New-York tribune., 1908-08-09
THE SULTAN HIMSELF.

.-z-7 =-s-fd IT. whose titles varyingly from
SHADOW of God on Earth Refuge Of the World
.s-v7- NJ Men Father OF ali the Sor-reigns Of
,.z ra-1b~ Finest Pearl Of the Age" Esteemed
~s--ra oF the Universe" Grown Of ages and
comes -r--7-fasl-th in line Of the House Of os-
man. whose sovereigns have ruled Turkey since
ne foundation Of the Turkish Empire. in 1893
Son Z Abdul 0Ie5id and one OF his slaves he was
called n TIE throne il 1875 by the forced retire
r7a-r OF his brother. Nurad Y said 10 have been
insane Although feared and hated by his sub
ler-si a bduI IEaaid has managed for thirty-tTo
strenuous Years by the most extraordinary pre-
cautions u safeguard his own person and the
throne
Not cast 5r heroic mould physically mentally,
r possessed OF shTewd cunning that enables
hin 70 achieve his ends. lie has believed no one
bit himself. trusted one but himself and has
survived ard held his until the present shake
4 student Of human nature. he has often
turned his enemies friends, whether individuals
countries. by loading them with favors, honors
and gifts Revengeful beyond belief. ne has never
pardored- Circumstances have sometimes obliged
him 70 defer his vengeance. but sooner later his
hand has fallen and crushed the object of his
hatred
Under his boss rule A system of espionage
vas established that spared no one from the
Grand Fizer down As soon as new official was
appointed Il matter OF course that spy
be told OF 10 watch him. and. like the flea:
This spy had lesser spies,
These syc0phsnts were always Of prompt
and liberal payment though the soldiers Went IN
PAID for months al a time rightful claims Of gov
ernments remained unaudited and public debts
multiplied To prop I'D his throne the Sultan has
obtained loan after loan from the European pow
eTs, the plea being always the same in order TO
reform the country
Though king Of bosses" the Sultan himself,
thin. shTivsa6 shifty eyed. with narrow. stooping
shoulders and seufle carriage, is an ever present
rn-f7s
that wiII not down for q tasknaster His mag
hhcent palace al NiIdiz Is veritable fortress,
surrounded by walls within another, filed
With arTnCr plates against pTojectiles- Here is
city within city, swarullng with soldiers, ana
with underground passages and well appointed
armament that might enable him To Withstand a
prolonged siege
Following the Sultan on the roster OF Turkish
bosses comes the Sheik-UI-IslaIn, or Grand Mutt
This Official. who is treated and spoken Of with
extreme respect by all Moslems is the supreme
interpreter II the Koran and first magistrate OF
tie empire lie has absolute control over the
lmarns. mollahs ulemas and sofas and over the
superiors Of the various metTaases, or theological
colleges, and other judicial and religious ins'lin-
tons The der1ishes are also indirectly under his
Fule and twice a week he sits at the supreme
Court Of Justice OF Arz-odessi, which IS attached
10 his palace. His decisions are absolutely irrefo-
cable
Every law drawn Up Fy the Council Of State has
70 oe submitted 70 him and passed upon Dei'i0
being given 10 the Sultan for his signature The
Sultan himself dares not issue trade that has not
received the fetva Of the Sheik-ul-Isian TO snow
mat the trade is conformity with IslaHic tene's-
although endowed with such immense power, MS
position is peculiar one. lie is appointed by the
sultan who. as supreme head has also power 10
o-s'niss him without vouchsafing any explanation
W The other hand while the Sultan can depose the
shek-Ul-Islsm al VIII. the consent Of that digni-
Ufy must be obtained before the Padishah himself
eah BE- removed from his high Office
As rule the Sheik-uI-Islam are Of humble
o1sn, but are possessed OF considerable talent The
asi incumbent is said to have risen through his
tsentS as a sp,