Chapter VI: Part 6

When England was preparing this private treaty, the English fleet was on the Sea of Marmora, at the gate of the Bosphorus, threatening Russia, to make her withdraw her soldiers from the gates of Constantinople, for the conquering Russian army had reached the suburbs, and encamped at San Stefano, only eight or ten miles away. But for England, Russia would have captured Constantinople, and kept it. But England backed Turkey, and the other powers backed England, and Russia reluctantly withdrew her troops. But Russia has never forgiven England for it; and if England wishes to help the Armenians, no matter how many are massacred, Russia will help Turkey, while the others side with neither. As to there ever being a European concert to reform Armenia, a pleasant dream which has deluded many thousands, I have always laughed at it, and I laugh at it still. The powers will never act together for any such purpose. It is not "practical politics" to think of it. The real center of action is not Germany or Russia, but England, for several reasons. One is that London is the money capital of the world. Money rules; money buys force. The richest nation is the strongest. What does Lombard street say? is the vital question. The second is her navy, the strongest in the world; stronger that that of any other two nations combined; perhaps in actual fight a match for all combined. The third is that her possessions are everywhere; she is a local power in every quarter of the globe; she has to pass by everybody's doors in managing her colonies. So I will begin with England.

ENGLAND AND THE ARMENIAN QUESTION.

If England had wished to solve this question, she could have done it long ago; but she never cared to. When Mr. Gladstone was in power, he tried to do it, but his Cabinet overbore him. He did, however, show by isolated cases what power England had if she chose to exercise it. After I was banished by the Turkish government, two native Christian ministers supplied my pulpit. They were sentenced to death on a false charge, but Gladstone threatened the Sultan, and the latter commuted the sentence to banishment. These ministers were Professors Thoumaian and Kayayian, who are now in England with their families. What could be done on a small scale could be done on a large one. I will give here some of the speeches of Gladstone on the Armenian question; then compare Lord Salisbury with him and his policy.

W. E. Gladstone.

He assails Turkey's Intolerable Misgovernment and Emphasizes the Value of Impartial American Testimony.

[By Cable to The New York Herald.]

London, Aug. 6, 1895.--A pro-American meeting, presided
over by the Duke of Westminster, was held at Chester this
afternoon. Mr. Gladstone was among those present, and upon entering
the hall was received with great enthusiasm.

In addressing the meeting, Mr. Gladstone said he had attended
rather to meet the expectation that he would be present than
because he had any important contribution to make to the
discussion of the subject under consideration. The question
before the meeting, he said, was not a party question, neither
was it strictly a religious question, although the sufferers,
on whose behalf the meeting was called, were Christians. The evil
arose from the fact that the sufferers were under an intolerably
bad government--one of the worst, in fact, that ever existed. A
resolution would be proposed presenting, with justice and firmness,
the true view of the matter. Mr. Gladstone added that as America
had no political interest in the Levant her witnesses were doubly
entitled to credit.

Important Treaty Provisions.

The treaty of 1856, Mr. Gladstone continued, gave the powers
the right to march into Armenia and take the government of the
country out of the hands of Turkey, and under the treaty of 1878
the Sultan was bound to carry out reforms. The ex-Premier made
three proposals:--First, that the demands of the powers should
be moderate; second, that no promises of the Turkish authorities
should be accepted; and third, that the powers should not fear
the word "coercion."

"We have reached a critical position," said Mr. Gladstone,
in conclusion, "and the honor of the powers is pledged to the
institution of reforms in Armenia."

A resolution was then proposed expressing the conviction that
the government would have the support of the entire nation in any
measures it might adopt to secure in Armenia reforms guaranteeing
to the inhabitants safety of life, honor, religion, and property,
and that no reforms can be effected which are not placed under the
continuous control of the great powers of Europe. The resolution
was seconded by the Rev. Canon Malcolm MacColl, and was adopted.

Says Baseness and Villany Have Reached a Climax in Turkey's Treatment of Armenia.

[From The New York Herald.]

London, Dec. 27, 1895.--Murad Bey, formerly Ottoman Commissioner
of the Turkish debt, who recently fled from Constantinople to
Paris, sent to Mr. Gladstone a few days ago a pamphlet which
he had published in Paris, entitled "The Yildiz Palace and the
Sublime Porte," with a view to enlightening public opinion on
Turkish affairs. In the course of his reply acknowledging the
receipt of the pamphlet, Mr. Gladstone disavowed any feeling of
enmity toward the Turks and Mussulmans generally. He said:--"I have
felt it my duty to make it known that the Mohammedans, including
the Turks, suffer from the bad government of the Sultan. I have
heartily wished success to every effort made toward ending the
great evil. Still, Turks and other Mohammedans are not, so far
as I know, plundered, raped, murdered, starved, and burned;
but this is the treatment that the Sultan knowingly deals out
to his Armenian subjects daily. There are degrees of suffering,
degrees of baseness and villany among men, and both seem to have
reached their climax in the case of Armenia."

His Masterly Speech in Chester Re-enforced with a letter to a Turk.

[From The New York Sun.]

London, Aug. 10.--Once more have the wonderful power and the true
greatness of England's Grand Old Man been demonstrated in the
remarkable revival of popular interest in the fate of Armenia. The
whole nation is marveling over his great speech at Chester, and
there are no words, even among those who have always been his
political opponents, save those of sympathy and admiration. Nobody
is any longer foolish enough to deny the main features of the
fearful atrocities in Armenia, and there is no possible doubt of
the accuracy of the latest reports that thousands near the scene
of the massacres are perishing of starvation.

