The Portland daily press., 1897-04-30
EDHEM PAsHA.
He Is of Greek Descent and Christian
Percentage.
Boston Transcript

p
Fdhem Pasha. the comm ander OF the
Turkish army in the present war with
Greece. has had a most romantic and inter-
esting history. He is not only of Greek orr
pin. but also of Christian parentage. How
ever, strange to say, he is an enthusiastic
and fanatic Mohammedan and oval sub
ject to the present Sultan. His change of
religion was caused by number of strange
circumstances which occurred in his youth.
He was born on the beautiful island of Chic,
in the Aegean Sea. This island was famous
in ancient history, and is said to have been
the birthplace of Homer. 1t is seven miles
from the coast of Asia Minor and is situated
on the Gulf of Smyrna. 1t is known for its
great productivity, mild climate and natu-
raj beauty For centuries Chic has been
under Turkish rule, although the largest
part of its population is of Greek descent
In the many wars and instructions for
Grecian liberty, the people of this lovely
island have always borne the brunt of Turk
ish cruelty and tyranny. This was especial
ly true In 1888, when the Greeks began a
long struggle for freedom. Edhem Pasha
was then small child. The inhabitants of
Chic did not participate in the Instructions
which occurred in that yea T. but were fol-
lowing their usual occupations. However, a
body of revolutionists came from the island
of SamoS and Handed in Chic. They en-
deayored to excite the inhabitants to revo-
luton, but met with no success. The Chiotes
answered that it would be foolish for them
to revolt, because the absence of Greek
fleet rendered them almost certain prey to
the sultan's troops on the mainland. The
samians, however, refused to obey and laid
siege to the citadel, then occupied by a
Turkish garrison. The Turkish soldiers were
driven out and the fortress reduced to ashes
Soon after an army of seven thousand Turks
with host of fanatical volunteers, landed
ON the Island. For weeks after the soldiers
and the rowing hordes of Ottomans slew
piliaged and tortured the inhabitants In
parts of the'island the people took refuge
i'll the mcnasteries, but were pursued aud
killed bysthousands. Even the sick in the
hospital were not spared. Over twenty three
thousand men, women and children were
killed, five thousand escaped, and forty
seven Thousand were sold into slavery, and
glutted the slave markets of Egypt, Con-
stantinople and Tunis.
Edhem Pasha's parents were among the
killed. He was sold to a Turkish general
named Khosseo Pasha, who took him to
Constantinople. His master, however, gave
him his liberty, and with number of boys
he was sent to Paris to be educated. He
entered the Institute Barbet, where he re-
mained for years. He evinced great indus
try and scholarship, and all his teachers
predicted for him a great future and bril-
liant career. After graduating from this
school with great honor, he entered a school
for mines, and four more years were spent
in close application and study. After trav-
cling through France, Germany and Swift
zerland, he returned to Constaptinople and
was appointed captain on the general staff
of the Turkish army. In 1S49 the Sultan
made him his adjutant, and he also became
the French instructor of the late Sultan
INJURED and of the present ruler, Abdul Ha-
mid. Later on, he was intrusted with a
number of important poll teal missions. In
1886 he became a member of the Council of
State, and was then appointed minister of
the interior, but resigned his portfolio after
a year. In 1867 he became minister of for
eign affairs and subsequently represented
his country at Berlin. In 1877, upon the ban
ishment of Midhet Pasha, he became grand
viZier, which position he filled with great
ability. In 1879 he was ambassador to Wen
ma, and from 1888 to 1885 he was again min
lister of the interior.
Edhem Pasha has always shown great ha-
tired towards foreigners and against Chris
tians. At the Peace Conference at the end
of the Russian Turkish war in 1877, he was
the last of the Turkish ministers to give his
consent to the final settlement of hostilities.
He had always been an enthusiastic Turkish
ChauyiDiSt He is a jealous mem her of tha
Young Turkish part, which has proclaime
the doctrine of the greatness of Islam and
Turkey for the Turks.
1t is interesting to note that Edhem
Pasha's brother was for many years Ca
tholic priest in the city of Constantinople.
He died few years ago.