, 1916-01-06
COUNTRY OF DISTRESS
ARMENIA HAS BEEN A SUFFERER
FOR MANY CENTURIES.
Russian, Persian and Turkish Flaas
Float Over the land-Possibiily
That Liberty May Result From
the European War.

The lesser nations have come into
prominence during the war a OF
the efforts of patriotic committees 10
revive ancient governments. The Bal
kan states and Poland and Lithuania
are examples. OF late there have beer
nero reports of distress in Arme-
mia, due to the conflict of Russian and
Turkish arms. Months g voices
we're raised in England on its behalf
when it was seen that Russia, Eng
land and France were to be banded to-
gether against the Germanic-Turktsh
powers. Now comes the demand that
the aspirations of Armenia be recog-
nized, that the Christian people who
for generations have suffered persecu-
ton be permitted to order their own
affairs, and to take up the self-govern-
ment which they lost many years ago.
Armenia, like Poland, lies today in
three parts. A portion is under the
Russian flag and a portion nominally
under Persia. But the greater part
is in subsection to Turkey. In Russian
Armenia there are about a million Ia
%tionals; In Persia, 10000. and in Turk
ISL lfoOuTVVOs 6iOiH
and business, with the influence of In
ternational politics, have been the
causes of much misery. The Christian
faiths are split. There are Gregori-
ans, Roman Catholics and Professionals.
The lot of all Christian Armenians-
and this includes the vast majority
has been especially hard in Turkish
Armenia. where there are 100000
Moslems. Armenia lies south OF the
Caucasus and the Black sea. Ancient
ly II was a kingdom. enjoying n high
degree of culture many centuries be-
fore the Christian era. Later It whs
under the dominion of the Modes and
Persians. The Hebrews, In their wan
behring's. came into contact with the
Armenians. In the mightiest days of
the Roman empire, Armenia expert
enced at first subsection and her a
degree of protection to which its later
lot stood In grim contrast.
Early in the sixteenth century Ar
menia's partition became definite. That
period marked the military rise of the
Moslem. From the introduction of
Christianity the conflict between Mus
sulmans and Christians was assured.
and was the forerunner of Il dreadful
massacres of the nineties. The mod
ern Armenian question" appeared
after the signing of the treaty of San
Stefano. which was to the Armenians
less than a scrap of paper" Turkish
of reforms. as given to the
powers, were never carried out. Per.
s%ecutions increased. Russia was only
little better than Turkey. The vicious
clements of the Moslem population
were stirred, %purposely, 1t seemed. and
the massacres of recent history fol.
lowed. France undertook the protec
ton of Roman Catholics. and Russia
attempted a like service for Greek
Catholics, and the fury of the mob fell
on the Professionals and Gregorians.
Great Britain and the United States,
the latter to a less extent, Interested
themselves. but the apathy of the Eu.
ropean powers in general prevented
immediate reform. Armenian massa.
ores have continued, and up to the
time the present war began revolution.
airy movements were developed for re-
lief from Turkey. The time is espe-
cially favorable for the prosecution of
Armenian claims.