Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
A NEW ERA FOR PERSIA
Liberal Monarchy Succeeds TO
a Despotism.
SHAFTS GREAT CONCESSION
Revolution Accomplished Without
Shedding of Blood.
CONSTITUTION FOR THE PEOPLE
Establishment Of a. Parliament With
Somewhat Limited Powers-Pres-
emit Sovereign's Change Of Heart.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

the SOtn or December, 18O6, he gave them
constitution; then he died and Mohammed
Ali Mira, Valiahd, reigned in his stead.
1t is not a very broad or liberal constitu-
ton, Judged by our standards; and the par
Lament has limited powers, but hereafter
the people of Persia will have share Of
the responsibility Of the government and
Will make their own laws, which Is the
most extraordinary concession that has
been made by despot and autocrat in all
history. Since the time of Cyrus the
Great the Persians have patiently and 10y
ally supported score of dynasties with
absolute power, and now, without revolu-
ton, without the shedding of blood, Persia
steps voluntarily into the group of consti-
tntional and parliamentary governments
The movement which accomplished these
remarkable results was a silent one. It
has been gathering strength and impetus for
many years, but 1t was accomplished with
out the use of force and without interfer-
ence from foreign nations, although 1t was
actively supported by British influence.
When the parliament was announced in
August last the shah dismissed his uncle,
Prince Ain-ed-Dowleh, who had been grand
vizier for many years and was conserva-
tive and reactionary, and appointed Mushir-
ed-Dowleh in his stead. The latter was
minister of foreign relations and has
served many years as the diplomatic repre-
sentative of Persia at European courts. He
therefore has an accurate knowledge Of
constitutional government and is very lib
eral in his political views. His influence
change. He convinced the late shah that
Persia is behind the age and cannot keep
step with the rest of the world as long as it
retains it's Anticipated, despotic system Of
government. AS was the case with Russia
under similar circumstances many inf1uen-
tial leaders Of the liberal movement, who
had been banished by the late grand vizier,
were recalled with honor and were received
at Theran with manifestations of popular
rejoicing.
Popular Illiteracy.
This Transformation of Persia from an
autocracy to a liberal monarchy is the more
remarkable because the great masses Of
the people have no idea of the meaning Of
constitutional government. There is no
equivalent for that word in the Persian
hterate. Not one in ten Thousand can read
or write and there Is no middle class. His
tory does not record single instance Of
constitutional government in q country
where the Mohammedan religion prevails,
and 1t Ia contended that the two cannot,
exist in the same atmosphere. Neverthe-
less, some Of the most active liberals and
some Of the stanchest supporters Of the
movement are Moslem priests. And they
are the objects of the most serious appre-
hension.
acted with the reformers, and, indeed have
been among the foremost leaders Of the
reformation, may discover the Incompatible
ity Of the laws of Islam with parlia-
store the traditional autocratic conditions.
On the other hand 1t is feared mat the lib
eral leaders in the parliament will press
their demands too far before they are firm
ly established and before the usefulness
Of a parliamentary government has been
fully demonstrated to the people. It Is
feared that they will adopt radical meas
ures and try to advance too rapidly in the
reformation of affairs, like the majority in
the Russian duma. No doubt there will be
troublesome times before the Persians COM
v,1o tn1xr Cd rof fhov,o h.
of things, but the parliament has come to
stay; the autocracy has been abolished
forever, and this revolution will not 20
backward.
New shah's Change Of Heart.
Thus far the new shah. who assembled
the throne in January, has acted in har-
mony with the parliament and has con-
frmed all its acts He has conceded to it
the control Of the customs service and the
arsenals which means the revenues Of the
government and the army, the two chief
pillars Of the administration. The popu-
inferred from the fact that he now Claims
all the credit of the reforms which took
place before the death of his father and
he himself was serving as
day he addressed q letter to the grand
vizier, in which he made the surprising
statement that the constitution was granted
to Persia by the late shah at the instance
Of his son (himself, then crown prince
and now the reigning sovereign This is
contrary to the popular impression. He Is
the parliament and the constitution. But
he probably now estimates the strength Of
the forces behind the movement more ac-
curately than he did when he was living
the scene Of the Arabian Nights.
Tabriz il an interesting old place, q CEN
ter Of Persian scholarship as well as trade,
and it's people have always been very con-
sentative In political and religious move
ments. The large public square upon
which the palace Of the crown prince
Mira Ali Mohammed. religious enthu-
siast and moral reformer, who assumed
the title Of the Bah or Gate to Heaven"
Hal Han century ago ne stirred TIRED up Persia as
when the government, at the instance Of
the Moslem mullahs, attempted to suppress
him, his followers resisted and organized
revolution, which came very near over
throwing the dynasty. He was arrested.
sentenced to death and executed July 9,
1850 His son succeeded him as the leader
Of the Babies or Behaists, and is now
prisoner In the Turkish fortress of Acre,
Syria.
The 'Bab" has several thousand follow
ers in the United States. chiefly in New
York and Chicago. where they have or
ganized societies, and several among the
members OF fashionable society in Wash
ington. Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, widow Of
the late Senator Hearst of California, is
one OF his most loyal and generous adher-
ents. At Acre he is surrounded by quite
colony of American believers and students.
Tabriz was also the scene of another re-
ltgious martyrdom, the only case. I am
told, in which Mohammedan priest has
been put to death for abjuring islam and
adopting Christianity. The Moslems ac-
cept the Old Testament In full and they
accept Christ as an inspired teacher. just
as the Buddhists do.
Living In such an atmosphere and sur
rounded by such conservative Influences, 1t
is not strange that the crown prince,
man of thirty-four years, should lack
faith in the liberal movement, but since he
arrived at Teheran, In January, to ascend
tered his soul. for, February II, he pub
lished the letter to the grand vizier, above
referred to, in which he said:
"Our desire for promoting the principles
Of the constitution, the signature Of which
T. La