Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
.SULTAN'S ADVISERS
MEN WHO STAND BEHIND THE
TURKISH THRONE.
From Public Opinion.


Much has been written of the shortcom-
ings of the sick man of Turkey" but one
of the latest diagnoses attributes every
thing to the sultan's advisers and coun-
selors. The first of these men, according
to NJ. Ycram, writing in the Paris Revue. is
Tahsin Pacha, the first secretary of the
sultan. His authority and influence are
immense, but he uses them rarely, and al
though he might have been in possession of
an immense fortune, he has preferred to
allow his subordinateS to become wealthy.
Every time that l have seen him in the
wretched building which serves him as Of
flee he has inspired me with pity. His
drawn features and his yellow complexion
make only too apparent his passions and
his years. He is called upon by the sui
tan at any hour of the day and night in
order to take dictation, and he must even
have special permission to visit his wife,
who lodges at the gates of the palace At
bottom Tahsn Pac--a is no worse than any
of the others. TIE narrowness of his mind
has always kept him in the sultan's favor.
who knows he would have a great deal of
difficulty in finding first secretary more
docile or humble. TahSin Pacha is COW
cred with decorations and titles, his salary
is good. he frequently receives large pres
ents and generally succeeds in making good
commissions out of his office. This man
likewise receives all persons who are seek
ing audience.
First Chamberlain.
The second parsonage is Hadji-AlI Pacha,
the first chamberlain. This is a good old
Turk of the old school, says NJ. Ycram,
who passes his days, seated after the ma
tional fashion, before little table on
w-ch are placed an ink well, ash receiver
and a cup of coffee" This man is one of
the oldest servants of the sultan, and his
main duty is to receive the patriarchs of
the different sections and reach an agree
ment with them. Notwithstanding his
simplicity, however" continues M. Ycram,
he knows very well how to pull the
strings of intrigue" Another adviser Is
Izzet Pacha, the second chamberlain and
second secretary, a man small, dark, sly,
the perfect type of the Syrian without faith
or law, capable of devising and executing
all possible infamies." This man dreams of
replacing the sultan and of absorbing Tur-
key and ruling the country for himself.
He is generally called the Little Sultan
title well merited. 1T is to be hoped
that the sultan will be able to get rid of
him before he falls beneath his intrigues.'
The next man on the authors list is
Raghib Pacha, the third secretary and
chamberlain. This man is real phenom-
enon. He possesses most of the qualities
of the great man. for he is at once states
man. manufacturer, merchant, and above
all a patriot" He is one of the most valued
counselors of the sultan. and Abdul Hamid
knows that he can count on him in any
eventuality. The chamberlain Faik Bey Is
an important man. and one of whom the
sultan Is very fond He does a large and
complex business in many dark negotia-
tons.
Intrigues of Chamberlains.
Many other chamberlains of less import
ance surround the sultan, passing their
time waiting for a favorable moment in
which to ask the old man for favors. This
entire world" says NJ. Ycram, intrigue
against each other and spy on one another
to the great delight of the sultan, who Is
happy in seeing them devour each other.
In fact. he purposely excites their personal
animosities in order that they may never
reach an agreement among themselves to
overthrow him. These men are really the
balance of power, for they terroriZe officials
and ministers, who rarely disobey them
They are however, in almost every case
forced to live within the immediate en-
virons of the palace, they cannot leave
their quarters except upon order of the sui
tan, and only at rare intervals are they
allowed to go into the country" Among
them is the Sheik Ebul-Huda the chaplain
of the sultan. a nomad dervish who sue
ceeded In gaining admission to the sultan,
and who has remained a fixture in the
palace ever since. He has a large fund of
astrological knowledge, interprets the sui
tan's dreams and casts horoscopes for him.
Tcherkez- Mehmed Pacha, the private aid
de-camp of the sultan, is thin and wiry.
having the appearance Of a starved tiger"
"One OF the most picturesque individuals
however, Is Nichan Effendi, the director of
the press. This gentleman has to do with
all press matters, not only at home, but
also with the relations Of the foreign press
to Turkish affairs. He even goes so far as
to bring pressure to bear on foreign gov
ernments when the sultan Is not handled
with kid gloves, and recently the Paris
Matin was prohibited the Turkish mails for
some lack Of respect shown he sultan In
its columns"