The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-31
Turkey-The suItan,s Dethronement.

Turkey--The sultan's Dethronement.
II is the weakest or living monarchs
who has tumbled from the shakiest OF ex-
isung thrones. The dethroned Sultan
OF Turkey will not be missed from
the Government which he was I'M
able to manage, from the capital
whose interests he neglected, or from
the country which he helped TO bankrupt,
and which has appeared to b0 on the verge
of anarchy or dissolution. For fifteen
years he held tho imperial power which
descended to him from his elder brother,
and which he reached ut the prime
of life; but though he began his
career as reformer, and gave
hopes that he would DO an efficient
ruler, his reign has been one Of the most
unsatisfactory in Ottoman annals. He has
had new palaces erected for himself, and
costly ships of war built for the defence of
his capital; but he has failed to redress the
crying grievances of his subjects, TO do JUS
tice to the Christians under his rule, to pacl-
fy or subdue his insurrectionary provinces,
to reform the deplorable civil administra-
ton of his Empire, or to provide himself
with an efficient army. 1t is true enough,
that, If he had attempted any serious work,
he would have been confronted with for
midable difficulties. He would have had
troublesome and contradictory material
to work with; he would have stirred up
ancient and rooted prejudices, bigotry,
and fanaticism; and he would have felt
the dead weight of Mohammedan tradi-
ton and OF the Koran which is his law.
But yet, notwithstanding these things
some Of his predecessors, even in
the present century, have been men
of enlightenment and progress, who
showed themselves able TO admins
ter Turkish affairs with degree of
vigor and success in marked contrast
with his feebleness and folly Ii was high
time he should be driven from the sultan
ate, In which his absolute power was utter
weakness. ABDUL AZIz has been in
every respect failure; and it is
on this account he has lost his
throne. 1t appears that after his removal
had been determined upon by the Grand
Vizier and other Ministers who had pre-
pared the way for IL, he was permitted to
enjoy the poor privilege OF abdication;
but he was Mt the same time compelled to
confess that it was in conformity with the
desire.of his subjects.
Some wears ago he attempted to secure
a change OF the Mohammedan law OF sue
cession, by which the crown might de-
scend to his son, now youth Of eighteen
years OF age; but the conspirators have
replaced him with his nephew, the right
full heir, MoHAMMED MURAD EFFENpI,
aged thirty-six.
10 Is reassuring to find that, notwith-
standing the peculiarities of the situation,
and the complications of the moment, the
policy of the new Sultan Ia already in the
direction of peace, and in accord
with the demands OF the Christian
powers. He mas signalized his advent
to the throne by proclaiming a num-
Der of reforms; aud rs soon as tho
news OF his accession reached Lor .or and
Paris, there was an advance a., ,,r,oo.
of all descriptions of Tt .,.,.,, sao,'.;,ies
Perhaps it may turn 49,. s,,,,o
tho Christian NOW, out that some OF
:, h.,,,,,,, ,s =. srs themselves hgve had
-, Cr.,a,a,,;. .snge that has taken place
= o.. a. dople. One OF the dispatches
,hat -ys since, conveyed information
hr nc Mohammedan Softas, who have
Jught about the revolution, were at
tempting to cooperate with the Christian
elements OF the population, aud the des-
patches OF this morning tell of the rejoIc-
ing OF both Christians and Mohammedans
over the change.
1t looks rs though n way might now be
found for the settlement of the Turkish
troubles, and for preventing the disturb.
ance of the peace of Europe.
Events like that OF yesterday have been
rare in Ottoman history; but seventy year,
ago a Sultan was similarly dethroned. Sc
LIN the Third was then driven from the
throne by the Janizaries, who were them
selves slaughtered Il few years afterward
by MAHMoUD the Second, the father OF tn,
Sultan who has just lost his place.