To quote again the eminent authority previously referred to: “No
Mahommedan race or dynasty has ever shown itself able to govern well
even subjects of its own religion, while to extend equal rights to
subjects of a different creed is forbidden by the very law of its
being.”
Not the Jewish conceit proclaiming itself God’s elect and chosen, and
originating the name “heathen” which it scorned. Not the Christian
conceit emanating from the Jewish source, and laying the flattering
unction to its soul of superiority over the “heathen” of its own time.
Not the unbending caste exclusiveness of the Brahman across whose
path even the shadow of the despised Sudra falling would be deemed
defilement. Not any of these, can equal the intolerant religious pride
of the Mahommedan, or reach the pinnacle of religious self-sufficiency
on which he has seated himself. To be a Mahommedan, is enough--_Cela
suffit_.
To any one who has familiar acquaintance with Mahommedans, and intimate
with Mahommedan thought, one fact must strike itself most forcibly, and
that is, the Mahommedan is above all things a Mahommedan. His religion
is the paramount question in his life, and remains its predominating
feature above everything else. This should not be surprising, since to
the “faithful” Paradise is secured, and all crimes and transgressions
against “unbelievers” absolved.
Added to these important factors of racial characteristics, influences
of religion, and long grown habits of the Turk, we have also in
Turkish Armenia another evil, from which the other provinces of the
Turkish Empire fortunately for themselves have been exempt; this
super-added evil, is, the large neighbouring bodies of Kurds and
Circassians, greater marauders and depredators than the Turks, the
regular occupation of whose lives comprises murder and robbery, and who
have through weary centuries unremittingly quartered themselves upon
the industrious christian peasants, and lived on the fruits of their
labour and toil. Indeed as the Hamidieh cavalry which was established
expressly for the Hamidian massacres was composed of these Kurds, it
ought to be matter of speculation what outlet these warriors, trained
and practised in organized murder, can now find for those habits in
which they were encouraged and trained to indulge by the Hamidian
régime.
Under all such conditions no hope of better days can be forthcoming, no
prospect of better times seems possible, for that unhappy portion of
the Armenian race whom force of circumstances keeps on the soil of the
fatherland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account