formed a colony with the Phrygians,
crossed the Bosporus over into Bith-
ynia. pushed into Cappadocia about 800
B. c., and in the seventh century, Is. l.,
reached the foot Of the mountain OF
Ararat King Tigranes of Armenia was
the ally Of Cyrus the Great IN the con-
quest of Babylonia and the consequent
liberation Of the Jews from seventy
years captivity, 53S b. c. King Hera-
CHA of Armenia was an ally of Nebu-
chadnezzer in the capture of Jerusalem,
coo B. c. Under Tigranes the Great
Armenia attained the height Of her
glory and power and extended from the
Caspian to the Black Sea and the Med
iterranean. from the Western Caucasus
TO the Mesopotamisn plains, embracing
Assvria. Media. Syria. Cilicia, Phenicia
and Asia Minor, as far west as Cappa-
docia.
Following her conversion to Chris
tianity. Armenia was in continual death
grapple with Zoroastrian Persian and
the ever surging hordes of barbarians
from Asia. Armenia was the highway
upon which crossed and recrossed the
alien enemies Of civiliZation-th Turk,
the Mongol, the Arab, the Tartar. The
Armenians, isolated and separated,
represented civilization in the East and
fought its first battles. And now, ex-
hausted by the swelling and pressing
tide Of the pagan and Moslem forces,
they retreated west and set up the
Kingdom Of Armenia Minor on the coast
Of the Mediterranean, in 1880. Here
thew became the active allies OF the
Crusaders. But with the collapse OF
that unfortunate movement they fell
a prey to the wrath and vengeance Of
the Mameluke Sultan of Egypt. King
Leon VI, after eight months valiant
defence of Sis, his capital, laid down
his arms in May, 1875, and thus ended
the independence of Armenia.
To-day, out Of about 100000 Of
Armenans in the world, 100000 live
in Russia and 100000 lived in Tur-
key. According to the report of Lord
Bryce, almost the entire Armenian race
in Turkey has been elected from its
home by the Turks, under incredibly
shameful conditions, and has been
driven to the desert of Arabia. Al
ready over 100000 of these unfortu-
mates have persisted by murder, hunger
and disease, and about 100000 Of
them are now lingering there, subjected
to the tortures Of hunger, exposure,
pestilence and the unspeakable cruelty
Of the Turk.
Lord Bryce, in q recent cable, re-
ceived by the American Committee for
Armenian Relief, 20 Fifth Avenue, New
York, Of which Mr.. Charles r. Crane
is treasurer. says: "Sick people are
throwing themselves into graves, beg
ging grave diggers to bury them;
women are going mad and eating grass
and carrion; parents are putting their
children out of their misery; the fut-
ure of the Armenian race depends on
saving the refugees. feel sure Amer
lean generosity will again respond to
the call of humanity"
VAHAN CARDASHIAN.
New York, Oct. IS, 1915.