The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-18
ABDUL HAMID
OPENS THE new
PARLIAMENT
Second Attempt to Establish
Constitutional Govern
ment in Turkey.
SULTAN CHEERED BY
THR0NGS OF PEOPLE
MOST REMARKABLE GATHERING
OF REPRESENTATIVE OF PEo-
PLEIN POLITICAL HISTORY.

Constsntinople. Dec 17.-After an inter
val Of thirty-tWo years Turkey today en-
terod upon a second attempt at eonstitu-
tionaI government with the Inauguration
~ Constantinople Of the new parliament
elected under the constitution promul-
gated by the sultan in July of this year.
The sultan opened parliament in person
with elaborate ceremony, fashioned after
the customs of older similar assemblies. 3
The new legislature met in the same
chamber where the shOrt-Eved parliament
~ 1916 assembled-a mOderate-sized hall
i'm a building facing the square of ST
Sofia. The scene was perhaps one of the
most remarkable in the political history
nj the world All the creeds and races of
the Turkish empire sent their duly elect
ed representatives.
NeYer-to-be-forgotten Scene.
The many varied costumes of the dele
gates. some in flowing silk robes, and
others in the fashionable frock coat.
formed a gorgeous and multi-colOTed pic
fure never before witnessed in a legiSla-
rams and MOslem representatives; while
Creeks. Armenians and Bulgdrians repre-
sented the Christian nationalities.
Members from Jerusalem and Mecca
rubbed shoulders with their colleagues
from the European provinces and the far
off Kurdish Armenian and Arab districts
on the confines Of the Indian ocean. As
far as can be judged Afrom surface indica-
tons. the new parliament has entered
upon its duties with IA united determine
ton TO carry out successfully the aims
OF the bloodless revolution which made
possible the inauguration of a constitI-
tiOnal regime in Turkey.
Sultan Greeted With Cheers.
With the meeting OF the first Ottoman
parliament today Turkey formally breaks
from the despotic rule of centuries Sui
tan Abdul Hamid paraded through the
city at the head of an elaborate cortege
10 open the first session of the body.
EVER where hey~evas greeted with loud
ele'ring and there was no semblance OF
disorder.
The sultan left Yiioiz palace in a state
soaeh at II 81 O'Clock to drive to the build
iHs adjoining Athe miniStrS aof justice and
facing the greht square of st. Sofia. where
the new chamber convened. He was &C
Sonlpanied by the first secretary of the
imperial chancellory. Ali Bjevad Bey and
a large number of aides and attendants.
The entire line of march of the imperial
party, a distance of five miles, has been
swept and spreaG with fresh sand for the
Passage of his majesty.
Day of Rejoicing.
These are the same preparations made
every time the sultan leaves Yildiz. ana
particularly when he attends the Selam-
WAS under arms and lined I'D along the
route of the procession to guard the pro
eress of the sultan. Triumphal arches
SCANNED the streets, and as the occasion
mad been made public holiday. the city
was crowded with people. Thousands came
IN from surrounding towns and village.
as well as from more remote parts of tho
empire, and almost the entire local ponu.
lauon turned ont TO witness the cereno-
MES.
All the ministers of state. the senator.
and the deputies OF the new leeislativ,
body assembled at the ministry of Justice
preparatory to marching to the hall OF
parliament. The foreign diplomats If
Constanunople assembled at the Rritisf
embassy and. proceeded TO the hall in I
body: They all were clad in their full
official uniforms
The enthusiasm of the people is kevef
To high pitch and their reception to IN,
sultan and their cheers for the assembly
are an evidence of the deep interest takeT
by Turkey in this first step towards con
stitutiOnal life.
Inc first Turkish parliament was as
Semoled over thirty years ago but its OK
lstence was very brief and il was els
solved before anv definite results were
accomplished