The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-24
From the Ch!eago 60.

]
From the Chicago Record.
Washington d. c., Nov. 14.-Abdul Ha-
mid the Sultan OF Turkey, has-had the
respect and confidence Of every American
minister to Constantinople, especially the
! late Sunset" Cox and Gen. Lew Wallace.
lie is a man of slight physique, medium
hight. and a gray, full beard All the pic
lures which are appearing in the newspa-
pcrs nowadays We're taken thirty years
ago, for he has not allowed himself to
photographed within that time. A gem
tleman who has spent much time in Con-
slanunople and knows MIN thoroughly
said yesterday: The sultan wears the
most carcworn, Respondent expression l
nave ever seen on human face People
who go to ceremonies at which the sui
tan can be seen and look for the grand
monarch, attended by pOmp and circum-
stances are always surprised and disap-
pointed when they see him. He is very
simple in his tastes. transformations in his
manners, and cares nothing for display.
He invariably wears the field uniform of
an infantry officer, which is plain black
hrOadclOth with red cord up and down
the seams. i know many people who have
gone to COnstantinople with the usual
prejudice against the Iurk ana nave IN
a very short time come to feel the deep
est sympathy with him, man who has
moro cares on his shoulders than anyone
else in the world.
From what people hear and know of
the personal instincts of the sultan-that
50
ton is most kindly. lie is very generous;
he gives his personal attention and large
sums OF money from his purse to all
worthy objects of charity, and has found
ed many benevolent institutions, inclu-
ding an asylum for old people. When
ever there is a calamity or disastrous
fire and a severe accident OF any kind
Abdul Hamid is very ready TO express
his sympathy and make a contribution
for the relief of the suffering, and 1t is
admitted en- all hands that he is in per-
advancement
knowledge. Hundreds Of school houses
have been erected all over the empire
by his orders, and what is more remarka-
bic in a Mohammedan country these IN
clude many schools for girls-eVen for
the higher education OF women. The
principal high school in Constantlnople
which was built by the sultan, is named
in honor Of his mother. 1t is well
known fact that whenever an lmpof-
tant matter of state comes up or when
ever he is perpleXed as to The course ne
should pursue he drives over to see the
valide sultana, as they call her, in order
| to consult her and get her judgment De
| fore he sees his ministers She lives
in handsome palace on the outskirts
| of the city.
/ in 1876 just before the outbreak of the
/ war between Russia and Turkey he was
| succeeded on the throne by Murad, his
! uncle, for the succession in moslem law
| does not go from father to son, but to
| the eldest member of the ruling family.
| Murad reigned but three months. 1t was
| his accession to the throne Murad de-
! VelOpeQ signs of insanity. In fact there
were reports that his mind was unsound
| before he was created sultan.
The Sheik Ul-Islam, who might be
| called the pope of the Mohammedan
/ church, issued fetWan or rescript declar-
! ing that Murad was incapable OF eNercs-
| ing authority, ana at the same time
/ probably to place the matter in a proper
/ light before the governments of Europe,
two distinguished physicians from Vienna
| were summoned to Constantinople. They
| made thorough examination and agreed
| as to the mental lncapacity. fhis was
| final, and Abdul Hamid, his brother, the
next eldest member of the family, on Aug.
| 81, 1876 assembled the throne without rev.
| olution or bloodshed
"Mdrad was placed in a palace on the
/ shores of the BOspOrus near CONSTANT
/ ever since. The public knew nothing OF
him. The enemies of Abdul have often
claimed that he is sane and is kept a
/ prisoner in order that he may not inter-
fere with the prerOgatiVe of his younger
brother, but not until recently have there
been any suggestions about releasing him
and restoring him to power. Nor have
these been indorsed by any men of I'M
pOrtance or influence. Murad is undOubt-
eddy crazy. If he had been sane, or even
sane enough to be cunning he would GER
tainly have found some way to connllni-
cate with the outside world during Nthe
twenty years of his Imprisonment. He
might have sent a message to the British
ambassador or to some other member
of the diplomatic corps at one time or an
I
him to remain in so convenient loca-
ton under ordinary guard if there was
any doubt to his condition. If he was
sane enough to be made the head of u
political revolution there are plenty of ad-
| Venturers and cOnspiratOrs around Con-
stantinople who would have taken ad-
/ vantage of the fact.
abdul has been on the throne for
| twenty years, which is long time for
Turkish sovereign He is regarded by all
Europe as man of ability and good in
tentions, but his weakness consists in his
inability 10 devise and conduct a method
| zeal and responsible administration. He
trusts NOBODY He is himself the govern
ment the fountain of all power and the
/ director OF all details which in other gov
| ernments are left to bureau officers He
| REQUIRES the most trivial official matters
/ to pass through his hands. For example
/ he reviews the decisions of all the courts
I of Turkey when they impose sentences for
! more than five years Imprisonment.
/ "One of his secretaries says one morn
ing the minister of justice laid before the
! sultan with a recommendation of appro-
I val the record which was taken
/ in the case of man who had been
sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment
Turning to his minister the sultan asked
Have you ever been IN prison for fifteen
No, your majesty, replied the minis
We'll, it is a long time remarked the
| sultan. Make it five years
1T is the common understanding i'm Con-
stantinople that this method of admin
I istration reduces the sultan to four hours
sleep per day, allows him no time for
rest or recreation, and makes him the
hardest working monarch in the world.
I 1t is of course, this very devotion to de-
tails that discredits his administration
1 and causes the greatest confusion in his
/ government, for everything that he does
not attend to stops, and everything he
has under consideration is hung up until
4 he has made up his mind what to do or
given instructions to his ministers about
I it All of his ministers, even the grand
Vizier himself. are mere clerks. The state
ments and promises they make to for
/ eign ambassadors are frequently discred-
tied by the sultan. Whenever they at
tempt to anticipate him they usually get
into trouble, for he is so Suspicious that
he often goes exactly to the contrary of
their advice and repudiates pledges they
1 have honestly made.
Another great difficulty is that the sui
/ tan imagines that he passes individually
upon all matters brought before him ana
that his instructions are faithfully car
red out. but that is impossible. The null
titude of his duties and the infinite amount
( of business he endeavors to transact make
il all the easier for his ministers and
their subordinateS to deceive him, and he
never knows what happens with half
the business after it passes his hands Or
! darS rroclamatfOnS and other no more a -