Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-01-24
SAVE ARMENIANS
FROM STARVATION
Thousands, Starving in Oldest
Christian Nation, Need
Our Help
MASS MEETING SUNDAY
AT THE GYMNASIUM
Churches Will Unite i'm the Work of
Alleviating Distress of Turks
Victims

Not another nation on earth has
maintained its loyalty TO its country,
its faith and it's nationality under such
persecution as have the Armenians.
We marvel at the pertinacity with
which the Jews cling to their religion
and their national customs, but under
pressure of their oppressOrs, most of
the Jews abandoned their country.
The Armenians have clung for centur-
les to the soil made sacred by the blood
of their murdered ancestors.
Armenia became an important cOun-
try several hundred years before
Christ. and reached fairly high state
Of civilization for that time. Being
merely an agricultural country, and
hemmed in by stronger nationalities,
it's development was blocked. 1t was
constantly the victim of its more war
like neighbOrs, Media, Persia, Egypt
Rome and Turkey.
1t was the first nation to adopt
Christianity, making it the state relig-
ion about 2J0 or 275 A. ID. During the
9TH century, Armenia was Over-run by
the newly risen MOhammedan power of
Arabia. but regained her independence
century later. IN the 18th century it
was conquered by the Byzantine en-
pire. while the Turks began to over
run it from the east. During the next
three centuries the country was alb
sOrbed by the advancing Turks, and
since that time the greater part of the
Armenians have been subject to that
murderOus nation.
Among other bad qualities, the
Turks are rabidly, savagely and intOl-
crantly religious The crimes of the
Inquisition and of Salem witchcraft
read like Sunday school literature com
pared with the horrible cruelties Of the
Turks, committed i'll the name of re-
ligiOn In the eyes of the Turk the
objectionable crime of the Armenians
was the tirmneSs with which they
clung to their Christian faith. They
were robbed and murdered for the
glory of Mohammed.
The Armenians did not always sub
nit meekly to these prosecutions.
From time to time they sought to rid
themselves OF their oppres0rs. IN put
ting down these rebelions, the Turks
made no discrimination between the
rebels and the non-cOmbatants-al
were slaughtered with equal zeal and
relish.
In 1893 there was some agitation OF
proposed resistance to Turkish author
ity, which was promptly met by a
series Of massacres Even since that
time Turkish masacres of Armenians
have been Of frequent occurrence,
reaching their height, both in magni-
tude and atrocity. during the present
war During the two or three years
last past it would seem as if the Turks
had sci out to annihilate the Armen-
ianS. and if aid is not sent promptly
the wish will he accomplished.
Rcmember 2.000000 ArmenianS are
now homeless and starving, in cold
climate. and far from the source of
food supplies. Thousands of them are
bound to perish-hundreds of thou
sands will perish if aid is not extended
quickly.
Don't stop 10 calculate or haggle-
give little of your plenty to preserve
the lives Of these people who have been
so SteadfaSt in clinging to their faith
and their country.
The Cry of Starvation
From the Near East, from the Oldest
Christian nation comes an appeal for
aid that must he met at once or mil
lions will perish. There is no time for
leisurely calculations and estimates
1t is a matter of giving now and giving
literally. or it will be too late.
The Armenians have been system.
atically robbed for centuries by Rom
ans. Saracens. persians and Turks
Within the past few years the Turkish
atrocities have been on a wholesale
scale Practically all Armenians with
in Turkish territory have been driven
from home, their homes burned, q
large part of the male adults murdered
100000 people are without food eX
ccpt such as is furnished by charity
more than half of these are eXiles from
their homes: 100000 are fatherless
To care for these sufferers, America is
asked for S3O,000000. This is only SIC
each for the sufferers, ridiculOusly
small amount, but estimated to be suf
ficient to prevent starvation.
Remember. while the United States
government furnishes help for the suf
ferers in Belgium, France and Serbia
If has taken no action to assist the AT
menians. We are not at war witt
Turkey, hence the government takes
no official cognizance of Turkish