Chapter XV: The Massacres of 1895-6 250

A Scheme of Reform Presented by the British, French, and Russian Governments--The Sultan’s Promise--Unfulfilled--Abdul Hamid II--The Truth about Armenia--Biased Statements of the German Press--Turkey’s Uncertainty as to the Action of the Powers, an Encouragement to Her Misrule--Refusal to Receive an Armenian Petition--Letter from an American Resident of Constantinople--Statistical Table of the Massacres of 1895-6--Summary--A War of Desolation--Pretense of “Suppressing a Revolution”--“Horrible Details of Butchery”--Churches Invaded and Burned--Indignities to Women and Girls--Many of Them Commit Suicide--A Daughter’s Sacrifice--Germany’s Friendship--Quotation from a German Paper--Dr. Lapsius’ Reply--More Statistics--Compulsory Conversions to Mohammedanism--Individual Instances of Faithfulness--Faithfulness to Christ Reported as Obstinacy--At Cæsarea--Report of the British Vice-Consul--Work of Miss Corinna Shattuck--Other Missionaries Give Personal Experiences--Atrocities of Soldiers and Officers--England’s Professed Inability to Act--The Massacre at Constantinople--Plans Known to Turkish Government and Made Occasion of Outbreak--Persecution Following Worse in Its Effects than Massacre Itself--“Conduct of European Powers”--Result of a Disagreement--Germany Seeking Expansion--Emperor’s Tribute to Mohammedanism.