The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-23
SULTAN Is NOT
A HEAHL Ne
Erroneous Idea About the
Ruler of Turkey.
GOOD AND BAD POINTS
Are Strangely Mixed in the
sick Man of Europe"
GOOD AND BAD POINTS

Apropos Of the recent rumors Of fresh
attempts upon the lie Of the Sultan OF
Turkey. it is interesting to cali 10 mind
some Of the characteristics OF that pc
culiar monarch. and the surroundings in
which he lives. the absolute arbiter OF the
destines in this life OF millions OF people.
Sultan Abdul Hamid is an example OF the
proverb that threatened men are long
lived He has held sway for twenty-six
years. unframed. while his life has been
constantly in danger from assassins-
Perhaps il is because so little IS known
about him that it is difficult 10 under
stand the apparently conflicting charac-
teFistics OF this strange Oriental potel-
tate. II it is said that he is brave. i'm
mediately a score Of incidents Of his cow
ardice viii be called up: but If he is
denounced as q coward quite as many in
stances in which he exhibited unquestiOn-
able nerve loom up in contradiction The
character Of his reign does not Indicate
that he is of generous disposition. yet
the members Of his household will swear
that he is. And who should know better
massacre Of Christian Armenians can
hardly be termed kind and forebearing
towards those he considers his enemies
yet If he is such demon as he is usually
painted. what could have put it into his
head after his struggle with Greece 10
present every prisoner OF war with a new
overcoat and a sovereign. and send them
back in chartered vessels 10 Athens?
It is most probable that Abdul Hamid
would be better understood in this coun-
try if the average American could appre-
ciate the atmosphere Of devotion and Ia
naucism. OF highly developed religious
tendencies. of snarchism and assa-sina-
ton. despotism and terror. and a blind
pursuit of pleasure. There is something
pitiable in the persistency with which,
though warned by great Powers. the
Sultan pursues the even tenor of his
way. massacreing. enriching. rewarding
and Furnishing in the same whimsical
manner as did his ancestors.
A strange character truly. And yet al
though his treasury is bankrupt and his
revenue shows yearly deficit OF several
millions. although throughout the length
and breadth OF his dominions his subjects
are grooming under his terrible misruie;
although his capital and every big town
are terrorized by such hideous system
OF espionage and consequent blackmail
as never before has been known; all
though his army IS in RAGS and its pay
many months in arrears. and mis- navy
farcical collection OF obsolete hulks
without engines. whose guns could not Pc
fred. such is the personal magnetism Of
the man and such is the power Of Mos
lem belief in the sacredness Of his per-
son. that De would have bat to raise his
hand TO gather TO his standard every adult
OF tho faithful.
Abdul Hamid Is a cultured monarch.
He is well and widely read can discuss
any topic Of human interest with brill
liancy and, though he never talks or
foreigners except through an interpreter.
il is known that he is proficient IN sew
eral languages. Music he loves In the
theatre of the palace which is archi-
tectuallv q most beautiful structure -.e
gives entertainments AZ which perform
such artists Is Mesdamez Bcrnhards.
luse. etc. The most accomplished musi-
clans o. Europe fame are his guests and
for years he has had musical celebrities
in his employ.
Though be Is unable or dlsiuclined 20
manage the finances Of HE reign on sch
q basis as would prevent a yearly de-
fcit he has made a rule Tor hts house.
hold which IS worthy % good business
man. lie vii rot permit anything -
be bought by his attendants for c1eiit
The traders who have dealings with The
palace praise his generosity and his ius-
tiee. His dependents are never bothered
with dunninE creditors ard they al
swear BY their master The Fiadiators
~ this giant body guard love him IRE
dVe hundred girls n his Greek CARPET
factory are as well paid ard as happy as
any working woman IN the Horie ard
his farmers are rat. prosperous and con-
tent
on several occasions the sultan has dis-
PLACED courage 81 q high orde- i vas
few years ego. ~ THdlz. - time when
ne ar was fuil - rumors q araTchistic f
plots ard icsg1er formed - tcrrcrlz~
ne Turkish nobility when rhe saita1
vas Violently accosted hy an armed rsas-
mt Thle frivirg q fh~ Friday rrr~- {
nouy st the mosque. Tie man zp-e-r 4
through TIE Gordon ~ troops lining the .
-oute and rushed shoafl1g ~ thr rcy-I 4
'arriaEe and octstretchea arr EIfH n-
eufi1n was really innocent Ee wished
e. uresert a petition. bat he manner aaa
2 every way suspicious The saitan
however. pulled ~ his ponies-he drives
.irrse'f c- these ocrssfozs-snd taxing
n do-ur-e,r harfes Z vgffa q 4--a fo