The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-19

What the Matter IL With Abdul
Hamtd, According to an Old Turk.


An interesting interview with an "old
Turk comes by mail from Adrianopie,
says an article III the New York Sun. The
interviewer IS described as a distIn-
guished officer who fought at Plevna. aad
who was until recently in high favor at
fildiz. where he was for some years one
or the imperial chamberlains. and enjoyed
the confidence OF the sultan. Il. give his
name would. OF course be equivalent 10
signing his death warrant. Asked the
somewhat leading question. lis the sultan
really = scouRdreIr' he replied: NO. His
worst fault is cowar6ice. AID he Is cruel
because he is "a coward" / suppose II IS
a matter OF opinion after ali as TO whether
cruel coward may re rightly termed
a scoundrel or no. HIS ex-chamoerlaia
described Abdul as the lonsliest man in
Europe Moreover. he Is the most sus-
pioious. He rarely retire 10 his family
circle, and puts implicit trust in no enc.
IA TO the responsibility for the blood
shed Of the past two years and for the
loss OF hundreds of thousands OF lives, X
paeha considers his system OF espionage
guilty. adding: II believe he is alarmed
at his own handiwork and its enormous
power fer evil" AS for remedy. or chance
or reforms. the pasha says: Absolutely
none. The empire is IN the grip of q
group OF needy eunuchs and astrologers.
ignorant domestic servants. police spies
and agents provocateurs. who prey upon
the fears Of the sultan and simply keep
HIM alive in their own interest Nothing
can save the empire but the death of
Abdul Hamid He viii never abdicate
because he cannot. Virtually he is a
prisoner in his own palace. This may
seem strange 10 you, but II is the bare
truth"
With regard 10 Russia he declares: II
know that the security OF the Ottoman
J haa AL
Hamid for his lifetime by an agreement
between Russia and Austria. NJ. de Neli-
DON has certainly pledged the word Of the
car that the sultan shall not be deposed
by the powers. In short for all the pur-
poses Of diplomacy the sultan Is under
the car just as much as the khedive is
under the orders OF Queen Victoria"
Then. admitting that Turkey Is ruined
beyond all hopes of redemption. he sums
up the British and German connection by
saying: THE German emperor cares only
for exploiting Turkey for his own sub
jects. whom he must pacify somehow in
order 10 attract attention from the hate
ful rule OF his iron rod He may as well
suck the orange as any one else. What
amazes the Turks who can see beyond
their noses ia the apathy Of the British
nation Instead Of being great and In
1uential, as you once were. you permit
your ambassador to be insulted. not once
nor twice, but over and over again. az II
he were OF no more account than the
Portuguese or Belgian. or Swedish min
ister He makes demands They are
teered az. He asks for an audience: the
sultan Is busy-or III. We wonder what
has happened and why you care nothing
for the downtrodden Turk. I tell my
friends that there are evil Influences at
work which have paralyzed England's
power: bat [ must own TO you that firmly
-
ice also condemn ths British govern
msnt as towards"