The only protest against Mr. Gladstone's speech has been a long
letter from Khalef Khalid, a conspicuous Turk, who asks the Grand
Old Man why he hates and denounces the Turks so indiscriminately,
when as many and as great outrages against the Mohammedans have
been perpetrated by Christians as were ever committed by the
subjects of Islam.

Mr. Gladstone's reply was made public to-day. It is one of the
most pointed epistles the old man ever wrote. He says:--"I entirely
disclaim the hatred and hostility to the Turks, or any race of men,
which you ascribe to me. I do not doubt that you write in entire
good faith, but your statements of facts are unauthenticated. I
proceed only upon authenticated statements. I make no charge
against the Turks at large, but against a Turkish government. I
make the charges which they have been proved guilty of by public
authority. In my opinion, I have been a far better friend to the
Ottoman Empire than have the Sultan and his advisers. I have
always recommended the granting of reasonable powers of local
self-government, which would have saved Turkey from terrible
losses. This good advice has been spurned, and in consequence
Turkey has lost 18,000,000 of people, and may lose more. Pray
weigh these words."--

The birthday of the Ex-Premier was made the occasion for an anti-Turkish demonstration.

Outrages and Abominations of 1876 in Bulgaria Repeated in Armenia in 1894.

[From The New York Herald.]

London, Dec. 29, 1894.--Mr. Gladstone celebrated his eighty-fifth
birthday to-day, and was the recipient of hundreds of letters
and telegrams of congratulation and parcels containing birthday
gifts. Mr. Gladstone was in remarkably good health and spirits,
and, despite the stormy weather, drove through the village of
Hawarden to the church, where he met a deputation of Armenian
Christians from Paris and London. The deputation presented a
silver chalice to the church. The chalice was presented to the
Rev. Stephen Gladstone, son of the ex-Premier, and rector of the
Hawarden church, in recognition of the interest his father has
taken in the Armenian outrages. Mr. Gladstone, in his reply to the
deputation's address, said that it was not their duty to assume
that all the allegations of outrages were true, but rather to await
the result of the inquiry which had been instituted. However, he
said, the published accounts pointed strongly to the conclusion
that the outrages, sins, and abominations committed in 1876
in Bulgaria had been repeated in 1894 in Armenia. Continuing,
Mr. Gladstone said: "Don't let me be told that one nation has no
authority over another. Every nation, aye, every human being,
has authority in behalf of humanity and justice." He had been
silent, he said, because he had full confidence that the government
knew its duty. If the allegations made should prove to be true,
it was time that the execration of humanity should force itself
upon the ears of the Sultan of Turkey, and make him sensible of
the madness of such a course as was being pursued. Mr. Gladstone,
in conclusion, said:--"The history of Turkey is a sad and painful
one. The Turkish race has not been without remarkable, even fine
qualities, but from too many points of view it has been a scourge
which has been made use of by a wise Providence for the sins
of the world. If these tales of murder, violation, and outrage
be true, well, then, they cannot be overlooked, nor can they be
made light of. I have lived to see the Empire of Turkey in Europe
reduced to less than one-half of what it was when I was born. And
why? Simply because of its misdeeds, and the great record written
by the hand of Almighty God against its injustice, lust, and most
abominable cruelty. I hope and feel sure that the government of
Great Britain will do everything that can be done to pierce to
the bottom of this mystery, and make the facts known to the world.

"If happily (I speak hoping against hope) the reports be disproved
or mitigated, let us thank God. If, on the other hand, they
be established, it will more than ever stand before the world
that there is a lesson, however severe it may be, that can
teach certain people the duty of prudence, and the necessity
of observing the laws of decency, humanity, and justice. If
the allegations are true, it is time that there should be one
general shout of execration against these deeds of wickedness
from outraged humanity. If the facts are well established, it
should be written in letters of iron upon the records of the
world that a government which could be guilty of countenancing
and covering up such atrocities is a disgrace to Mohammed the
prophet, a disgrace to civilization at large, and a disgrace to
mankind. Now that is strong language, but strong language ought
to be used when the facts are strong. But strong language ought
not to be used without the strength of facts.

"I have counseled you to be still and keep your judgment in
suspense; but as the evidence grows, the case darkens, and my
hopes dwindle and decline, and as long as I have voice it will
be uttered in behalf of humanity and truth. I wish you heartily
every blessing, and also wish with every heartiness prosperity
to your nation, however dark the present may seem."

Lord Salisbury.

Now we come to the present Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury. He is reputed a great statesman. That should mean that he has accomplished something great. Well, what? I know of nothing, have heard of nothing. Has he saved any country? Has he elevated any? Has he done any public action that can be set down to his credit? He has hindered some good ones, that is all. On the Armenian question he has done enormous harm. If he is not a great hypocrite, there is no use comparing a man's words with his actions. I have always told my friends that nothing good could be hoped for from him, for morally he is worse than the Sultan. An eminent English clergyman told me that Lord Salisbury is another Sultan, and I believe him. Here are a few of Lord Salisbury's deliverances; see how they agree:--

[From The New York World, August 16, 1895.]

Lord Salisbury to Sir Philip Currie, the British Ambassador to
Constantinople:--"The Porte must accept the proposals of the Powers
unconditionally, or England would use sharper means than those
adopted by Lord Rosebery to settle affairs in Armenia."--[July
30, 1895.

Lord Salisbury, in a speech in London about the time of the
above, said, "The concert of Europe on the Armenian question is
complete, and England has the loyal support of other powers to
reform Armenia."

