Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-17
FIRST OTTOMAN VI \
PAR lament Meets.
----- $1,000
Event Formally Breaks the Des-
potic Rule Of Many
Centuries.
SULTAN RIDES STATE COACH
Everywhere Along Route, Guarded
By Soldiers, Was Cheered
BY PopuIace.
constitution WAS Granted Last July
People Are Very Enthusiastic
And show Much Interest.

ropstantinople Dec. 11.--After an M
terval of So years, Turkey today en-
tered upon a second attempt at con-
stitutional government with the in'.u-
.,,1ration at Constantinople of the new
parliament elected under the constitu-
ton promulgated by the sultan IN
July of this year.
The sultan opened parliament In per-
son with elaborate ceremony fashioned
after the customs of older similar as
senblies.
The new legislature met III the same
chamber where the short lived parlia-
nent of 1876 assembled-a moderate
sized hall in o. building facing tho
square OF st. Sofia. The scene was
perhaps one of the most remarkable
in the political history OF the world
All the crceCls and races of the Turk
lsh empire sent their duly elected rep
rcsentatives.
The many varied costumes of tho
delegates, some in flowing silk robes,
and others in the Fashionable frock
coat, formed u gorgeous and multi
colored picture never before witnessed
in a legislative gathering in Europe
Albanians, Syrians, and Moslem rep
rcsentatives; while Greeks, Armeni-
ans and Bulgarians represented the
Christian nationalities.
Members from Jerusalem and Mecca
rubbed shoulders with their colleagues
from the European provinces and the
far-ofr Kurdish Armenian and Arab
districts on the confines Of the Indian
ocean AS far as can be judged from
surface indications, the new parliament
has entered upon its duties with
united determination to carry out suc-
cessfully the aims of the bloodless
revolution which made possible tne m
auguratlon OF q constitutional regime
in Turkey.
The sultan left Yildiz palace in a
state coach at half past II o'clock to
drive to the building adjoining the
ministry of justice and facing the
great SQUARE Of st. Sofia, where the
new chamber convened. He was &C
companied by the first secretary Of
the imperial chancellory, All Bjevad
Bey, and a large number of aides and
attendants. The entire line of march
of the imperial party, distance OF
five miles, had been swept and spread
with fresh sand for the passage or
his majesty
These are the same preparatlons
made every time the sultan leaves
Yildiz. and particularly when he at
tends the selamlik. Every regiment IN
n Constantinople was under arms and
lined up along the route Of the pro-
cession to guard the progress of the
sultan. Triumphal arches spanned the
streets, and as the occasion had been
made public holiday the city was
crowded with people. Thousands came
in from surroundig towns and villages
as well as from more remote parts OF
the empire, and almost the entire local
population turned out to witness the
ceremonies.
All the ministers Of state, the sena-
tors and the deputies of the new legis-
lative body assembled at the ministry
of justice preparatory to marching
10 the hall of parliament. The foreign
diplomats in Constantinople assembled
at the British embassy and proceeded
to the hall in a body. They all were
clad in their full official uniforms.
The enthusiasm of the people Is key
ed to high pitch and their reception
to the sultan and their cheers for the
assembly are an evidence of the deep
interest taken by Turkey in this first
step towards constitutional life.
The first Turkish parliament was
assembled over 80 years ago but Its ex-
istence was very brief and it was dis
solved before any definite results were
accomplished.