The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-01

iFr1Vate visitors are treated with much
less ceremony. though they are subjected
to great deal Of inspection before they
actually reach the imperial presence. 1t
is not at all difficult to secure an audi
enoe-infinitely easier, in fact. than in
any other European capital. One con-
dltlon only is necessary, that you be
known as friend of Turkey and de-
fender of Turkish rule. Any journalist
of position, for instance, who could point
to articles he had written sympathizing
with Turkish views, and who let it be
known that he was prepared to continue
on the same lines, would be quite safe to
have his request for an audience granted
More than this, If he would send to his
newspaper-always supposing it to be one
which the Sultan knew and feared-cer-
tain statements of alleged fact and opin-
ion which the Sultan would dictate to
him, representing them as derived from
his own knowledge and experience, he
could have much more than audience. A
bag OF gold, diamond brooch for his
wife, a Turkish decoration for his but
tonhole-hs would only have to drop a
yelled hint, and the thing would be done.
But he would be wise to leave Constan-
tlnople soon afterward, for secrets are not
kept in an Oriental country, and he
would find cold shoulders at the club. In
fact, Turkish money smells. and soon be-
trays its presence in anybody's pocket. A
particularly fragrant case occurred few
months ago. A Continental journalist
turned up in Constantinople. at once had
a long interview with the Sultan, left
again Immediately with 500 pounds and
a Tu kish order. and his journal-one of
the most influential in Europe published
long article pooh-poohing the Armenian
massacre and praising to the skies the
Sultan's benevolent rule. The French
press is regularly bribed by the Turkish
En- bassy in Paris, just as it is by M.
Blanc, the director of Monte Carlo.
ABDUL HAND A HARD WORKER.
To do the Sultan justice. he is very
hard working man. His Ministers and
creatures are liable to be summoned to
Yildiz at any hour of the day or night.
A man know, supposed at Yildiz to
have certain relations with the English
press, was reused at z o'oluck one morn
ing by an aid de camp Of the Sultan in
full uniform, and carried off then and
there to the palace, the messenger barely
allowing him time to fling on few
clothes. He was so nervous at this sensa-
tional and hurried summons that he
scrubbed note to me and left it at my
rooms as he passed, saying that if he
returned all right he would call upon me
at noon. All the Sultan wanted was for
him to telegraph long message to the
London Morning Post, couohed in terms
of almost idiotio eulogy of Abdul Hamid
and the condition of Turkey. In vain my
acquaintance assured the Sultan that no
English newspaper would dream of in
serting such an article, no matter who
sent it. The Sultan only replied telling
him to alter few words if necessary,
and to ask in return for anything he
would like. One day / had an appoint
ment with the late Grand Vizier Mt his
house. The hour fixed was at s O'Clock
in the morning. and while was drink
ing CUP of coffee in his ante-room a
smart carriage and pair dashed up, a
palace officer sprang out, and minute
later Kiamil Pasha sent his secretary to
me to beg me to excuse him, as he had
that moment been urgently summoned
to the Sultan's presence. Abdul Ham
ids within may demand the attendance
of his Ministers at any moment, while
on the other hand they may be unable to
see him for fortnight on business which
they know to be urgent For instance,
when I was last in Constantinople.
Kianil Pasha had not beenaable to secure
an audience for many days. He had been
repeatedly to the palace, sent in written
reports. been kept waiting several hours.
and then dismissed with q oontemptuous
verbal message brought to him by an
eunuch. 1t must be borne in mind that
whereas previously Ministers of State
gathered in council at the Sublime
Porte, the headquarters of the Ottoman
Government in STEAMBOAT, used to exer-
ciae real powers, the Sultan acting upon
their advice, Abdul Hamid has taken
the reins OF authority entirely into his
own hands, and most OF the Ministers
today are the merest igureheads, having
little more real influence over Turkish
affairs than any readers of these lines.
They are appointed and dismissed in ao-
cordance with petty personal motives, or
In order to throw dust in the eyes of
Europe. A set of wax images could do
their work. The Sultan does everything
himself. An acquaintance of mine saw
him one day deeply Immersed in yolu-
minous document. A few days afterward
he had the opportunity of inspecting the
document at the office of Nozim Pasha,
Minister Of Police. 1t was the official
report upon scuffle that had taken
place in cafe ohantant between Greek
and jew. The Shadow of God was
giving hours of his time to miserable
incident that in London or New York q
Police Magistrate would nave dismissed
| in i've minutes.
| THE SULTAN'S FOUR COIJNSEIT,,