At another time we note:--"There is every reason to believe that
the Chinese government is sincerely desirous of punishing the
perpetrators of the outrages and those who connived at them. Should
any lukewarmness become discernible, it will become our duty to
supply its defect.

"With respect to Armenia, we have accepted the policy which
our predecessors initiated, and our efforts will be directed
to obtaining an adequate guarantee for the carrying out of
reform. We have received the most loyal support from both France
and Russia. The permanence of the Sultan's rule is involved in
the conduct he pursues. If the cries of misery continue, the
Sultan must realize that Europe will become weary of appeals, and
the fictitious strength which the powers have given the empire
will fail it. The Sultan will make a calamitous mistake if he
refuses to accept the advice of the European powers relative to
the reforms." The House of Lords adopted the address in reply to
the Queen's speech.

After the above strong words, Lord Salisbury backed down and sneaked out of his bold attitude in this way. (Jan. 31, 1896.) See how he asserts, first that England cannot do anything for the Armenians, and second that it is not her duty to do anything:--

[From The New York Tribune.]

"The Prime Minister expressed sympathy with the Armenians, but
denied that Great Britain was under obligation to declare war
against the Sultan of Turkey in order to compel him to govern
justly, and cited the treaties in proof of his contention. He
ascribed the atrocities to the passions of race and creed. He
believed that the Sultan's government was wretched and impotent,
but there was no ground for imagining that the Sultan had
instigated the massacres. It might be asked why Europe did not
interfere. He could only answer for England. She had lacked the
power to do the only thing necessary to end the troubles, namely,
to militarily occupy Turkish provinces. None of the powers wished
so to occupy them.

"Lord Salisbury said he concurred in the belief that the only
authority, albeit it was an evil one, in that country was the
prestige of the Sultan's name. Patience must be exercised, and
time must be given to His Majesty to enforce the reforms he had
promised. He remarked upon the gradual return of order in Anatolia
during the last few weeks, although he admitted that these signs
should not be trusted too much. He concluded by declaring that
if Great Britain did not co-operate with the other powers, she
must act against them, which would lead to calamities far more
awful than the Armenian massacres."

Ambassador Currie instructed not to exert Undue Pressure on the Sultan.

[From The New York World, 1895.]

London, Nov. 23, 1895.--It can be authoritatively stated that
Lord Salisbury's instructions to Sir Philip Currie, the British
Ambassador to Turkey, who left England a few days ago on his return
to his post of duty, are to refrain from exerting undue pressure on
the Sultan for the execution of the reforms in Armenia, and to give
the Porte time to recover from the existing administrative anarchy,
and appoint authorities through whom the reforms must be effected.

Sir Philip has taken with him an autograph letter from the Queen to
the Sultan. This is supposed to be a reply to a letter the Sultan
sent to her with the communication he sent to Lord Salisbury,
which the latter read at the meeting of the National Union of
Conservatives at Brighton, on Tuesday night last.

It is reported that the Queen will invite the Sultan to visit
England, when the time shall be auspicious. The anxiety at the
Foreign Office in regard to the East has greatly lessened during
the week.

England possessed the Island of Cyprus, and it became her duty to look after the reforms in Turkey. But now Salisbury denies it, saying that it is not her duty, and meantime says that time must be given to the Sultan of Turkey, as if all the time had not been given him since the Berlin treaty of 1878.

Salisbury used another silly trick, persuading the Queen of England to write a letter to the Sultan and appeal to his good nature; as if the Sultan had a good nature; but the Queen wrote the letter.

A strong criticism by the editor of the New York "Press" on Lord Salisbury's speech.

February 3, 1896.

"We confess that we are at a loss to comprehend the meaning of Lord
Salisbury's Armenian speech. We do not know what to make of it when
he says that the Berlin Treaty "bound the signatory powers, that,
if the Sultan promulgated certain reforms, they would watch over
the progress of these reforms. Nothing more." We cannot understand
him when he declares that the Cyprus Convention 'contains no
trace of an understanding to interfere in behalf of the Sultan's
subjects.' When Russia made, in March, 1878, a treaty with Turkey,
called the treaty of San Stefano, Great Britain became alarmed lest
Russia should secure too much influence in Constantinople. Russia
then held some Armenian provinces bordering on her territory, and
it seemed clear that it was her purpose to seize others. England
protested to the Sultan against the treaty of San Stefano, but
the government of the Ottoman Porte was helpless against the Czar,
and the Sultan declared that he must adhere to the treaty. Great
Britain then secretly bound herself to aid Turkey by force of arms
in preventing Russia from appropriating further Armenian provinces,
Turkey agreeing, on her part, to reform her local administration
in her remaining Armenian provinces and assigning the island of
Cyprus to be occupied and administered by Great Britain.

"Great Britain, meanwhile, had incited the other powers of Europe
to take action against the treaty of San Stefano. Austria was
induced to suggest a European Congress. Russia at first refused
to go into this Congress; but, seeing that all the great powers
were uniting against her, she consented to attend. The result
of this Congress was the Treaty of Berlin, signed by the six
powers,--England, Russia, Germany, France, Austria, and Italy. By
this treaty Turkey was stripped of Bulgaria, Servia, and Roumania,
and Russia was deprived of all she had won during the Turko-Russian
war, except the Armenian provinces which she still controls. By
this treaty, also, the signatory powers became guardians and
trustees of the Ottoman Porte, pledging themselves that religious
freedom should be secured in the Turkish Empire, and that Armenian
Christians should be protected against the Circassians and Kurds.

