Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-02-09
THE SITUATION
in ARMENIA
DR.. FLOYD SMITH DELIVERS AD-
DRESS TO MEN AT BROTHER
HOOD MEETING.
ADDRESSED LARGE AUDIENCE SUNDAY
Greater Portion of Armenian PopuIa-
tion Massacred by CoId-BIccded
Turkish Soldiers,

turned medical missionary from Asi
attic Turkey, delivered an address be-
fore the Mems Brotherhood of tie
Methodist Episcopal church last FRI;
day evening, at which time he dis
tcussed the situation as having par
ticular bearing upon the Armenian
people. DR.. Smith spent several years
in Turkey, aoing medical work among
Armenlans, and is posted on the
situation. On Sunday evening in tie
Congregational church he again ad-
dressed an audience which nearly
filled the large auditorium of the
church. On Sunday evening DR..
Smith spoke more particularly Of the
situation in Turkey.
! Since DR.. and Mrs. Smith are so
we'll known in Manchester and in Del
aware and Buchanan counties, his
discussion of the Armenian situation
will prove of unusual interests to the
readers CT The Democrat. His ad-
dress to the men at the Brotherhood
meeting on Friday evening was in
part as follows:
No one phase of internal affairs in
Turkey will throw more light on the
conditions Of the near East than a,
cn (f ho
tior No question will give better
answer to what Turkey is today than
will information along this line.
The Armenians, as a race, are one
Of the o'dest. They have a history of
which they may well be proud Of
Converted to Christianity in the Sec
ono century, it adopted as their
National religion by the end of the
fourth century and they have adhered
with tenaeity amid persecution and
martyr1om which brands them as
unique among nations.
The Turkish government has always
been unprogressiye, corrupt, and has.
attempted TO- throttie an plan Wh1cfr
may lead to progress and advance
ment. The Christian races in Turkey,
because Of their religion, because of
their prosperity, and because Of their
tendency toward improvement and re-
for" have ever been subject to insult
of vilest type; the sanctity of their
homes has been violated their prop
erty has been cOnfiscated, and their
lives even have been placed at the
lowest possible value at the hands of
the Turks. All promised reforms have
been only empty capsules for gullible
Christian powers. For an Armenian
to ask justice was simply to bring ad-
ded calamity upon it's head. To ap-
preciate the position of an Armenian
let one put himself in his place, feel
ing that although a brother Of Chris
tian races, yet he has been left de-
cidedly alone in his struggle for ad-
7ancement. Be conscious Of the fact |
hat as an Armenian the prosperity
# country to which he is subject,
iepends altogether upon his indus
Try and intelligence and yet in spite
# this he has been the victim of .
hundreds of indignities which have
lever brought Intervention in his fav-
'r. Briefly, insult, outrage, and death
lave been his portion.
Late in the 10Th century the Bal
IAN states one by one threw off the
Turkish yoke. The effect of these
lprisings was felt in Armenian
earts. Revolutionary propaganda was
egun. instigated largely by Armenian
atrlots in other countries. The sus-
lcion and feeling was aroused be-
ween Moslen and Christian. Out
reaks occurred which ended in the
lassacres of 1895, although events
t a. similar nature had been per- J
etrated in 1894 and also in 1896. 1t
as always been the plan of Armeni-
n agitators to draw the attention of
ne Christian powers to the terrible
onditions under which the Christians {
Turkey were compelled to exist. a
Because Of the fact that the Ar
lenians, as a people, are widely scat f
ered throughout Turkey, there is no +
reat probability that a successful re- 7
DIT against Turkish power could be L
ccomplished through their agency
one. In 1908 and 1909, the young a
urk party, aided by Armenian Revo- n
tionary Committees, succeeded in ,,
le overthrow of the old Turks n
I'd in the dethronement of Abdul y
amid. Christians throughout Tur- Fl
~ were filled with joy and thanks n
wing, feeling that a new day had f.
Iwned for them, a day of Liberty n
I'd Justice and something of equal +,
7. The messacres of Adana and +,
provinces was thought h,
be the last gasp of the failing pow 4.
of Abdul Hamid. In the light of !.
esent events it may yet be n,
oven that this cruel massacre is to 20
laid to the door of the young -,
lrk party. ~,
The present war in which Turkey re
entered is the war of Enver Pasha. w
lere was no necessity that Turkey tr
ould enter into this conflict. Every ii,
1ication pointed that it was to the b,
st interest of the land that she b1
ould remain neutral. Public opin- -
|, both Moslem and Christian was