The morning call., 1893-10-29
TURKEYS RULER.
Dictator of the Ottoman
Empire.
ABDUL HAMID AT HIS HOME,
characteristics of Progressive
Oriental Monarch-His Personal
Appearance.

y.
Khedive of Egypt to Constantinople has
| again attracted attention to the ruler of
the Ottoman empire Although Abdul
| Hamid II is considered among the most
| capable chiefs OF state in this age he is
very difficult to understand, and the most
skilled diplomats have not succeeded In
| discovering the real sentiments OF the oul-
| tan.
| Abdul Hamid has accomplished much.
and, as one is judged by his works, we
| may consider the Commander OF the Faith
| full man of superior talent. 1t was ao-
surd to believe that, in accord with the
Khedive, the Sultan had decided to replace
the British garrison at Cairo by Turkish
| troops. The Sultan certainly encouraged
his young vassal in sentiments OF
| independence toward the foreigner
who at this time occupies the land
of the Pharaohs. but at the same time
| he advised prudence and moderation.
| None better than the Sultan knows how to
| direct diplomatic bark, and while tracing
| route for the liberation of Egypt Abdul
| Hamid arranged in such way that the
| British Embassador AT Constantinnple had
| no cause for complaint. The Sultan salts
| fed everybody In this case, as he had done
| in others.
Last May he granted to Frenchman a
| concession for railway from Constantl-
nople to Salonlca, and the entire German
| press said that the Sultan was under
French influence. Some days later Abdul
| Hamid signed another railway concession,
| and this time German was favored.
| third concession was accorded In favor OF
| the French, and thus the Sultan put stop
to the complaints of the French press.
| already accusing Abdul Hamld OIL SUBJ
mission to German control.
1t is easily seen that while the Sultan
remains independent. he employs all
Europe to further the interests of his own
empire. After the Turko-Russi sian war Of
1877 Abdul Hamid, who had reigned only
since Septemb ber, 1876. asked that France
send some oeicers To instruct the Ottoman
troops. The French Government refused.
and Germany solicited in her turn, sent
General Van der GoltZ, with large staff.
| This advantage. obtained by Germany.
was counteroaIanced by the Sultan's de-
cision that the study OF the French Ian
| guage should be obligatory in the Turkish
schools. Even Van der Goltz Pasha is
| obliged to deliver his lectures to the Turk
ish officers in French. In all the Turkish
j Administrations French and Turkish are
spoken, and on the railways, belonging to
| Germans, the names of stations are writ
| ten in French. and the employees are OBJ
| liged to speak French.
| In the reconstruction of Turkish finances
| the Sultan also showed much skill. The
| creation of an international council for the
| Turkish debt, presided over alternatively
by the representatives Of English and
| French bondholders, was a mastersiroke.
| Thus the Sultan made an arrangement
| with all his foreign creditors, and he him.
self was in the power of none. In grant
ing concessions for public works Abdul
| Hamid has not only favored French and
| Germans, but also English and Belgians.
| Each has his share. No group. no syndi-
cate has been able TO obtain the monopoly.
| and if nothing has been granted to AmerI-
| cans II is because no concession mas Deen
| asked.
| To-day there are railways in operation
| or construction in all parts OF the Ottoman
empire, in Asia Minor as we'll as III Eu-
rope. When the Sultan assembled the
throne of the Osmaulls he found only one
line in Europe and one in Asia. Now,
thanks to it's master, Turkey has made
great progress. Its natural wealth has
never been developed, and there is much
to be done. By the opening of the Angora
Railway the tithes of this province nave
increased 100 per cent. Each new labor
augments the riches of the empire, and
this is the aim of the Sultan. The Mussul-
mans are opposed to assimilation, and we
see that the Turks strive to be sufficient III
themselves. By the prodigalty of instruc-
tion Turkey will find means OF prosper
ity without the aid Of foreign professors.
be recruited in the empire, and that day.
| without ceasing to march with sure and
| equal step in the path of civilization. the
| subjects Of Abdul Hamid will have real
lied the dream of modern Turkey-to owe
| nothing to any one and to be rulers in their
| own country.
The Sultan who traced this fine pro-
| gramme iD the most simple manner has
communicated it to his people. He has
created educational institutions of all de-
| grees-from the primary school that makes
| war against ignorance to the technical
| schools which make war 10 foreign ASSIST
| aDce.
The Sultan has also given his country
| judiciary organizations decided improve
/ ment on the ancient mechanism Of Otto
man justice.
condition of woman in his empire, so much
| as possible according to the Mohammedan
| religion. For some years he has reflected
greatly on the state OF infertOrlty to which
| custom has reduced the women OF his peo-
| ple. ana by creating schools for girls he
proposes that the Turkish women shall
elevate themselves by instruction. Per-
| haps our children Will See-for in Turkey
all progress is slow-women lawyers and
doctors the equal of their colleagues In the
New World. The harems will lose, but
the country will certainly gain by the
change.
|
attempt at reform; be wishes to prove
that his empire is not SO decayed as lt mas
been considered, and that Austria ana
Russia must abandon the project OF push
ing the Musselmans to the other sioe OF 'ne
Black Sea.
Until the present time Europe, !or us
own in terest, has maintained the ottoman
empire intact. but day is coming wnen
the regenerated Turks will inspire sehtl-
ments of respect and esteem. ana wnen
their voice will count In tne concert OF
nations.
Abdul Hamid II is 80 years old. and he
has taken his Or cautions not to be
victim of 'palace intrigue, so often
heard of on the banks Of the Bosphorus.
Were his work interrupted Dy an accident
of this character, Turkey would feel
greatly his loss. The Sultan has given an
other proof of his superiority by training
his eldest son and heir, Mohammed Selim
Fffepdi in a most remarkable manner,
both morally and intellectually.
AS Abdul Hamid never has had photo
graph taken, the pictures called by his
name are fabrications However. those
who have seen him tell me that he is
short and delicate in appearance. His eyes
/ have the laDguid expression common in
Oriental countries, and his dark mustache