"We are puzzled, therefore, to understand Lord Salisbury when
he says that all these promises did not mean anything. Certainly
he ought to know, for, as the agent of the Disraeli government,
it was Lord Salisbury who drafted the agreements and drew up the
promises. For eighteen years Christian civilization has supposed
that they did mean something. But Lord Salisbury says not. He
says that all the powers agreed to do was to 'watch over the
execution of those reforms' if they were promulgated.

"What does that mean, anyway? Does it mean, as the Christian
world has all along supposed, that the six powers would engage
themselves to see that these reforms were carried out by Turkey,
or does it mean that if the reforms were carried out they would
simply look on; and if the reforms were not carried out, if ten
thousand Armenian homes were destroyed, and four times ten thousand
Armenian citizens were butchered, they would still simply look on?

"Nor do we understand Lord Salisbury when he pleads that
it requires time for the Turkish government to carry out the
reforms 'which the Sultan recently has accepted.' Why the Turkish
government? There is no Turkish government. There is a Mohammedan
administration, but the government of the Ottoman Porte expired
with the Treaty of Berlin. The Turkish government is vested de
facto in the six signatory powers of the Berlin Congress. Even
the local government of Constantinople itself lies in the hands
of these powers. The capital is divided into six sections, each
controlled by a treaty power. Each has its own courts, its own
military, even its own police. When Englishmen wish a wrong to
be righted in the Turkish Empire, or a reform to be executed,
they do not request the 'Turkish government' to listen to their
appeal. The British Minister summons the Grand Vezir and orders
him to do what is wished. And he does it forthwith, so far as he
is permitted by the orders of the representatives of the other
treaty powers. It is in London, in Berlin, in St. Petersburg,
in Paris, in Vienna, and in Rome that the Turkish government rests.

"It is for these reasons that we are unable to understand what
Lord Salisbury means when he says that the Berlin Treaty and the
Cyprus Convention impose no responsibility for Armenian reforms
upon any one save the Sultan. The Cyprus Convention specifies:--

"Treaty of Defensive Alliance between the British Government and
the Sublime Porte, signed on June 4, 1878:--

Article I. If Batoum, Ardahan, Kars, or any of them shall
be retained by Russia, and if any attempt shall be made at
any future time by Russia to take possession of any further
territories of his imperial Majesty, the Sultan, in Asia, as
fixed by the definitive treaty of peace, England engages to
join His Imperial Majesty, the Sultan, in defending them by
force of arms. In return, His Imperial Majesty, the Sultan,
promises to England to introduce necessary reforms, to be
agreed upon later between the two powers, into the government,
and for the protection of Christian and other subjects of the
Porte in these territories; and in order to enable England
to make necessary provision for executing her engagement, His
Imperial Majesty, the Sultan, further consents to assign the
Island of Cyprus, to be occupied and administered by England.

"Why, then, does not Lord Salisbury carry out England's pledges,
for which he is directly responsible, since he made them in
her name?

"England must be held to an accounting for the disorders in
Armenia. There are no such disorders in the provinces administered
by the Czar, provinces adjoining those where for the last six years
pillage, destruction, and murder have swept away every sign of
government. In the provinces controlled by the Czar the Armenians
have been so well treated, enjoying unquestioned religious freedom
and rights, that there have been not the slightest disorders. But
in the provinces where England pledged reform, the Armenian is
butchered daily.

"Does Lord Salisbury mean that so long as Great Britain occupies
Cyprus, pending the execution of reforms, it is better for England
that the reforms should not be executed and that England should
'watch over them; nothing more'?"

Note carefully what Salisbury says first; then what he says afterward. First he says there is complete concert among the powers, then he says there is not; first he threatens the Sultan, then he is friendly. First he seems to be a brave and noble statesman, then a cowardly politician.

Sir Philip Currie, the British Ambassador at Constantinople, is a brave and noble gentleman. He was sent there by the Liberal government, before Salisbury's accession. He has done a great deal for the Armenian cause. But after Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister, he called him to London and instructed him to have cordial relations with the Sultan, and now he can do nothing.

Finally there appear to be two Englands, conservative England and liberal England, slave England and free England, selfish England and noble and sympathetic England, false England and true England. The head of conservative, selfish, false, oppressive England is Lord Salisbury. The head of liberal, free, noble, and true England is Mr. Gladstone. Therefore nothing for Armenia can be expected from the Conservatives, while much may be hoped from the Liberals. Gladstone is an old man, but God will raise a Joshua to succeed Moses; Gladstone will see the Armenian nation free, and then he will die.

GERMANY AND THE ARMENIAN QUESTION.

Listen to what the haughty young ruler of Germany says:--"It is better that the Armenians be killed than the peace of Europe be disturbed." The explanation is easy enough. When he visited Constantinople half a dozen years ago, the Sultan presented him with Arabian horses, jewelry of massive gold, and many other valuable articles, worth in all several hundred thousand dollars; and last summer sent him a beautiful and valuable sword made in Constantinople by Armenians, which was carried to him by Shakir Pasha, the butcher who was afterwards appointed by the Sultan to reform Armenia,--the commander of the "Hamidieh Cavalry," whose work I tell of later on. This embassy was to secure the alliance of Germany against molestation by Russia.

