Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-16

ago, and was much impressed by what
he saw of European institutions There
is little doubt that he would make q
most capable sovereign. But tho fact
that he has slave mother, while Mo-
manned All Mizra's was q princess of
the Kadjar tribe, constituted an OBJ
stacle to his succession, though by no
| means An insurmouiltable one. Odd as
1t may seem. the proof he had given
that he is a man of vigor and ability
| would count against him rather than
| in his favor. Heirs to the throne IA
Persia have disagreeable way of seek
ing to obtain possession OF the crown
before It descends TO them in the isatr-
raj course OF events by starting a revolt
or in some other way getting rid OF
their fathers. The more capable and
ambitious the heir the more apt he is
10 anticipate the deoease of his sire.
Perhaps this consideration may have
had something 20 do with the late shahs
nomination of the most docie OF his
children as his heir instead OF the
ablest.
II the truth were known it would
probably be found. too, that Russian
influence. which was predominant at
the time. had not little to do with
the selection OF Mohammed Ali MIRA
as the shah's successor. Russian policy
is opposed TO the formation of n strong
stable government In Persia. 1t ia Rus
sian policy to stimulate the rotting
process in Persia---to accelerate nation-
al decay and dislntegration In order
that plausible pretext may be pro-
vided for stepping in and taking pos
session OF thu land. or at least n big
slice of II. And this sort OF game can
be better played when there is n pup
pet on tho throne than where there Is
a strong man seated on it.
AT Tabriz. which Is In the north of
tn ha Eufa esHta
tier. Russian influence had free play
with the new shah and the Cossacks
have afforded him many object lessons
I'm her might and power. But the defeat
OF the Colossus OF the north by Japan
has greatly impaired her prestige In
Persia. Her impoverlshment by the
war has damaged II 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 influence IN Persia is rapidly wan
ing.
''Tabriz Is about 800 miles from Te-
heran, where the shah lives, but be-
cause Of the wretched substitute for
roads--mere camel tracks-and : the
mountains that have to be crossed II
takes fully two weeks TO perform tho
journey between the two cities And
that Is the reason why tho crown prince
IL iIWINh required 10 ffNlut Ut ItIDllZ.
1t makes IL the more difficult for him
to seize the crown before he Is entitled
TO IL. At the same time Il Is eminently
desirable thai the crown prince should
be NJ hand when thS shah dies, so MS
To be able to take his seat on the throne
as soon as IT becomes vacant. Other
wise when he arrives on the scene no
Is apt TO ind that somebody else has
got there ahead OF him, and then It !
becomes "A case of might makes right. |
with possession In favor OF the usurpcr. /
II was doubtless Ia minimize as far az |
possible all risks OF a struggle taking !
place for the throne that the shah SUM |
nOnod the crown prince To Teheran |
when he found that his end was ap-
preaching.
CAPABLE CHARACTERISTICS.
III the new shah Possesses the char
ncterlstics OF a capable rulor he has
most carefully concealed
them. But whether he turns Out a
pupppot on develops unsupported abll-
ity win really make little difference,
so Ear az the destinles OF Persia arc |
concerned. Though nomlnally an au-
toorat whose viii Is supreme law, the
shah, unless he be one of those rare
master snilits who, with high moral
aims combines Il powerful Intellect,
an infexible viii ana iFeless energy
can really accomplish very little Ana
such a man. by his efforts M reforms
would arouse against him such n
swarm OF unscrupuluous enemief that
The odds are overwhelming hc would
be assasslnated before he had more
Than made a beginning,
'"rhe priests. or mullahs as they are
called. exercise vastly greater power
than the throne, The administration
of justice IL IN their hands, II ~ sup
posed 10 be based on the Koran ana a
fantastic book called shara, which Is
more liko a collection of proverbs than
r. code OF laws, In reality II X made
a matter OF buying and selling, Tho
verdict generally goes to the party
10 suit who can pay the Highest
price for II. 10 such an extent Is this
niquisous system carried that In some
HTrr-r---
lcoatinilad ON naga fourLeenl