Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

Americans say.
He has never been outside of Persia.
He speaks no European language, and of
education in the European sense he has
had none. Azerbaidjan, over which he
ruled as crown prince, is a Turkish prov
ince of Persia, whose inhabitants are of a
much inferior type to the true Persians.
1t is unfortunate for him that his lot was
cast so long among them and that he was
so much under the influence of their priest
hood. The priests are the bane of Persia,
but those of Azerbaidjan are the worst of
the lot They are fanatical followers of
Islam. narrow minded and bigoted, and op-
posed to everything in the nature of mod
ern reforms, which of necessity would d.
minsh their powers. The law of the Modes
and Persians was long ago swept away by
the devotees of the prophet. The inspiring
monotheism of Zoroaster, the ancient re-
ligion of Persia, survives now in its purity
only among those Persian emigrants, the
Parsees, who largely control the finances OF
Bombay.
THE new shah is the eldest son of his
father, but there is no law in Persia which
vests the succession in the eldest son. The
shah may nominate whom he pIeases
among his children to succeed him. Shoa-
es-Saltaneh, the second son of the late
shah, is apparently much ADLER man than
his elder brother He is really clever
young fellow and well educated. He WIS.,
tied Europe six years ago, and was much
impressed by what he saw Of European in
situations. There is little doubt that he
would make a most capable sovereign. But
the fact that he has slave mother, while
Mohammed Ali MiZras was a princess OF
the kadjar tribe, constituted an obstacle
to his succession though by no means an
insurmountable one. Odd as it may seem,
the proof he had given that he Is man OF
vigor and ability would count against him
rather than in his favor. Heirs to the
throne in Persia have disagreeable way
Of seeking to obtain possession of the
crown before 1t descends to them in the
natural course of events by starting q re-
volt or in some other way getting rid of
their fathers. The more capable and am
bilious the heir the more apt he is to an
ticipate the decease of his sire. Perhaps
this consideration may have had something
to do with the late shah's nomination of the
most docie of his children as his heir in
stead of the ablest.
'If the truth were known 1t would prob
ably be found, too. that Russian influence
which was predominant at the time, had
not a little to do with the selection Of Mo-
manned All Mizra as the shah's successor
Russian policy is opposed to the formation
of strong. stable government in Persia
1t Is Russian policy to stimulate the rot
ting process in Persia-to accelerate ma.
that plausible pretext may be provided
for stepping in and taking possession OF
the land. or at least a big slice of 1t. And
this sort Of game can be better played
when there is puppet on the throne than
when there is a strong man seated ON it.
"At TabriZ, which, is in the north Of Per-
sia and near to the Russian frontier, Rus
sian influence had free play with the new
shah and the Cossacks have afforded him
many object lessons in her might and
power. But the defeat Of the Colossus OF
the North by Japan has greatly impaired
her prestige in Persia. Her impoverish.
ment by the war has damaged 1t still
worse. She can no longer afford to spend
money there to promote her own aims
The Oriental Is always on the side that pays
best, and as Russia no longer pays her in
fiuence in Persia Is rapidly waning.
''Tabriz is about 300 miles from Teheran
where the shah lives. but because of the
wretched substitute for roads-mere camel
tracks-and the mountains that have to be
crossed 1t takes fully two weeks to perform
that Is the reason why the crown prince Is
makes ii the more difficult for him to seize
the crown before he is entitled to 1t. At the
same time 1t is eminently desirable that the
crown prince should be at hand when the
shah dies. so as to be able to take his seat
on the throne as soon as 1t becomes vacant
Otherwise when he arrives on the scene he
Is apt to find that somebody else has got
there ahead Of him, and then 1t becomes q
case OF might makes right, with possession
In favor OF the usurper. 1t was doubtless