The German Emperor has three motives in his present action. One is to show gratitude for the Sultan's generosity--as though it were not the easiest thing in the world to be munificent when it all comes out of other people. The second is to punish Lord Salisbury for not getting England to join the Triple Alliance, when the Emperor asked him in person on his journey to England. When Salisbury threatened the Sultan in the interest of Armenia, the German Emperor said, "The English government has no right to interfere with the Turkish Empire. Every sovereign must have the right to govern as he thinks necessary, or he is no sovereign." He afterwards sent his Chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe, to the Czar to arrange united resistance to England, and afterwards sent Count Von Moltke on the same errand. And the Czar instructed his Ambassador at Constantinople, M. Nelidoff, to inform the Sultan that he would not support the English government in coercing Turkey. The Sultan therefore refused Salisbury's demands, and he dared not go on alone. The Emperor's third motive was to gain the friendship of the Czar against France, which had lately been taking up the Russian alliance with great fervor. Another reason is that he hates the Armenians for having bought the German factories and property in Amassia. He is very anxious to plant German colonies in Turkey, of all places in the world, for profit. There are about fifty families in Amassia, near Marsovan, and they had started various kinds of factories there; but the shrewd and wealthy Armenians bought them out. The Emperor is angry because his colony was not successful.

For all these reasons the German Emperor refused to send gunboats to the Bosphorus when the other powers did; he said he saw no need of it. He was right so far as Germans were concerned; the Sultan was not going to allow his ally's subjects to be slaughtered and the ally turned into an enemy. And if he could stop the massacre of one sort of people, he could of another; nothing shows the Sultan's deliberate purpose in the massacres better than the fact that when he chose not to let any particular sort of people be harmed, that sort were not harmed. But as to Germany, what hope for Armenia is there from it? The Emperor has his own interests, and the Armenians might be tortured or outraged to death, and he would not stir a finger.

RUSSIA AND THE ARMENIANS.

The present Czar, Nicholas II, is a corrupt weakling, who is on the throne by the law of heredity, against the will of his father. Morally he is as bad as the Sultan; not so cruel yet, though he may develop that in time, but fully as sensual and devoid of principle. I have had it from good Russian authority that his life before his marriage was so bad that it has rendered him entirely impotent. "Birds of a feather flock together." No wonder he helps the Sultan. His political aims and character are wholly selfish. He, too, like the German Emperor, is continually exchanging presents with the Sultan. Here is a press notice of Feb. 26, 1896:--"M. Nelidoff, the Russian Ambassador, has presented to the Sultan a pair of jasper vases from the Czar, together with an autograph letter from His Majesty thanking the Sultan for the gifts sent to him." Not only so, but they have concluded an alliance. Read the following dispatch of Jan. 23, 1896:--

"London, Jan. 23, 1896.--A dispatch to the Pall Mall Gazette
from Constantinople, dated yesterday, says that an offensive
and defensive alliance has been concluded between Russia and
Turkey. The Pall Mall Gazette correspondent adds that the treaty
was signed at Constantinople, and that the ratifications were
exchanged at St. Petersburg between Arifi Pasha and the Czar.

"The basis of the treaty is declared to be on the lines of the
Unkiarskelessi agreement of 1833, by which Turkey agreed, in the
event of Russia going to war, to close the Dardanelles to war-ships
of all nations. The Pall Mall Gazette's correspondent then says
the treaty will soon be abandoned, owing to the refusal of the
powers to recognize it. He also says that the French Ambassador,
M. Cambon, conferred with the Sultan yesterday, and that it is
probable France will be included in the new alliance.

"The Pall Mall Gazette says: 'We regard the news as true, and the
result of the treaty is that the Dardanelles is now the Southern
outpost of Russia, and Turkey is Russia's vassal. We presume the
British government will protest against the treaty for all it
is worth.

"'The information is plainly of the very gravest importance. The
first intimation reached us four days ago; but we withheld it
until the arrival of strong confirmation, which we received
this morning. This brings Russia into the Mediterranean with a
vengeance, and may necessitate the strengthening of our fleet in
those waters. Politically, the effect will be far greater. The
treaty means that Turkey has realized her own impotence against
disorders both from within and without, and has decided to throw
herself for safety into the arms of Russia. She is now Russia's
vassal, and Russia is entitled to dispatch troops to any part
of the Sultan's dominions whenever there is the least breach of
order--and when is there not?

"'We presume the arrangement will give the keenest satisfaction
to the Anglo-American section of our people. With them lies the
chief blame for the complete alienation of Turkey, though it must
be owned that it has been sedulously fostered by a long term of
weak policy at Constantinople.'"

For the present the Czar will do no more mischief, because he is to have his coronation in May, and prefers to put on the smoothest outside to every nation; but after that is over he will show his hand. His father and his grandfather favored the Armenians in Russia, and they prospered wonderfully, but this one proposes to persecute them to please the Sultan. The two will join in a common policy toward the unhappy race, till not less than a million are slain. The Czar's motive is not love of the Sultan, whom he hates in spite of their community of character; it is simply that he wishes to get Constantinople peaceably if he can. The Sultan knows this quite well, but he is too weak in military power, and too poor, and owes too large an indemnity to the Czar to be able to help himself. He is compelled to throw himself on the Czar for protection.

