New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-08
The Anlfan Nlaurad.

Mahmoud H., Sultan of Turkey, died in
Constantinople ON July l, 1889, leaving
three sons-Abdul Medjid, Abdul Aziz and
Mehemmed Mourad. According to the law
of Islam, there being no brother OF Nah
moud alive, these three children of the de-
ceased monarch were in succession heirs
apparent to the Turkish throne, and Abdul
Mediid became Sultan at sixteen years Of
age. As he and all his brothers were rigOr.
o1sly secluded in the seraglio during his
fathers lifetime he was weak and tffemi-
nate in disposition, though an innate be-
nevolepce made him anxious to do justice
to all his subjects. Christian as well as
Mohammedan. The episode of the Cri-
mean war will render his reign memorable
through all future history. He died in
1861, and was duly succeeded by his
brother Abdul Aziz, who was born in 1880.
He. too. had lived a life OF eeclueiOn, so
that little was known of him except that
he was fond of agriculture. When he
ascended the throne he, as is usually the
case, proposed all sorts of reforms, and
especially the abolition of the seraglio.
What these promises were worth may be
seen from the fact that when he was sent
away from the palace under guard he car.
ried with him fifty three boat loads Of
women. His whole career since attsiaing
the high position he has disgraced has been
wasteful spendthritt he had no equal.
During his reign the debts of Turkey have
Increased to such frightful extent that
the government has recently declared itself
unable to meet it's obligations, and has been
compelled to offer its creditors fifty per cent
of their debts. The financial troubles and
the formidable revolt in Herzegovina, in
the midst of which the miserable. Azlz
could do nothing but lOll in his harsm,
have SO excited the ire OF the Turks that
they have thrown away both their fatallsm
and their respect for the representative of
the prophet, and have driven Aziz from the
throne.
Mehemmed Mourad Ef1endi. who succeeds
him, was born September 81, 1910, and is
consequently hirty.six years OF age. He,
too, has been brought up in the seragliO.
though with less strictness than usual, as
he has been allowed to live great deal on
q farm he possesses over in Scutari, near
the British graveyard. Mourad has had
something of an education, and speaks
French fairly. He also plays on the piano
and is very fond Of music. Twelve years
ACC he purchased beautiful Circassian girl
named Bashkaddin for $l2, COO, and by her
he has three children. He has NO other
woman in his harem, though he is not In
disposed to gallantry; and he and his init
mate friend and crony, the banker Keotcho.
glO0, to whom he owes an enormous lot Of
money, are credited with seeing good deal
of fast life in and around Constantinople
Il is greatly to Mourad's credit, however,
tAat be is very fond of his children, and
takes great pride in their education. He
too. has promised to abolish the seragliO,
but those who know much about TIE Porte
are very dubious on this point.
Sultan Mourad is nearly six feet high and
we'll proportional. 1t is noticed that hle
face 10 clean shaved, except the moustache
This il . point of etiquette in the Turkish
i'm perial family, none but the reigning Sui
tan being allowed to wear the beard. which
ia trimmed short. He begins his reign amid
unkeard-of public confusion, which must
render government alarmingly difficult
however, England, in her resolute policy e
thwsrt Russia, will NO doubt put forth
every exertion to maintain him ON hi
throne and preserve the status quo. Hence
Ne NAV not vet see the solution Of tho East
ern question. England also is anxious tha1
the ex-Sultan be we'll treated, and in reply
10 : request to this effect from Queen Vic
toris. 1ourAd hes removed his predeceeeol
from his place of confinement TO magnifi
cent palace appropriately called "Th,
Caee." which q surrounded with ompl'
1rcundes I'D whero the ex.0ultan will b
treated with proper dignity --Nsw York
Graphje. ~. Vi .sssl.sri