Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1902-04-10
THE SULTAN OF TURKEY.
Abdul Hamid H., His Personality and
the Position He Occupies.

The sultan ofTurkey is perhaps the
most interesting personality among
the sovercigns Of the world, says W.
+. Curtis, in the Chicago Record Her
aid, both for what he is and for what
he represents, combining as he does
the functions Of any emperor over a
semibarbarous and turbulent people,
and being the spiritual head Of one of
the most numerous religious bodies.
lie is the ecclesiastical successor Of
Mohammcd. head of the Moslem
church and of the house of Ishmael,
the son Of Abraham, and in his per-
son is supposed to receive and enjoy
the blessings which God promised 10
lIagar.
That is one Of the most dramatic in
cidents in Biblical history when, in
obedience to the jealousy Of Sarah, his
wife, abraham rose up early in the
morning and took bread and bottle
Of water ard gave tito Hagar, putting
it on her shoulders, andthe child, and
sent her away, and she departed and
wandered in the wilderness of Beer
shcba." And after the water was spent
in the bottle and she had cast the
child under one Of the shrubs. and
lifted up voice and wcpt, ''Thc an
gel Of God called to .1Iagar out Of
Heaven, and said unto her: arise,
lift up the lad and hold him in thine
hands, for | will make him a great
nation"
The Moslem world believes that
Abraham was the founder Of Mecca;
that 1shmacl was their ancestor and
that they have Inherited the religion
of Abraham with its promises and
blessings and characteristic traits as
cribcd to Ishmacl. Their hand has
been against every man, and every
man, hand has been against them,
and >tilI'thoy defy all other nations,
whether pagan or Christian. Padi-
shah Gather of all the soveroigns of
the cayth) IL the official title of the
sultan, and is used exclusively by the
Turks in official communications. He
is also styled Imam-ul-muslemin
(pontiif Of Mus Sulmars). Alem Penah
(refuge of the world). Zil-ullah (Shad-
ow God, Hurkiar 1.-THE slayer of inf
dcls), and has several other honorary
titles. He controls the Mohamme.
dan subjects Of all nations, and if he
should 20 to a little mosque at the
scragIio and mfurl the green banner
which wa, carried by Mohammed and
declare a holywar, the sons Of lshmael
in every part of the carth-in India,
Africa, China, the East Indies and the
islands Of thcSea-would be required
by their religion to sustain him and
obey his orders, regardless Of their al
lcgiancc to their own civil authorities.
Abdul IIamid H., the present sui
tan, who will be GO years old in Sep
TENDER, is laid to be a great coward
who dare not leave his country paluce
and show himself in his own capital,
II Is true that the most extraordinary
precautions are taken for his protec.
ton He dare not leave the safe soli-
tudc Of Gi.dI2 park, which is situated
about Two miles outside the gates of
Constantinople and is surrounded by "a
double wall. The road from the pal
ace to the BoSporus passes between
these walls and is protect cd every inch
of the way from the gates Of the park
to the wharf on the BoSporus. where,
once year only, he takes state barge
and Is rowcd over TO the seragHo to
perform the obligation imposed upon
him by his religion to worship the holy
mantle Of the prophet on the annivor-
Sary Of the death of Mohammcd. That
act is required Of him. If he did not
perform ii the whole church would
rise against him. Therefore for that
day he is compelled to suppress his
fears and appear before the public,
but it would be impossible for an out,
slider to get anywheronearhim unless
he were highly recommended and
identified.
Some people say that the cowardice
of Abdul Hamid is cultivated by his
ministers and other men who sur.
round him, who find ito their person
al advantage to prevent him from go
ing abroad. So they keep him locked
in the lildiz kiosk, where they can
control his surroundings and prevent
him from receiving any information
that will be to theirdiScrodit. At the
same time there is no doubt that the
sultan keeps constantly in mind the
fact that % of the - padishahs who
have reigned at Constantinople have
died by violence. Several ondeavored
to save their lives by abdication, but
the public never saw them again.
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