Will the Czar succeed in getting Constantinople? No; the attempt will ruin and break up the Russian Empire. All the European powers would resist it; some of them may seem friendly to the Czar now, but when he comes to seize Constantinople every one of them will be against him. He will try it, none the less. The famous "will" of Peter the Great, though a patent and notorious forgery of Napoleon's,--never seen till 1812, just before the Russian campaign, and circulated then to influence Europe against Russia,--was the most magnificent piece of forgery ever committed, for it has actually become a guiding policy to the country it was aimed against, just as if it had been real. Nothing in history equals this for impudence and success combined; it is a true Napoleonism. This bogus "will" has become the "Monroe doctrine" of Russia; I am not entitled to say whether the latter is as mischievous as the former. That most Russian of all Russian journals, the "Ruskija Vjadomosti," has lately been having one of its periodical spasms of hysterical hatred toward all policy not "good Russian," and boldly proclaims that Russia must follow the precepts laid down in this will! Since, therefore, it is just as important as if it were not the greatest of all "fakes," I give it here that the reader may know what Russian policy is to be:--

Will of Peter the Great.

In the name of the most holy and indivisible Trinity, we,
Peter the Great, unto all our descendants and successors to the
throne and government of the Russian nation: the All-Powerful,
from whom we hold our life and our throne, after having revealed
unto us his wishes and intentions, and after being our support,
permits us to look upon Russia as called upon to establish her
rule over all Europe. This idea is based upon the fact that all
nations of this portion of the globe are fast approaching a state
of utter decrepitude. From this it results that they can be easily
conquered by a new race of people when it has attained full power
and strength. We look upon our invasion of the West and East as
a decree of divine providence, which has already once regenerated
the Roman Empire by an invasion of "barbarians."

The emigration of men from the North is like the inundation of
the Nile, which, at certain seasons, enriches with its waters
the arid plains of Egypt. We found Russia a small rivulet; we
leave it an immense river. Our successors will make it an ocean,
destined to fertilize the whole of Europe if they know how to
guide its waves. We leave them, then, the following instructions,
which we earnestly recommend to their constant meditation.

I. To keep the Prussian nation in constant warfare, in order always
to have good soldiers. Peace must only be permitted to recuperate
finance, to recruit the army, to choose the moment favorable for
attack. Thus peace will advance your projects of war, and war those
of peace, for obtaining the enlargement and prosperity of Russia.

II. Draw unto you by all possible means, from the civilized nations
of Europe, captains during war and learned men during peace,
so that Russia may benefit by the advantages of other nations.

III. Take care to mix in the affairs of all Europe, and in
particular of Germany, which, being the nearest nation to you,
deserves your chief attention.

IV. Divide Poland by raising up continual disorders and jealousies
within its bosom. Gain over its rulers with gold influence and
corrupt the Diet, in order to have a voice in the election of the
kings. Make partisans and protect them; if neighboring powers raise
objections and opposition, surmount the obstacles by stirring up
discord within their countries.

V. Take all you can from Sweden, and to this effect isolate her
from Denmark, and vice versa. Be careful to rouse their mutual
jealousy.

VI. Marry Russian princes to German Princesses; multiply these
alliances, unite these interests, and by the increase of our
influence attach Germany to our cause.

VII. Seek the alliance with England on account of our commerce,
as being the country most useful for the development of our navy,
merchants, etc., and for the exchange of our produce against
her gold. Keep up continual communication with her merchants
and sailors, so that ours may acquire experience in commerce
and navigation.

VIII. Constantly extend yourselves along the shores of the Baltic
and the borders of the Euxine.

IX. Do all in your power to approach closely Constantinople and
India. Remember that he who rules over these countries is the
real sovereign of the world. Keep up continued wars with Turkey
and with Persia. Establish dockyards in the Black Sea. Gradually
obtain the command of this sea as well as of the Baltic. This
is necessary for the entire success of our projects. Hasten the
fall of Persia. Open for yourself a route toward the Persian
Gulf. Re-establish as much as possible, by means of Syria,
the ancient commerce of the Levant, and thus advance toward
India. Once there you will not require English gold.

X. Carefully seek the alliance of Austria. Make her believe that
you will second her in her projects for dominion over Germany,
but secretly stir up other princes against her, and manage so
that each be disposed to claim the assistance of Russia; and
exercise over each a sort of protection, which will lead the way
to a future dominion over them.

XI. Make Austria drive the Turks out of Europe, and neutralize
her jealousy by offering to her a portion of your conquests,
which you will further on take back.

XII. Above all, recall around you the schismatic Greeks who are
spread over Hungary and Poland. Become their center, and support
a universal dominion over them by a kind of sacerdotal autocracy;
by this you will have many friends among your enemies.

XIII. Sweden dismembered, Persia conquered, Poland subjugated,
Turkey beaten, our armies united, the Black and Baltic seas guarded
by our vessels, prepare, separately and secretly, first the court
of Versailles, then that of Vienna, to share the empire of the
universe with Russia. If one accept, flatter her ambition and
vanity, and make use of one to crush the other by engaging them
in war. The result cannot be doubted; Russia will be possessed
of the whole of the East and a great portion of Europe.

XIV. If, which is not probable, both should refuse the offer of
Russia, raise a quarrel between them, and one which will ruin
them both; then Russia, profiting by this decisive movement, will
inundate Germany with the troops which she will have assembled
beforehand. At the same time two fleets full of soldiers will leave
the Baltic and the Black Sea, will advance along the Mediterranean
and the ocean, keeping France in check with the one and Germany
with the other. And these two countries conquered, the remainder
of Europe will fall under our yoke. Thus can Europe be subjugated.

But aside from this, no help could be expected from Russia in any event, because she needs all her strength to save herself from destruction by her own internal decay. She is a great tree, hollow in the inside. The Nihilists and the Constitutional Reformers are both against her, and, in my belief, she will go to pieces in the present Czar's lifetime. The Sultan's days are numbered, but the Czar's and the Emperor's are too; their own people will rise and depose them. It is against Socialists and Nihilists that they are massing such great armies. How can they spare any service for a people being murdered off the earth?

