American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-27
The Alarming State of Affairs at
CUnstantinUbie.

A letter from Constantinople to the
London Neaos, dated May -, says the
excitement during the last three days
has amounted to panic. The demand
for weapons, both by Sofas and Chris
tians, is SO great that most of the shops
IL Stamboul sold ott all their stock
The Softas-that is all persons attached
to the Mosques in any capacity what
ever-are practically masters of the sit
uation. They number about 10000,
and their influence over the Prolitariate
is supreme. They utter threats against
the Sultan and his Ministers, and some
times against Christians. Although
Quiet now; they profess to be friends to
the latter. Yesterday d great number
of them went to the palace and demand
ed the dismissal of the Grand Vizier,
MahD'oud Medim Pasha, the Cheikh
Ill Islam, and the Minister of Waf: The
Sultan resisted for an hour, but the
clamor of the mob finally induced him
to demand the resignation of
Mahmoud Medim Pasha and the
Grand Vizier, and the scene
was most riotous and disorderly. Con-
stantinople contains only 1000 regular
soldiers, the remainder being redifs and
recruits. Turkish officers openly admit
theft inability to control the latter In
case of outbreak, and it is generally be-
lieved that they would obey the Softas.
Mobs of Softas have been parading the
streets during the last three days, de-
the dismissal of Mahmond
Medim Pasha, whom they accuse of be-
Ing under Russian influence. Threats
have been made against the Christians
generally, and two or three murders
have occurred, which the police are do
ng their best to hunt up. CONSTANT
nople, in fact, is in revolution. The
Sofas are not satisfied with the ap-
pointment of Mehmet Ruski as Grand
Vizier, and clamor for Midhat Pasha.
They want Mehmet Ruski as President
Of a National Parliament. Yesterday a
large number of Softas at the Bajazat
Mosque would not allow the prayer of
The Sultan to be read. On the 10th inst,
Prof. Bonamy Price and wife narrowly |
escaped the violence of the mob while
visiting mosque. fla struggle should
Jake place, as every body is dreading,
native Christians and Mussul-
mans, the Christians would prove vic
'orious, provided the troops did not aid
he mob, but in a general rising of Mo-
large colonies of European
ubjects in Constantinople and along
he Bospherus would be in greater dan
,er than native Christians, because
heir wealth would constitute an addi-
ional stimulus to the religious zeal of
ne Turkish rabble. This danger
he respective ambassadors have pro-
Vlded against as far as the means at
heir dsposal allowed. Last night
all dispatch boats were kept under
steam. Dur1g the day a plan of joint
action had bon agreed on. Foreign
consuls met to devise means for the
mutual defense of their subjects. All
he foreign steamers'n port had steam
up. The streets of Pes were patroll.d
oy band of Austrian Cr.ets. A depu-
,ation of Englishmen cah~l Minister
Elliott's attention to the EXCEPTIONAL
hanger of the English colony, asd ask
ed his assistance. The latter adn.tted
he danger to all Christians, and TIT
The English was the least protecte,i
colony. He invited the whole commu- +
atty, in case of any outbreak, to seek
shelter at the Embassy. He also prom
sed to telegraph to the British Foreign
Office what had occurred, and to repre-
sent the urgency of the position.