The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
POPULAR LITTLE SAID"
The New Grand Vizier of Turkey Is
Much Loved by All.
London Standard.

London Standard
The new grand vizer of Turkey, Ku-
chalk Said or Little Said" as he is
called, to distinguish him from the stout
Said is one of the best men in Turkey.
He is popular alike with high and low, and
is esteemed by all the foreign diplomatiS,S
in Constantnople. Whether he is still as
much a RussO-phil as he was formerly sup
posed TO be, is more than doubtful and 1t
is questionable if he was that in December
1895. when he fed with his twelve-year-oG
son to the British embassy TO invoke the
hospitality and protection of Sir Philip
Currie, just as his political antagonist
Midhat Pacha. in 1881, fled for refuge TO the
French embassy There may have been
some reason originally for chasing the
Conservative Said Pacha as a RussOphil,
and the Liberal Kiamil Pacha as Anglo
phil: but such distinctions soon cease to be
true. because, even in Turkey politician
is influenced by his experience and by
events Whatever his political leanings;
however. in regard to foreign powers. Said
Pacha is certainly the right man for the
situation in Turkey; and, If he can keep
himself in office for any length of time,
which is far from certain. his grand
vizierate may mark new epoch. That of
the late Khalil Rifaat Pacha also marked
an epoch, but Saids will be very different,
and more salutary. for Turkey. The new
On his appointment in 1895 he refused to
accept the increased salary of his prede-
cessor, Jevad Pacha; and instead of
GT1,4 400 a month, would only draw ct 700.
saying that this had been the salary of a
grand vizer for many decades. and the
finances of Turkey were not in so flourish
ing a position as to warrant an increase.
He also refused to accept the GT.5G0 month
ly from the Sultan's civil list, which had
been given to grand viziers during the last
six or eight years as compensation for the
loss of their former influence. Said Pacha
really meant to be grand viZier in the old
style or not at all. He said this distinctly
to the Sultan before his appointment in
1895. He repeated it again in December of
immortal
fered to renstate him. He has, no doubt,
said Ii once more on the present occasion,
and he can only have accepted office on
condition that the grand ViZierate shall
again be invested with the dignity and
power which belonged to it, at any rate,
between 1879 and 1885; that is, at the COM
mencement of the present Sultans reign.
1t is Said Pachas article of faith that
the Sultan ruins Turkey by undertaking
not only to rule but also to govern her.
1t is related that when he lost his post in
October, 1895. he refused to comply with
the Sultan's wish for the return of an
Trade about the Armenian question Again,
when staying with Sir Philip Currie, he
Welded to no inducement, promise or in
vitatiOn from the palace and, as the
Standards ConstantinOple correspondent
reported at the time, he only left the
English embassy after the visit of the
Sheikh Essad Effendi, who swore that the
Sultan had taken an oath on the Koran
that he would not force him TO resume Of
flee and that his life and liberty should
be safe. y of this independence of
character, energy and prObity. If he Is
allowed to act according to his lights, could
still save Turkey and rescue her from the
mistakes of omission and commission of the
last two or three reigns
1 do not believe that Said Pacha will
waste his energy in attempting reforms,
as they are understood in Europe. The re-
form most needed. and most difficult even
to attempt, and still more to carry out.
is that of the SYSTEM of government At
present it is palace rule, and ought again
To be the rule of a sovereign through his
responsible ministers. If Said Pacha were
to effect this one reform he might be par
doned for neglecting others, for, in such a
case, others could build on the foundation
of a government which is allowed to gov
ern But the whole position is made doubt
full by the character of the Sultan, who
will hardly give up what he has arrogated
TO himself. He has elected to be his own
grand vizier just as other monarchs are
their own chancellors.