FRANCE AND ARMENIA.

Of the other powers, little need be said. France has lost all her great men, and become a tail to Russia, and is ready to be moved blindly, as Russia may direct. And as part of the people are infidels, and the rest fanatical Catholics, there is no religious motive to prompt them to come to the rescue. France, in a word, can or will do nothing directly; all it can do is to threaten the haughty Emperor of Germany. Italy is bankrupt, and even the throne of King Humbert is in danger, and that country will follow in the wake of Austria.

THE POPE OF ROME AND THE ARMENIANS.

Pope Leo XIII sent 70,000 lire to the Armenian sufferers; probably to the Catholics alone, for there are about 100,000 Catholic Armenians in Turkey. But the Armenians can expect no help from the Pope; he has no troops; he has no great fund of spare money, and he would be very unlikely to use either if he had them. The motive of all the Popes has been to convert the Protestant Armenian Church to become a part of the Roman Catholic Church,--to acknowledge the Papacy. I say Protestant, for before Martin Luther was born, the Armenian Church protested against the popes of Rome age after age, and was persecuted by them. The Armenians offer their thanks to the Pope for his gifts, but they cannot accept his dominion.

[Press dispatch, N.Y. Herald.]

"Rome, Dec. 16, 1895.--The Pope has sent 20,000 lire for the relief
of the sufferers from Turkish misrule in Anatolia, in addition
to the 50,000 lire previously given by him for the same purpose."

The European edition published recently in a dispatch from Rome the following passage dealing with the Eastern question in the allocution delivered by Leo XIII at the consistory on November 29:--

"The whole of Europe in anxious expectation looks toward its
eastern neighbor, troubled by grievous events and internal
conflicts. The sight of towns and villages defiled by scenes of
blood and of vast extents of territory ravaged by fire and sword
is a cruel and lamentable spectacle.

"While the powers are taking counsel together in the laudable
effort to find means of putting an end to the carnage and restore
quiet, we have not omitted to defend this noble and just cause
to the extent of our power. Long before these recent events,
we voluntarily intervened in favor of the Armenian nation. We
advised concord, quiet, and equity.

"Our counsels did not appear to give offense. We mean to pursue
the work we have begun, for we desire nothing so much as to see
the security of persons and all rights safeguarded throughout
the immense empire.

"In the meantime we have decided to send help to the most tried
and the most needy of the Armenians."

AMERICA AND ARMENIA.

Now we cross the ocean and come to the United States. Everywhere here the people have shown the greatest sympathy for us; and the Armenians are deeply moved and exceedingly grateful for it. The newspapers have almost uniformly been on our side also; the only exception of any moment has been the New York "Herald," which has steadily favored the Sultan. The reason is the same as for General Wallace's like opinion of that worthless animal,--mistaking his entertainments and gifts for proofs of good character, humanity, and statesmanship. Mr. Bennett, too, knows the taste of the dinners at the palace, and perhaps the weight of the golden ornaments he gives out. Fortunately his paper has very little influence on public opinion; and the real leaders of it have remained true.

I believe it will be the Americans who will finally put an end to the Armenian atrocities; but the time has not come yet. It will take two years more, then this 70,000,000 of people will be aroused as one man and stop them. I should like here to give an account of the many mass meetings held here for our cause; but I can only take space for two, one which I organized in Baltimore, and one held in New York, at which I was present.

Mass-Meeting at Levering Hall, Baltimore

[Report From Baltimore Sun.]

December 11, 1894.--An enthusiastic meeting of Baltimoreans
was held last night at Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University,
to make an emphatic protest against the Turkish outrages upon
Christian Armenians, and to urge the United States government to
do all in its power to remedy the existing evils.

The meeting was called by a committee of Baltimore ministers. It
was presided over by Attorney-General John P. Poe, and the
Rev. T. M. Beadenkoff was the secretary.

Addresses were made by Mr. Poe, Rev. George H. Filian, an
exiled Armenian Christian Minister, Rabbi Wm. Rosenan, and
Rev. Dr. F. M. Ellis.

Cardinal Gibbons and Judge Harlan sent letters regretting their
inability to be present, and expressing sympathy with the object
of the gathering.

Mr. Poe, in taking the chair, said:--"The accounts which have
reached us of the indescribable atrocities recently committed
upon the Christians in Armenia have stirred the indignation and
aroused the sympathy of the whole country.

"At first the nameless outrages inflicted upon them were received
with incredulity, for it seemed almost impossible that they could
be true. But there is now no reason to discredit the harrowing
details. Indeed, denial is hardly any longer attempted, nor is it
claimed that the reports of the cruelties of which these helpless
people are the victims have been exaggerated.

"Conscious that the facts cannot be suppressed or belittled,
the representatives and apologists of the ruthless perpetrators
of these atrocities are endeavoring to palliate and excuse the
enormities which they cannot truthfully deny. In order to shield
themselves and their governments from universal execration, the
world is asked to believe that the Christians of Armenia were
themselves the aggressors, and that the horrors of massacre and
rapine which have been visited upon them with such relentless
fury were but necessary and pardonable measures of punishment and
repression. The long record of the patient and submissive sufferers
is a silent yet unanswerable refutation of this falsehood.

"In their misery and woe these sufferers lift their eyes to us,
and ask us to extend to them such sympathy and assistance as will
rescue them from total ruin.

