p. 9 | TURKEY by H. P. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 29, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 43.

TURKEY.

By H. P. H.

[From our own correspondent.]

In the year 1848, the spirit of revolution breaking out in Paris, spread in a few months all over Europe. But as quietly and unaccountably as it broke out and spread, so suddenly and mysteriously was it quelled. To the Bible student it was not unexplainable; for the work of God not being finished, the winds of strife were held. Rev. 7: 1-3. The present year has manifested considerable of the spirit of 1848; the winds of strife so suddenly checked at that time seem to be breaking out again, for in many quarters of the earth the spirit of revolution is rife; and of all countries, Turkey and Spain are just now most involved.

During the past year, the Armenian question gave Turkey plenty to do; but scarce had this question reached a temporary lull when the revolution on the island of Crete broke out; then followed the Macedonian trouble, and close on its heels an Armenian massacre in Constantinople, of unprecedented proportions.

It was thought that the horrors of the past year would lead all parties to be quiet for some time; but the Armenians seem desperate. Their leaders have formed what is known as the Armenian Committee. This committee is composed of revolutionists, Anarchists; their only use for religion is to make it serve the state, or political ends. To them, religion and patriotism are synonymous. Of late, they have been advocating the return to the paganism of the nation before it adopted Christianity; this is on the ground that Christianity does not make good warriors, but rather dampens the fighting spirit. They claim that, when they worshiped the sword, they were better warriors, and succeeded better in throwing off the yoke of their oppressors, and in maintaining national liberty. These statements do not apply to the masses of the Armenians, but to revolutionary leaders.

This committee is violent in its measures. It makes demands of wealthy Armenians for large sums of money to be paid by a certain time, threatening death in case of refusal. The money is used for revolutionary purposes. Individuals that have refused the demands for money have been killed. Some such cases are known to our church in Constantinople. Armenians that are friendly to the Turkish Government are considered traitors by the Armenian Committee, and are in danger of their lives. Yesterday, we passed an Armenian house guarded by five soldiers, as the Armenian owner, being friendly to the Turkish Government, has been doomed to death by the Armenian Committee. The committee also addresses frequent notes to the powers, threatening to cause another riot if they do not act in their behalf. The powers have paid little attention to these threats, thinking that they were idle, until the last terrible massacre, which took place the close of August.

Before coming to the city, we could not tell by the reports whether the massacre was caused by Turks or Armenians; but now it seems quite evident that it was by the latter. It broke out simultaneously in two quarters of the city about three miles apart; first in Galata, just north of the Golden Horn, and second in Samatia, a quarter of the old city, occupied chiefly by Armenians. Several of our members living in the latter quarter had a good opportunity to observe the whole affair. The attack began in the afternoon; in the morning many of the Armenians left their homes for safety, knowing that something would take place. Considerable dynamite was found in this quarter.

The boldest part of the whole was the seizure of the Ottoman Bank by some seventeen well-armed men, who held it as a fortress till the next day. Many shots were fired and some dynamite used. The bank and surrounding buildings are well marked with bullets. As soon as the bank was seized, the affair spread all over the city like wildfire, and Turks began to slaughter Armenians and pillage their houses. Men only were killed. Greeks and their houses were untouched. The Turks took pains to make sure that a house was Armenian before attacking it. The Jews aided considerable in pointing out Armenian houses.

Much of this work of destruction was done by the Kurds. They are the ancient Medes, and have ever been the mortal enemies of the Armenians. This was the case before the latter embraced Christianity.

The city is now strongly garrisoned; and considerable is being done to restore goods stolen from Armenians. The committee claim that the object of the attack on the bank was to stir up the powers to do something; and they have circulated warnings that the same or worse will be repeated if nothing is done for them. This has terrorized the people; large numbers have left the city for safety. Business is dead. The Armenian cause is in bad order; but this may lead them to greater desperation. The government fears much for the future, and employs vigorous measures to prevent another outbreak. The people generally are in a feverish condition, not knowing from day to day what may happen. What turn the course of affairs here may take it is impossible to tell; the indications are that something decisive will soon occur. Constantinople, Sept. 21.

Abdul Hamid II.—"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," one of Shakespeare's characters is represented as saying. This is just now preëminently true of the Sultan Abdul Hamid II., of Turkey; and in fact it must have been true of his predecessors. It is said that of the thirty-eight sultans who have ruled over the Ottoman Empire since Constantinople was taken by them, thirty-four have died by violence. In six centuries only four sultans have died natural deaths, tho it may be that they count the violent deaths those which are indigenous to the soil. It is asserted that Abdul's mother was an Armenian girl, and it is for this reason that he hates the Armenians. A prominent Russian paper, very near official circles, thus warns the sultan: "The Porte must exhibit a tractable and yielding disposition, and prove by its reasonableness that it can postpone for a considerable time that crisis, when the further existence of Turkish rule in Christian Europe as an independent power shall be recognized as impossible and inconsonant with orderly progress and peace."