Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-20

and hence 1t Is imperative ul1at the Ger
man government shall look to their pro-
lection For these reasons II is more m
terested In the succession to the turkish
throne than any other power, and naturally
will do everything possible to prevent civil
war between two claimants for the throne
Powerful influences have been exerted to
convince the kaiser of the strength of the
young Turkey party, and it is understood
that he has already cautioned Abdul HaInld
against any attempt to enthrone his Ia
vorite son. However. that is only rumor
1t Is scarcely possible for any one to know
the truth.
Report of Reshad's Death.
Within the last few weeks there have
beer several cablegrams TO the London pa
pers announcing the death of Mehemmed
Reshad, and, while they have not been
officially confirmed. 1t would not be at all
strange If the sultan should simplify the
situation by removing him as his elder
brother was removed Mehemmed Reshad
occupies apartments in the Tcheragan PAL
ace upon the banks of the Bosphorus, and
frequently drives about the city. II there
were any truth in the reports of his death
the foreign embassies would be compelled
to make 1t a matter Of inquiry because he
Is the lawful heir to the throne. The fact
that they have not done so and that no
is strong evidence that the rumor is un-
true. 1t is likely to. prove true, however.
at any time. Abdul Hamid would not hes
ftate moment to remove" his own
brother If 1t were necessary to the sue
cess of his plans, although he would do
1t in such way as to avoid responsibility.
In ancient times ii was customary for sui
tans to kill all their relations as soon as
they assembled to the throne. That happy
day has passed however While the dis
position may yet remain, the fear of the
interference of the powers would prevent
the act.
The Revolutionary Combination
The combination of revolutionary inter-
ests which has been organized to convert
the army, the officials, the court and the
people generally to the support of the le-
climate heir to the throne consists of the
Armenian revolutionary societies, the Ma
cedonian committee, the disaffected tribes
IN Mount Lebanon and other parts of Syria
and the mutinouS Arabs In Yemen. They
have joint headquarters in Geneva and an
official organ published in Paris.
For this reason l am informed by excel
lent authority that there will be no out
break in Macedonia during the coming sum-
mer. For seven or eight years the Mace
DOMAIN committee, whose headquarters are
at Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has pro-
moted uprisings across the border with
arms and money, but this year everything
Is to be quiet and a new system of collect
Ing the taxes and a new police force which
have been introduced into Macedonia under
pressure by the powers will therefore have
a fair chance to demonstrate their value
The police both in the cities and the coun-
try districts is now composed of natives en-
listed for term of years under the COM
mand of Austrian, Italian and German off,
GERS. The bashi-bazoukS and other Turkish
soldiers have been withdrawn EXCEPT from
the fortihcatfons where they still remain
as garrisons. They have nothing to do
WIZ the local affairs or with the preserva-
uon OF order in the community That re-
moves the most serious source of COM
pleint and disturbance
Tax Collection in Macedonia.
The taxes in Macedonia are now collect
ed by agents of the Imperial Ottoman Bank.
a French institution. Both the assessors
anG collectors are foreigners who are try
Ing to Introduce the French system Hith-
erto the Turkish collectors have seized ey-
erything they could lay their hands on
me governor has been required to send
certain amount of tribute annually to tho
sultan ana he has collected as much more
as possIpIe Tor himself and for his rama
clous subordinates. Hence no man with
property in Macedonia was safe: there was
no lnducement for anybody to get ahead
the sHghtest sign of prosperity would bring
an agent or the government who would
seize the greater part OF the property and
can 10 collecting the revenue"
onder the new regime property is TO be
assessed and taxes are to be collected as is
zone IN France and the proceeds are to he
deposited in the Imperial Ottoman Bank
me powers insist that they shall be an
pued 70 the support of the local govern
ment, for the establishment of scbooIs 49,
construction of roads and other Imperative
improvements, and that will probably he
cone. Hence conditions In Macedonia are
been. ' ever nave
me situation in Armenia is lust as had.
as as II can be The people are prosecuted on
ts tal, pretext If they have anything it
90 tanen away from them, and every dem
owed by massacre of the innocents The
prospects are hopeless, however. No reIiaS
can DC expected until a humane sultan sits