New-York tribune., 1908-08-06
YOUNG TURKS WARY
p~snce .Saboheddin Doubts Sincerity
of Turkeys Ruler.
Parts. July 2s.

- -. .he chiefs Of liberal agftators
=. -ez-olutionists known somewhat Veeueiy ns
x-o,ns Turks party. which was the prime
- in compelling the Sultan 10 revive WIN
- .-,s-vellols rapidity the constitution soi
=, 7, Paris as elsewhere. the question Is on
--,,hoaySs lips is Abdul Hamid sincere III
',,.-,,,shing his sutocracy and estaoiishins
f',.~...r+a-- r7lie7~ People ask. viii the
- r,,-ks now that the period of agitation
fo"l-e =. able n bear the responsibilities of
,;,,o-v and meet the requirements OF a
inel .,5 nesoefuI government Of Turkey by
7ars7- Answers 70 these queries are con-
u i've, r,1 DR. Baheddin Efendi who in
-.o-rba+ r,vsterous absence OF Ahmed
-. r,.o,s the head Of the Young Turks, is
-. authoritative leader here of the Turk
:. -.,,,lsr movement and also by Prince Saha-
ssi- ,-ho was a most bitter opponent OF the
n-sors, regime of Abdul Hamid. although he
a. .,s. sovereign's own nephew
:, ,sbe5din admitted that he surprised
-. dramatic suddenness displayed by the
c,,,an which ne says. can only have been the re-
= - i-,r1inent personal peril Had he not acted
-,--,,l,- the Sultan would doubtless have been
....s bsfo-e the ceremony Of the Selanlk on
--~tssz- and his younger brother, Prince Rechad
-, is The legitimate heir TO the throne accord
80 the Koranic law and also according 10 the
.ors,,,,,tion. would have been proclaimed Sultan
.,~ss- the name of Mehmed V. Dr.. Baheddin
r...e5 tra* the Young Turks were thoroughly
-. we are absolutely convinced that
.be constitution which has been obtained oy
-, ,.;l1 ,ot only be carried out but main
-.insd We can depend upon the army. whlch
= ~ hand in hand with the nation, TO protect
:. 60, env reac+iona-y coup d'etat. Moreover.
= C,,l+an who doubtless If he had his choice,
- --afar 70 get back his former preroga-
-. erde that Il IS for his own personal in
60 royalIv TO observe the constitution
ao- ,o,s desire is to see the Sultan rule in
-. Nth the constitutional laws. II his
-, DOES this he viii discover that he has
80 fs;+ffuI and devoted subjects than the
,-o,nq Turks. who to-day are represented by the
,,esses NJ the nation. not only in European
-,-l,sz- hut throughout Asia Minor We have
,o+ been prompted By any ideas Of revenge, but
q. have acted from purely patriotic motives
Our object IS 70 have a strong united Turkey,
eoverned by The people. which can thus be a
safeguard against foreign aggression, and which
h, insuriug equal civic rights for ALL whether
woslern. Christian or Jew. viii be a guarantee
for security az home Il is not likely that Abdul
Bsnid viii abdicate. The order Of the success
sion is firmly established by the constitution.
He Is powerless TO abdica1e in favor Of his son,
Prince Burhaneddin, who is only twenty-Ihree
years Of age. # he abdcates at all he must 90
SO Internationally OF course it is possible that
Ab6ul Eaz1id owing 10 age and delicate health
caused by the intense nervous strain during the
last thirty years. may prefer 10 retire to pri-
rzte life That is his own affair. But the order
Of succession cannot be changed. Upon this
absolutely insist The Sultan is by the consti-
tuition Irresponsible, but his person is sacred
M or
not His successor would be held 10 the same
obligations toward the constitution. Should the
Sultan violate the constitution the struggle
would II once begin again. But we have the
best reasons TO feel convinced that no such at
tempt viii ever be made. and that Abdul Hamid.
whose personal interests now coincide with pub
lie interests and with the welfare OF the Turkish
nation, viii Loyalty observe the new charter
Prince sabaheddin the Sultans nephew and
e most energetic leader of the Young Turks
movement. is thirty years o. age. He is some
what below the medium height. dark. nervous
and wiry. His features are intelligent and SYM
pathetic. He occupies q modest apartment in
The Rue de Berlin. Prince Sabaheddin did not
hesitate 10 express grave doubts to the sin
oerity OF his imperial uncle. He said:
I'VE DO not place confidence in the promises
made by the Sultan. He has yielded simply 10
force. He had no other alternative He is
waiting for an opportunity to withdraw the
constitution. just as he did before. but this op-
portunity will never come He must make up
his mind that autocratic rule is done away with
once for all The Turkish peasants are not
fearful and servile Ike the Russian moujiks,
nor are they fighty and effervesecent, like the
Persisns The average Turk is q quiet, law
abiding. honest fellow. who now. after long
and hitter experience. feels convinced that his
domestic life and happiness depend upon repre-
sentative government, which alone can protect
hin from the brutal cruelty Of local taxgath-
erers and village tyrants acting in the Sui
tan's name
Abdul F1aunid has over and over again given
Us false promises. He has already ruled too
long He is q danger for Turkey, as well as
for Europe. Most Of the Young Turks pro-
Tess z put faith in Abdul Hamids promises
myself do not share this optimism. Although
Ire Sultan has dismissed his former Grand
Vizier. Ferid Pacha. and appointed in his stead
he shrewd. cautious and adroit Said Pacha,
who began MS career as Abdul Hamid's private
secretary but VINO subsequently was prosecuted
To- his enlightened political views and escaped
ron exile OF death by obtaining the protection
o. the British Embassy: although the liberal
Kaml Pacha has been called 20 the new cabi-
net and some half dozen appointments have
been made Of men belonging 10 the Young
Turks party 7 am stiu unconvinced Of his sin
oerity II is significant that Omer Rechid
Facha, who replaces Riza Pacha as Minister OF
"ar, is an absolute nulity. If the Sultan ex-
poets oraer Rechid 70 accomplish anything, he
Till have 10 wait long time. The same men
Fno we're instrumental in maintaining the old
regime of tyranny and tale bearing remain In
'sT9r, and form. as hitherto an irresponsible
esiaa7illa o intrigue Perhaps. after all. the
Present dramatic attitude Of the Sultan may be