The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-30
| O The Editorial Page of The Daily Ardmorei q
LET'S FINISH THE TURKS

~ news that has come over the wires II
many months is the assurance from Washing
ton that in warning Turkey that massacres OF
Armenans must stop, Read Admiral Bristol
commander of the United States naval forces il
Turkish waters, was acting under instruction:
from the state department. That announce
ment was made yesterday, officially. Now il
the massacres of Armenans by Turks do mo-
stop very soon, we arise to utter the sincere
wish and hope that similar official orders may
go forward from the war and navy depart
ments, in the form and substance of battalons
and battleships.
For many years the concert Of powers in
Europe has permitted the Turks to carry or
their policy of determination against the Ar
menians. Because of the fear that to interfere
would upset the equilibrium of international
affairs, the European nations have sat by and
seen millions of men, women and children
slaug ughtered-massacres by the wholesale; un'
numbered thousands of people driven from
home and slain or slowly starved; women and
girls ravished; infants tossed about as play
things on swords and bayonets
Well, the equilibrium of international af-
fairs in Europe was disturbed considerably
even upset altogether, about five years ago
and the disturbance continues; so that excuse
cannot be set forth by the European powers
for any further policy of non-interference in
Turkey. Even now those powers, together
with the United States, are supposed to be try
ing to do something to or with Turkey, to the
end that Turkish atrocities against the Ar
menians may cease; and yet, right now, so
the world is advised, the massacres continue.
If Europe won't or can't do anything to put
an end to these butcheries, America can and
should do the only thing indicated in the dag
nosis-go right in and give Turkey the sub
lmest thrashng ever administered to a collec
ton of cutthroats since time began. That
Turkey, fight her to the limit,
fight her down and utterly destroy her as
power. We have the men and we have the
we have the ships and we have the
guns; we have the shells and the powder and
the pep; and we have the spirit of righteous
wrath against such niquites that will carry
us to a conquering crusade in the name of
Christ and of humanity.
We have been giving money to succor the
starving Armenlans, as we should; but are we
to continue giving mere money for succor let
ting the butchery and the general deviltry go
on without protest or action-or both? The
state department has given warning to Turkey
that massacres of Armenians must stop" Back
IF that warning surely lies the whole military
md naval power of the United States govern
nent and people. War may be hell, but to per-
nit the Turks to keep on butchering the Ar
nenians is considerably worse than hell. For
many years it has been a disgrace to the thing |
,alled civilization.
The sincere and deliberate hope is ex-
pressed here that if the massacres don't stop,
md soon the United States government will
)acl up it's warning with the full strength, if
necessary. of its disciplinary forces-the army
md the navy.