The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-22
AUrOoRArs AND pARLrAxEN7s.
the Story Of turkeys Experiment OF
1870" Constitutional Government"

tho Story Of turkeys Experiment OF
1870" Constitutional Government"
TO THE EDITOR or THE suS--sir: Read .
Ing the manifesto Of the Gar OF Russia ana
the conditions under which no grants the
general demand OF the people for national
assembly, ono Ia irresistibly carried back 20
the days when the Sultan OF Turkey granted
Q constitution and parliament to hIs people.
The difference betwe the two cases is
that whereas In Russia they are given during
and ~ q result Of disastrous war. In Turkey
they preceded one, In both cases they were
started By outside pressure. friendly In the
case OF Turkey, the revere In that OF Russia
but In Turkey there was no popular clainor
for parliament. while In Russia every INTEL
llSent patriot demands II AZ right and as the
only means Of saving the country from revo-
luton and anarchy.
Whether the difference In the conditions
under which the grant Ia being made In
Russia will have Its influence on results Ia
question OF time, but the limitations and re-
strictions imposed seem to fOreshadow
either collapse or the beginning OF q more
scute strusgle between the autocracy ana
tho people. probably the latter. Throughout
the document there 10 not breath Of spon-
taneity or generosity; 1t Is simply the hard
wrung concession made by an obstinate man
and system In their hour OF necessity, with the
evident intention to revoke all or parts OF IL
II the opportunity presents Itself and the
peoples thoughts can be diverted to other
things by clever tactics.
When the Sultan OF Turkey consented to
promuleate q constitution he knew that a
war was impending. The Three Kaisers
Alliance had agreed on the partition OF most
he was anxious TO secure the sympathy and
II possible tho material assistance OF the
Western Powers. He was persuaded by q
small but active coterie OF Russophobes In
England, comprising the late Mr.. Butler
Johnston, the late Col. ROLAND. Mr.. T. Gibson
Bowies and few others. to call together .
parliament. which he did under an imperial
decree In November. 1879. after the success
full conclusion of the short war with Seryia
In that year.
The tone and spirit Of the decree were In
form more liberal than that just published
In Russia, but II inspired no confidence what
ever among tho Christians OF the empire and
was absolutely without meaning to the mass
Of tho Mussulman population.
The first deputies were chosen by the
Sultan from among the Mussulman and
Christian notables all over the country
Tho latter, whatever their secret sentiments
may have been. belonged to the class COM
monty described at Constantinople as "Evfet
Enendlms." men with only one desIre--to
stand we'll with the powers that were. and
with one reply. Certainly. sir" to everything
emanating from authority. Those that ac-
cepted the mandate graciously conferred on
them did 30 in fear and trembling. those
that could excused themselves Oh the score
Of III health or family affairs. or. II these
we're not available. bought of attendance by
qualifications to officials who could excuse
them. The choice OF the Mussulman depu-
ties gave more trouble. very general feeling
OF discomfort with the state Of affairs having
begun TO pervade the moro intelligent and
educated among the Turks. 1t was thought.
however, that they could be held straight by
the president OF the chamber. Achmed Vefyk
Pasha. who was expected to keep them
we'll In hand.
When the Sultan selected Achmed vefyk
as president OF the parliament he had o
double object in view. The Turcophiles In
England. who. he hoped. would be able to
procure material assistance from the British
Government, for Turkey in the coming war.
had to be kept In good humor. and Vefyk
was Just the man. for he had succeeded in
convincing Butler Johnston and the rest OF
his party that no was a reforAler. But Vefyk
was not less Of Turk for being endowed
with q sense Of humor. When the parlla-
ment met, there was a great TODD In Con-
stantinople. and the comedy was admirably
enacted. The xaptiehs. or gendarmes. were
paraded and the constitution was read to
them, explaining that henceforth there was
to be no moro difference between Mussul-
mans and Christians. or Giaours. as they
were moro commonly called-al were to be
treated alike. Having read the mysterious
document to his satellites. he dismissed them
with the Injunction. Now. remember. men.
you are not TO call the Giaours Giaours
any more.
In the parliament the deputies were like
sheep without . shepherd. No one knew
what to do. and no one wanted to become
prominent by putting forward radical pro-
posals. for there was no cohesion or possible
ity Of political Organization among them.
Only four sturdy old Turks from Anatolia
stood UP to insist on a discussion Of the
budget and to be told where the people 8
taxes went. This was the signal for the end.
Achmed vefyk now came out as the Turk.
and stood up exclaimine "Susl" vulgar Turk
ish, the equivalent for the English Shut up.
and at the same time declared the parliament
closed. This was signal for the weakened
Christians to scatter like rats to their holes.
followed by all the Mussulman deputies ex-
oept the faithful four. These protested against
the arbitrary conduct Of the president. but
Achmed vefyk simply clspped his hands.
more Turkico. and the z1ptiehs were called
In The four professionals were carried out.
taken to their khans, themselves and their
baggage sent across the Bosporus to Soutari.
from where they were packed of under escort
TO their homes in Asia Minor.
So ended the farce OF constitutional rule
In Turkey; but there was no bloodshed. be-
cause not one resisted, and there was still
the game OF conclliatine English opinion to
be played-uselessly. as 1t turned out.
What guarantee there Ia that the Russian
autocracy means to carry out Its constitu-
tional concessions in any way different from
the Sultan q 1t is diff1cut to discover In the
imperial manifesto. The future depends on
the leaders OF the Russian people. and for
tunately for Russia they are not so likely to
weaken As the Turkish deputies. PERA.
NEW YORK. Aug. 81.