The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-27
TURK PROMISES
SWEEPING REFORMS
RumOr That the Sultan Will Have
Christian Ministers.
SEVERAL CHANGES IN THE CABINET
ConstantinOple Again Agitnted..Re.
cent Purchases of Arms by the
Government Causes Apprehension.
Wholesale Massacres Hinted At.
Story OF the Slaughter ut Egin.

Paris, Oct. 26.-The Figaro" pub
fishes despatch from Constantinople
which states that an trade will shortly
be published. decreeing sweeping re-
forms. including that the portfolios of
minister for foreign affairs, minister
of finance, minister of agriculture and
minister of public works shall be held
by Christians, three Turks and one
European; that Christian governors
shall be appointed for the vilayets
where a majority of the population is
composed of Christians and that a
mixed general council shall be elected
in each province, its proceedings to be
subject to a council of state.
Constantinople, Oct. 20, via Sofia.
Bulgaria, Oct. 26.-The report that
trouble of serious nature Is brewing
here has SO often been sent out that
any fresh announcement to that effect
is looked upon as having little or no
foundation in fact. But, in spite of
this. it is but right to state once more
that everything points to further and
very serious trouble preparing on all
sides throughout the Turkish empire.
The ball was set rolling on Wednes-
day last when the sultan signed two
trades which were issued the next day,
levying poll tax of five piastres per
head on all Massulmans and increas-
ing the taxes on sheep. public works
and education by / to 1ia per cent, the
funds so raised to be devoted to mill
tary purposes. This caused the repre-
sentatives Of the powers to send col
lective note to the porte, couched In
the strongest language, calling atten-
ton to the danger that the arming or
the MussulmanS was certain to create
and pointing out generallv the critical
situation of affairs in the Nurkish em-
pire. But large purchases of arms
have already been made and the dam
ger increases hourly.
PORTE EvAs1VE AS USUAL.
The Porte today sent u reply to the
collective note of the ambassadors. AS
usual. however, 1t was an evasive an
swer, and in substance simply stated
that the money derived from the addi-
tional taxes was only intended to COM
plete the armament of the Mustahfuz,
or Landstrum, the third and last class
of the Turkish army reserves. and to
strengthen the armament Of the other
land forces Of the sultan. which con-
sist of the NiZam, or regular army, and
it's active reserve, the Redif, or Land
wahr, and the Mustahfuz, already re-
ferred to.
Conscripts in Turkey serve six years
in the Nizam, four with the colors and
two in the reserve, they then serve
eight years in the Redif. four in the
first class and four in the second. Then
they complete their twenty years SER
vice by servingg six years in the Mus
tahfuz. The action Of the Turkish gov
ernment in completing the armament
of the MustahfuZ indicates that the
empire is facing q situation which may
necessitate calling forth all the mill
tary forces at its disposal, and 1t also
indicates that the situation is the
gravest since the Russo-Turkish war.
Under these circumstances it is but
natural that considerable uneasiness
prevails. Of course. there is always
in view the probability at least that
the sultan, by these movements, is
simply seeking to distract the atten-
of his subjects from the actual state
of affairs brought about by his mall
administration, and that seeing that
the powers are really in earnest and
that an understanding between Russia,
France and Great Britain means de-
cisive action, he Is by these arma-
ments practically threatening whole
sale massacre of the Christians and an
nouncing that Turkey will resist to the
utmost any attempt at armed coer-
ciOn.
THE SULTAN'S ONLY CHECK.
Happily, there is one feature of the
crisis which has soothing influence
upon Abdul Hamid. The financial sit
uation is the one referred to. 1t is
about as bad as 1t possibly can be.
All negotiations upon the part of the
Turkish government for temporary
loan have failed, and the condition of
the treasury Is one Of utter helpless
ness. On top of this the price Of
bread has risen 40 per cent, and bids
fair to rise still higher as the price Of
wheat goes up. This has decidedly ag-
gravated the prevailing distress, and
its consequent discomfort. The police
continue making arrests, and it is un-
derstOod that many more bombs have
been found.
In Armenia the greatest apprehen-
sion exists. The time for massacres
seems to have arrived. About year
has passed since the terrible massacres
of November, 1895, and the echoes of
the recent massacres in the city of
Egin are just reaching here, in spite of
the efforts made by the Porte to sup
press anything but the official news.
The Armenians of Egin were the most
refined, intelligent and wealthy Of that
part of Armenia. They escaped the
massacres and plunder Of last year py
the payment Of a large ransom: but
the under governor of the district, for
some time previous to September last,
is known to have been writing to Con-
stantinople informing the authorities
there that the Armenians of Egin We're
disloyal and, it is said. shortly after
the recent troubles at Constantinople,
telegram was received by the gover-
nor general of the Province of Kharput
from the palace. saying:
I'VE hear that the Armenians of Egin
are disloyal. Why do you not attend
to it?"
CHRISTIANS BECAME ALARMED.
According to Turkish methods, this
was understood to be an order to the
governor general to treat the Armeni-
ans of Egin as those Of other places
have been treated. Naturally, the
Christians became alarmed when this
news leaked out on Monday, Sept. IA:
they closed their shops and barricaded
themselves In their houses, as large
numbers Of Kurds had been seen how
ering about the outskirts of the city.
Thereupon the under governor sent
word to the Armenians that the Kurds
had been driven off, and he summoned
the Armenians to the market and made
them open their shops. In consequence
on Tuesday, Sept. Is, the shops were
opened and business was going on as
usual when, suddenly, gun was fired
in the upper quarter Of the city, evil
IDENTIFY signal, and the massacre be-
gan. For three days the killing of Ar
menians was continued. but the massa-
ere was carried out by the Turkish
soldiers and the Turkish populace. and
not by the Kurds. The sultan's exc
cutioners first devoted themselves to
killing, then to plunder and lastly to
burning the houses. During the dis
order more women and children were
killed in Egin than In any other place