The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-10
WALTER BLOOMFIELD

cure. Before ! set foot In Trebizond.
l had resolved to use the unlimited
powers entrusted to me In reforming
any abuses which / might find pre-
vailing there. Having taken up my
abode In an ancient castle which faced
the sea and stood just within the city
walls. addressed the chief men Of the
city who had gathered to receive me,
and occasloned them much consterna-
tion by announcing my intention Of liv-
ing as simply and frugally as possible,
Of administering impartial justice be-
tween man and man irrespective Of
rank. Office, or wealth. and Of my will
ingness to hear personally all cases In
which suitors for justice could show
reasonable cause for appeal against
the judgment Of the cadis. "The au-
thority." I said. delegated to me by
the Commander Of the Faithful. to
iuilict death on any inhabitant Of this
province who shall incur my displeas-
ure. I will never exercise except to
punish the evil doer whose deeds In
the judgment Of men shall merit that
penalty. The annual tribute Of Trebi-
zond fixed BY the Sultan's advisers Is
q heavy one-heavier. fear. than you
can pay without hardship. Neverthe-
less. 1t must be paid, punctually and
fully: but I hope by the laws will
enact and the impartiality Of my rule
soon to tighten your burdens, to which
end i will direct all the energy Of my
nature. confident Of success II only
your present protestations Of loyalty
be sincere"
The domestic establishment Of my
predecessor twho-marvellous In a
Turkish pasha!-had died a natural
DEATH was large. expensive. and most
ly u. -less; 90 deemed 1t fitting sub
ject for a Arst experiment with my re-
forming hand. reduced 1t four
nfths, and reconstructed the remainder
on q system which had devised my
self-abolished the Office Of purse
bearer. personally controlled the treas
ury. and kept q sleepless eye on &C
counts rendered to me by my suborLi.
mates. Verify the ways Of reformers
are hard. and the opposition Of those
whom It ID sought to benefit is too
great to measure. At first my rule was
as unpopular with the people as that
Of any Of my predecessors had been.
which ID saying much; but ! lived It
down. and in q few years converted
hatred into tolerance. which yet later
was changed to esteem when 1t was
seen and felt that scrupulously i'd
hered to my original declaration.
Trebizond prospered enormously under
my rule. and in ten years had become
one Of the wealthiest and most peace
full vilayets in the empire. whereas
before 1t had been one Of the poorest
and most turbulent Mahpeiker's
Grand Vizier, who, true to the tradi-
tions of his race anu Office. had fixed
the tribute Of Trebizond ut ten times
~ much as had ever before been
wrung from that province. was as
founded to see from me the sum he
lad demanded. and was at stand
to know how ! had accomplished sue
a wonderful feat. In his dilemma the
vizier resorted to the Court Astrologer
from whom. after narating the cir
cumstances. he asked for enlighten-
ment. After practicing divers fooler-
les with an astrolobe the astrologer
informed the Vizier that the Beardless
| Pasha of Trebizond had discovered a
| gold mine. and announcement which
SO powerfully excited the cupidity Of
| the Vizier that he undertook q journey
| to Trebisond to see whether II was
really 80 or not. With great difficulty
| proved to this vile wretch that his
| credulity had been abused-that my
success was due merely to my acting
directly contrary TO his advice; and
he returned to Constantinople. disap-
pointed and disconnected. But during
his absence from the capital faction
had been formed against him, his
peculations had been exposed. and In o
passage leading to the Seraglio he was
met by the Seven Mutes and there un-
tremendously strangled.
Years came and passed away. and
many were the changes In the govern
ment Of Turky. In 1852 Amurath.
at that time a youth Of twenty. as
sumed full power and ruled his em.
pire with q rigorous despotism which
has never been exceeded In the history
of the world. Fortunately for his
people. Amurath was man Of great
capacity. Though himself inconceiv-
ably cruel. he was polite enough not
to permit overmuch tyranny in others.
His Majesty professed great regard
for me. and did me the honor and
his people the benefit to enact for his
whole empire some salutary laws
which l had enforced with advantage
ut Trebizond. My position was assured
by the mandate Of the Sultan and the
loyalty Of the people. my status that
OF q dependent prince, my wealth
greater than that Of any other pasha
In the empire.
| Auu tuuo ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS o'o NV
on. In 1910 the Sultan died Of fever.
accelerated by terror at m eclipse Of
the sun. and was succeeded by his
brother Ibrahim.
A man
Snail slow in action. dull of apprehension,
Rich in delay and doubt. confusing all
things,
whose milder temper. though appre-
ciated by the people with whom be
was in immediate touch, soon eGaced