The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-10-30
SUI LTANS TOTIER|NG THRONE
Indications Point to a Com
ing Revolution.
SWEEPING REFORMS PRoMlsEr


Filled bv Christians-HorribIe De-
tails of the Massacre at Egin.
Paris, Oct. 90 "A dispatch to the
Figaro from Constantinople, says an
trade will soon be published decreeing
sweeping reforms. including directions
that the portfolios of minister of for
eign affairs, minister of fiuance, min
lister of agriculture and minister of
public works shall be held by Christ
ians, three Turks and one European;
that Christian governors shall be ap-
pointed for vilavets where majority
of the population is composed of
Christians. and mixed general ooun-
Gil be elected in each province, its pro-
ceedings to be subject to the council Of
state.
Looks Like War.
Constantinople, Oct. 28.-The re.
port that trouble of a 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, but in spite of this it
is but right to state that once more
every thing points to the fact that fur
ther very serious trouble is preparing
on all sides throughout the Turkish
empire.
The ball was set rolling on Wednes-
day last, when the sultan signed two
trades levying poll tax of five pias-
ters head on all Mussulmans and in.
creasing the taxes on sheep, public
works and education from 1 to Is per
cent, the funds so raised to be devoted
to military purposes. This caused the
representative of the powers to send
collective note to the porte oouohed
in the strongest language, calling at
tention to the danger the arming of
Mussulmans was certain to create and
pointing out the generally critical situ-
alton of affairs in the Turkish empire.
Large purchases of arms have already
been made and the danger is increasing
hourly. The porte today sent reply
to the collective note of the ambas-
sadors. AS usual it was evasive and
in substance simply stated that the
money derived from the additional
taxes was only intended to complete the
dIud"OAu VI thO I4 hStd phdS VI
strum, the third and last class of Turk
ish army reserves, and strengthen the
armament of the other land forces.
The action of the Turkish govern
ment indicates that the empire is fac
ing a situation which may necessitate
the calling forth of all the military
forces at its dipsosal. and it also indi-
Gates that the situation is the gravest
since the Russo-Turkish war. OF
bility at least that the sultan by these
movements is simply seeking to dis
tract the attention of his subjects from
the actual state of affairs brought
about by his maladministration. See-
ing that the powers are really in earn.
est and that the understanding between
Russia, France and Great Britain
means decisive action, he is by arma-
ments practically threatening the
wholesale massacre of Christians and
announcing that Turkey will Ies,st to
the utmost any attack from the out
side
Happily there is one feature of the
crisis which has soothing influence
upon Abdul Hamid. This is the fnan.
cial situation. 1t is about as bad as it
possibly can be. All negotiations upon
the part of the Turkish governments for
temporary loan have failed, and the
condition of the treasury is one of help
1essness. 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
consequent discomfort.
The police continue making arrests.
It is understood that many more bombs
have been found. In Armenia, the
greatest apprehension exists. Rumors
Of a recent massacre in Egin are just
reaching here, in spite of efforts made
by the porte to suppress anything but
official news.
The Armenian reports say that 2.000
Armenians were killed at Egin, SO far
as known, that no Turks were killed
and that nearly 1000 houses were
burned, leaving only $50 houses stand
ing for the Christian population. and
that women and children were huddled
together in the schoolhouse and in
some of the remaining buildings,
bereaved, destitute and hungry to such
an extent that the governor.g general
telegraphed that they were in need Of
food.