"We are met here to-night to express these feelings--to declare
that we cannot look unmoved upon the calamities of our Christian
brethren, though separated from us by thousands of miles, and to
recommend to Congress the adoption of such measures as, without
departure from the well-settled policy of our government, will
bring to them speedy and effectual deliverance, safety, and peace."

Cardinal Gibbons' letter sent to the meeting was as follows:

"I regret my inability to attend the meeting to protest against
the alleged outrages recently committed in Armenia.

"The reports of these outrages have been published with harrowing
details throughout the civilized world, and I am not aware that
these circumstantial details have been successfully denied.

"The Christians of Armenia have been conspicuous among their
Oriental co-religionists for their enlightened and progressive
spirit.

"It is earnestly to be hoped that these alleged deeds of
lawless violence will be thoroughly investigated in a calm and
dispassionate spirit, so that the whole truth may be brought
to light, and that outraged law may be vindicated. The recital
of these inhuman cruelties is calculated to fill every generous
heart with righteous indignation.

"The commercial and social ties that now bind together the human
family quicken our sympathy for our suffering brethren, though
separated from us by ocean and mountains, and this sympathy is
deepened by the consideration that many of their countrymen have
cast their lot among us, and that they and their persecuted
brethren are united to us in the sacred bonds of a common
Christian faith.

"It is gratifying to note, from recent publications, that a mixed
commission, to make thorough investigation, has been appointed
by the Sublime Porte."

Dr. Cyrus Hamlin of Lexington, Mass., whose article on the outrages in Armenia, published in the "Congregationalist," has been used by the Turkish government as a defense of the recent actions of the soldiers of the Porte, was asked to be present at the meeting, and was also asked to define his position as to the probable accuracy of the reports from Armenia, and as to the responsibility of the Sultan for the occurrence of the massacre.

His letter of reply was read at the meeting. He stated emphatically that he believed the accounts of the horrible atrocities to be in the main true, and added that he believed the Sultan of Turkey was perfectly cognizant of them, and should be held responsible for them.

Extracts were also read from a letter from some Congregational missionaries now near the seat of the massacres. The stories which they told, having been written nearly a month after the occurrences, showed that the earlier dispatches did not enlarge upon or exaggerate the horror of the scenes.

Much interest was manifested in the address of Mr. Filian, who feelingly described the pitiable condition of his country and his countrymen, and graphically portrayed the extent of the recent massacres, illustrating his talk with references to a large map of Turkey and Armenia.

"Armenia," he said, "was mentioned in the Bible 700 years before Christ. It then had an area of 1,000,000 square miles, and it was in that land that the Garden of Eden was situated. Adam was created there, and within its confines, upon Mt. Ararat, the ark of Noah found a resting place after the flood. Armenia was named after Armen, the great-grandson of Japhet, one of the three sons of Noah. In the time of Christ the population of the country was 40,000,000. It was fully Christianized in 310 A.D., and was not only the first Christian nation of the earth, but the first civilized nation. And now, from all these glories, the people of Armenia have dwindled to 4,000,000."

He concluded by citing the cause of the massacre as the desire of the Turks to check the rapid growth and improvement of the Armenians.

The following resolutions, which had been prepared by a committee composed of Rev. Dr. Conrad Clever, Rev. W. T. McKenney, Rev. Y. T. Tagg, and Rev. C. A. Fulton, were, after some discussion, passed:

"It has come to our knowledge through sources that cannot
be disputed that an outrageous massacre of Armenians has been
executed within the boundaries of the Turkish empire.

"These outrages have been committed by soldiers who are in the
employ and under the direction of the Sultan at Constantinople.

"The thousands who have been murdered were Christians and peaceably
disposed citizens.

"We, representatives of the citizens of Baltimore, prompted by
motives of Christianity and common brotherhood, do call upon our
government to use every power in its control, in harmony with that
international law which governs nations in their relationship
with each other, to aid these sufferers, and if possible to
bring such influence to bear upon the Turkish government as
will render justice to those who have been deprived of their
rightful liberties as honest and industrious citizens of one of
the recognized empires of the earth."

It was also resolved that a committee of five, with Mr. John P. Poe chairman, should be appointed to present the resolutions to the president at the earliest opportunity, and "to gratefully acknowledge the steps already taken in the appointment of an American member of the committee of investigation."

Mass Meeting In Dr. Greer's Church.

[Report from N.Y. Tribune.]

The interest which the American Christian feels in the Armenian question was shown by the large attendance at St. Bartholomew's Church, last night, when a special service was held under the direction of Rev. Dr. David H. Greer. The object was to express indignation at Turkey's acts of violence toward Armenians, and to enter a protest against a course of conduct which is not in keeping with the spirit of the nineteenth century.

The main body of the church was reserved for Armenians, of whom there were about 500 present.

After the processional hymn, "The Son of God Goes Forth," had been given, the full choir sang the anthem, "I Will Mention the Loving Kindnesses of the Lord."

Dr. Greer then spoke of the outrages committed last September in Armenia, the particulars of which had only recently become known. He said in part:

"The purpose of this meeting is not only to express sympathy with those who have suffered, and are suffering now from the atrocities and barbarous cruelties inflicted by Turkish soldiers, but for protesting against the further infliction of such atrocities. What has been done is done, and cannot be undone; but if it is possible to prevent in any measure a repetition of it in the future, it should become everyone who is not a Christian merely, but a man, to exert himself to the utmost in that direction."

The speaker told of the untrustworthiness of reports from Turkey, and said that letters recently received from good sources give the following details: