New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16

at the direct instigation of his successor, is
based on the assumption that while the
world has been moving everywhere else,
it has remained motionless in Turkey.
Such an assumption is, however, utterly
| unjust. In the revolution, through which
change Of rulers was affected, the march
of intellect, the assertion of progressive
principles and the decline of Mahom-
mechanism as controlling element in
Turkish politics, are clearly recognize
ble-a trinity Of vital and cooperating
causes. The sofas, unquestionably the
best opponents of that public opinion
which obtains among liberal minded
Turks, have not only demanded political
reforms and the abolition of seraglio, but
an approach at least to tolerance in re-
ligion. Through these softas the national
will has found expression. The deposed
Sultan, in his deed of abdication, says:
1--WE, Abdul Aziz, in pursuance OF the
wish of the great majority of our SUBJ
iects, abdicate in favor of our nephew,
Mehemed Murad Efendi." And in like
manner the new Sultan took possession of
the vacant throne of Gilman, Gin the
name of God and of the Turkish people,"
The traditional bowstring was not
brought into requisition in all these signi-
ficant and far reaching movements. Fav-
orites were dismissed, but not destroyed;
and new dispensation and civilization
assumed at the same moment a recognized
existence. For the first time in the his
tory OF Turkey the manhood of the citizen
is felt as controlling factor in the dispo-
sition Of governmental questions, and the
huniliating forms to which such man
hood has long been subjected in the pres
ence of majesty are henceforth to be es-
sentially modified. In the fall Of Sultan
Abdul Aziz, "Refuge of the World, sha-
dow of God" thirty second sovereign Of
the dynasty of Gilman, and twenty-ninth
since the conquest of Constantinople, the
people Of Turkey have arisen to the height
of that great argument in which human
right confronts imperial prerogative, and
reason triumphs over religious fanaticism.
That Abdul Aziz may have feared the
vengeance which has become traditional
among Turkish rulers is by no means i'm
probable. He had kept his nephew in
confinement, and that nephew passed, as
it were, from the prison to the throne.
His, moreover, was temper which could
not tamely brook humiliation and disap-
pointment. He had seen the web of des-
tiny closing surely around him, and found
himself powerless to avert the threatened
doom. From the windows of his palace
he watched the hated Russian flag waving
from ships of war near the Tophane shore,
and in a paroxysm of ungovernable rage .
thrust his clenched hand at them through
window pane, and the wounds thus self
inflicted may, in the calmer moments of
despair which followed, have proved sug-
gestive of a suicidal end. His impotent
fury had become as unbearable to himself
as to others, and, hopeless of any change
for the better, he unquestionably con-
cluded to shuttle of the mortal COLI
which had grown SO CALLING in its contact
and SO oppressive in its weight.
To sovereign required to renounce the
title of khalife-a title supposed to rem
der him inviolable, c nd which compelled
even the Sheik-ul-Islam to PROSTATE him
self in the imperial presence-and then to
abdicate his throne in favor of one he had
not counted on as his successor, and that
too amid cries of "Down with Abdul
Aziz!' no depth of degradation could
show GLOVER Deep All the divinity
which hedged him in had departed, and.
in the mad desperation of utter helpless
ness it is not unlikely that he seized the
scissors Of fayorite of the abolished se-
raglio, and with them let out the poor re-
mains of his unworthy life. The proba-
oilities at least point in this direction
md the post norton inquisition, too high
md open for subornation, gives reason
'ble assurance that such was the end of
he late Abdul Aziz.
With the new Sultan, new chapter in
Turkish history has been fairly opened
lie is reputed to be man of sense and
ulture, willing to recognize the rights of
lis people, and anxious to build up a.
on broader and frmer founda.
ions than those which Turkish rulers in
he past have considered necessary May
ha Dro,,l,o4 ho1x, h;p,i