The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-01
THE TURKS TO REBEL
All They Wait for Is q Strong
Mans Leadership.
THE SULTAN MUCH ALARMED.
Armenia Has Nothing 20 Do with This
TroubIo-Peopie Tired or the Cor
rupe and Cruel Governments.

Ccnstsntlnople. Feb. 2-The police ard
military authorities have been taking
steps for some tina past 20 get az the
facts OF a widespread conspiracy. with
headquarters in this city and branches in
many parts OF the Ottoman empire. Over
81 Armeniaas and a number OF Turks
have been arrested. The Turkish officials
claim tia; the arrests were made simply
as a precautson against hostile manifesto
items against Sultan Abdul Hamid upon
his visit 10 the Topkapou palace, IN the
stamboul quarter, today, the occasion be-
ing the Madrina Seah festival. The route
u b.. followed by the sultan VIII be lined
on both sides by picked troops. Behind
the soldiers viii be uniformed police, and
msngiing with the crowds swarms Of Sc
cret police, who have instructions TO ar
rest any Armenian or Turk who may act
In a manner calculated to arouse sus-
pic.or. Many more arrests viii be made
before the sultan passes through the
streets, and the authorities will be greatly
relieved II the day passes without seri-
Gus disturbance.
There is no denying that the Turks are
rapidly becoming far more dangerous 10
the rule Of Abdul Hand than the half
crushed Arrnenians. Although the revolu-
tionary agents of the latter are still busy
at work. their plan IF campaign seems to
have undergone decided change. for they
their only hope OF any kind of redress in
the nature Of partial self-government lies
in the Young Turkish Rrty. This con-
tinually strengthening party IL becoming
bolder as time passes: the murmuring OF
the populace Is more distinct, and has
reached the ears of the palace. causing
the utmost uneasness and anxiety. Out
whiting the hostile powers when secretly
backed up by Russia Is a comparatively
easy task when compared with confront
ing a possible uprising OF a strong sec
ton OF the Turks themselves.
The feeling among the Turks against
the sultan has nothing TO do with the Ar
menians. II is due 10 the wrongs suffered
by the Turks themselves, and the terrible
oppression Of the secret police and the tax
gatkeFers. Among the lower classes here
the matter might not go further than the
plgndering of the palaces, etc, the ousting
Of the palace favorites and a probable
Improvement thereby in the general situ-
alton But among other classes OF the
population the feeling OF discomfort is far
deeper and much more serious. The Sofas
and the Ulemah. the army and the navy
are fairly ripe for an outbreak, as is well
known at the palace. The Young Turk
party demand a constitution, a parliament
AM free institutions.
What the Turks are looking for IS a real
leader. When he appears IL is safe to pre-
diet that the rule of the palace favorite viii
soon be ended, one way or the other, by the
deposition OF the sultan and by the placing
OF some other man In his place, or by the
adoption of a constitution and parliament,
which may make material changes in ey-
erythng throughout the empire.
The ambassadors OF the powers are keep
ing their respective governments fully in
formed regarding the situation. but the
presence Of the extra gunbcats here Is now
a matter for eongratulaton among them,
as there is no longer the same fear as be-
fore that disturbance here would result
in great danger to the foreign population
of Constantinople and It's suburbs.