Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/149

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TURKISH CENSORSHIP.
143

false reports are in all the papers, religious, scientific or political; they are forced to announce these things for their existence, and they do it under the title of "Official News."

The endless reports of these last Armenian massacres which have defiled the whole country from border to border, did not pass beyond being "a small local disturbance in such a place, in which two Moslems and three Armenians were killed, and which was at once suppressed by the soldiers of our gracious Sultan." "Cholera has broken out in such a place, but thanks to the attempts of our gracious Sultan it was immediately controlled and health restored." "A tremendous earthquake occurred in certain places, but thanks to the endless graces and wisdom of our Sultan there was no loss of life but three, and a few wounded." "This year, through the grace of our Sultan, the crops seem to be excellently good." Thus the unfortunate country with all its population and possibilities is flooded by the overflowing stream of "the endless graces" of the Sultan.

3. Other Illustrations that Touch Directly on Religious Liberty. From the International Sunday School Lessons of 1893 the title of "Sorrow in the Palace" (Esth. 4:1-9), was suppressed, because there can be no sorrow in the Palace, which is called "the region of holy happiness." Also the titles of "Hope in Distress" (Psalms, 38:8-15), "Wicked Devices Frustrated" (Psalms, 33:10-22), and many others, were ordered to be left out. From the religious songs the words "crown," "throne," "fighting,"