The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-01
Lives in an Atmosphere of Intrigue
and Is in Constant Fear OF
Being Assassinated.
$500 PERSONS IN HIS HAREM
so MANY WOMEN THAT DOMESTIC
PEACE is OUT OF THE QUESTION.
Elder Sweeney Hopeful that when the
Empire Falls IL Will Become
Byzantine Free State.
.pecial To the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, Ind, Aug. 31.-The follow
ing interview with the Rev. z. I. Sweeney,
of this city. who consul general at
Constantinople during the Harrison ad-
ministraticn. with reference to the person
al character of Abdul Hamid. Sultan of
Turkey, is interesting at this time because
Of the recrudescence of the Turkish ques-
tion, owing to the rupture of diplomatic
relations between France and the Porte.
In reply to a question Mr.. Sweeney said
that personally, the Sultan of Turkey is
a gentleman. man of refinement and cul
ture and very quiet manner. He is a car
penter by trade and employs considerable
of his time at that diversion. He also is
fond of painting and music and other fine
arts The trouble with the Sultan is that
he is the victim of a narrow, bigoted and
bloodthirsty religion which teaches him
that it is right to kill a man if he does
not embrace the Mohammedan faith. He is
at his worst when most under the influence
of his religion. He is not only the Sultan
of the Ottoman Empire, but he is the ca
Iiph of the Mohammedan religion. and this
office he regards in a much higher light
than the sultanate."
such being his character how do you
snot his doctor, who was treating him for
earache?"
IN CONSTANT FEAR.
cit is accounted for easily by his natural
timidity and his constant fear of death.
Living in atmosphere of constant in
trigue and employing, it is said, three hun
dred paid spies who are naturally trying
TO earn an honest living by looking up
some bugaboo story, he is in a state of
constant fear. They give the fire alarm in
Constantinople and upon the Bosporus by
shooting cannons, and so great is his fear
of insurrection that he will not allow a
fire alarm to be given until he Is walked up
and told beforehand the nature of the
alarm Under this fear of assassination, it
was but natural for him to feel, when d
keen pain struck through his head, as a
result OF the manipulations Of the doctor,
that a sharp instrument had pierced his
ear, and he doubtless sprang up and shot
him in self-defense. This is the natural ex-
planation provided the event occurred at
all. of which 1 have some doubt"
We'll but he is said TO have killed his
brothers harem and TO keep his brother
confined in living grave?"
His brother is confined, not in a living
grave, but in the palace OF the Choraghan,
one of the most beautiful marble struc-
lures on the Bosporus. When his brother,
who also was his predecessor was ad-
judged insane. he was deposed, sent to this
palace. which has since been carefully
guarded, so much so that when 1 used to
go UP the BOsporus in little steam yacht
provided by our government for its repre-
sentatives, my captain and crew were
obliged TO steer the vessel far out from
shore in obedience 10 imperial orders.
Whether this brother is yet living or
whether. il dead he was assassinated. no
one knows except those most intimately
interested. The idea that he killed his
brothers harem is undoubtedly a mistake
and derived from an old custom OF the
Turkish Sultans. begun on the battlefield
of Kassova by Bayezid. the son OF ANU
rath. Amurath was assassinated by a
Servian prince on the threshold of a great
victory which he had won. his two sons.
Bayezid and Yakub. fighting one on his
right and one on his left. Bayezid. learn
ing that his father was dead, immediately
rose UP and slew his brother, Yakub pro-
nouncing the sentence: Murder is better
than sedition.' For centuries this was TAX
en- as a precedent by Turkish Sultans 10
slay all opposing claimants to the throne
rms, however hau Iallea into desuetude
long before the time Of the present Sui
tan"
a CONVENIENT GATE.
How about the gate leading into the
Bosporus TO discharge the bodies Of his
victims?'
That too. is another wornout custom
AT the Seraglio Palace. the old residence
of the Sultans. there is such a gate shown
and no doubt many an intriguing wife or
odalisaue has been treated 10 the bowstring