Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-02
A FALLEN STATESMAN.
The career OF a Turkish Politician
Who Fell in Love With the Ballet.

From Constantnople Letter to the n. Y Herald
The great Turkish soi-disaH philosopher and
wOuld-be retOrmer of Mohammedan society.
Achmet Vefyk Pacha, has come within the past
few days to serious grief. Relieved Of his func-
lions as governor general of the Broussa Viayet
he has returned to Constantinople to pass the
rest OF his days in the secluson of a ''conak"
Qesidence) at STEAMBOAT under the surveillance
of the palace police. Four years and half ago
no name stood higher in general estimation than
that of Achmet Vefyk Effendi the recluse of
ROumeli Hissar as he loved to be styled by the
Europeans to whom he was then known
Brought to the front by the great commissions in
Turkish official life to which the deposition of
Abdul AZlZ and his subsequent assassination
gave rise, Achmet Vefyk Pacha was generally
accepted as the coming man, not only by the
Turks, but the Christians also.
Few were the visitors to his hermitage at
Roumeli Hissar that left with any other impress
sion than that in the courteous host who spoke
french so nicely, who received them in room
surrounded by all the evidences of habitual
study: book shelves grOaning with the weight
OF modern authors, and tables covered with
pamphlets on all subjects. from finance to spirit
uallsm, they had met with man who would
yet leave mark in the history of his
country. Achmet Vefyk would speak by the
hour on the necessity for radical change
In the form of government. No one was
so ready to denounce Turkish administra-
ton. to expose the corrupt practices in
every department, as the man who proudly
informed his visitors that he held himself en-
tlrey aloof from all official life. Hearing him
talk so glibly about the innate virtues of the
Turks and the ease with which the old reputa-
ton OF the nation for honesty and truth might
be regained, many who heard him were apt to
THINK that Achmet Vefyk had only to be given
his chance to prove himself the savior Of his
country. 1t came at last. Sir Henry Layard,
an Old acquaintance, stood his friend, and when
the short-lived Ottoman parliament was started
IN March, 1877, Achmet Vefyk was appointed it's
president. In this position his excellency only
developed a talent for bullying the members
He wanted to have all the talk to himself, and
ala not see at all why other people should have
ideas when his OVID head was so full of them.
Achmet Vefyk, among other ideas developed
In his crOtchety brain, thought that the stage
might be made very useful agent in improving
the Turks. He built a regular theater-not out
OF his own pocket be it observed-and got to-
gether an Armenian troupe, whose training he
took into his own hands, and then, in order to
insure the financial success of the undertaking,
his excellency made every one In any way under
MS subsection either subscribe for the boxes or
take tickets Of admission His friendly inter-
course with the members Of the theatrical
troupe gave rise to a great deal Of scandal,
ana among other accusations now brought
against Achmet Vefyk is that Of his having
allowed some Of them to obtain too great an in
fluence over him in his direction of public
affairs. Through his intense dislike of inter-
ference he has managed to get the mining
affairs of the province into a state of inextri-
cable confusion. Refusing to recognize s'per-
mits de research" and other mining rights
accorded by the ministry of commerce at Con-
stantinople, he has issued warrants Of his own,
ana thus ownership of such property has become
covered with endless disputes. His disgrace
appears to have taken him quite by surprise. He
retired at once from the official residence and
came up the following week to COnstantinople
In charge of an officer sent by the Sultan.
Although there has been considerable talk
about a judicial inquiry into his administration,
fancy the veteran will be left in peace.