Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-29
ABDUL DECLARES
IT'S WILL OF ALLAH
YIELDS TO DEMANDS OF YOUNG
TURKS, GLAD TO SAVE
HIS HEAD.
PEOPLE ACCLAIM MEHEMMED
RESCHAD EFFENDI AS
NEW RULER.

! CAC4h- y l-1SlC4L1s H. - SN~NO' + ASNA1NN@
! " visited the sultan and read to hin
the decree. He informed his males
t. that questions having been put il
the canonicaI form before the sheiB
and his associates as to whether Alb
dull Hamid had not forfeited the right
to rule over the faithful, they had de
cided YES
Abdul bowed his head, saying:
1T IS the will of the Allah"
At a secret sitting Of the national
assembly in the morning the decree
was read. 1t declared that Abdul
Hamid II. must abdicate or be de
throned. The assembly unhesitating
ly shouted: "Dethlone him.
A deputation, cons. sting OF two sen
ators and two deputies, thereupon
visited the palace at Yildiz and com,
municated to the sultan the assem-
bIy's resolution. Hamid replied;
L expected this. 1t is fate. My
only wish is that the lives Of myself
and family be safeguarded and that
l may reside at the palace of Cherag-
han, as I wish to die where I was
born
A similar deputa.iOn proceeded to
DCdmabagtsche palace in GaIatia and
informed Mehemmed Reschad Luendi
OF the nations wish. The newly pro
claimed sultan replied that he bowed
to the will of the people.
A later assembly, after much de-
bate, decided that Hamid mus re-
main in COnstantinOple.
At $50 yesterday afternoon a sa-
lutte Of q guns announced the depart
ure of Mehemmed Reschad to the
Sera Askerat to swear fidelity to the
constitution.
The sultan elect came by boat
across the Boshporos to STEAMBOAT.
He landed near the Sublime porte and
thence proceeded to Sera Askerat ac-
companied by a detachment of cav
airy The troops along the entire
route, comprising regulars and volun-
teers Of all nationalities of the en-
pire, and enthusiastic crowds watched
the procession and acclaimed the new
ruler. Ahmed Ria, former president
of the chamber of deputies, and Gen
eGaI Schefket and his officers re
ceived Mehemmed ReschaG at the
portals of the war office. All kissed
the princes hand. He was ushered
into the great hall by the entire cab
met, where had assembled represen-
tatives of the nation and state digni-
taries, civil military and eccIesiasti-
cal. The prince expressed a wish
to perform additions and say prayers.
Shortly before 4 o'clock the prince
sOlemnIy subscribed the oath. which
was administered by Sheik-UI-IsIam.
A mollah offered prayers for the vel
fare Of the new sultan and the pros
perity of the nation, and the assem-
bIage responded Amen"
Batteries doomed the announce
ment to the city that the new ruler
had been sworn into office, while ali
present congratulated Mehemmed Y.
who Immediately proceeded to Top
Kapou palace 20 veBerate the relics.
Returning by GaIatia bridge to
palace, where he will
take np his residence, the new sultan
was enthusiastically cheered by
great crowds all along the way, to
which he responded by salu-ing re-
peatedIy.
Receiving a deputat:on from the
national assembly, Mehemmed said:
I am pleased to become first con-
sovereign. Doubtless my
will improve upon me, but
YOU may rely upon my doing my best.
I also have suffered oppression and
can, therefore, enter into the feelings
Of my fellow sufferers. Let us en-
deavOr to work together for the vel.
fare of the country"
When the assembly deputatiOn ar
rived at the Yildiz the fetva of
Sheik-UI-Islam was handed to Ali
Djevad Bey, first secretary. for com
to Abdul Hamid, who in
an inner apartment was guarded by
fifteen eunichs Djevad Bey tried to
gain admittance by knocking, and aft
er this was continued for some fifteen
the door was opened and
Abdul Hamid appeared. He accept
ed the fetva without comment. The
was then ushered into his
presence and the spokesman said:
You no longer reign over us
Abdul Hamid gave a deep sigh Of
relief uu6n being informed that no
designs were entertained against his
life.
For thirty-three years Abdul Ham
id II, thirty-fourth sultan OF the OF
toman empire, has held the powers Of
Europe at bay and with consumate
political skill maintained most of his
empire intact from foreign encroach-
ment. He is described as having
brought on Turkey degree OF des-
pOtism such as the country has not
experienced in many generations.
The Armenian massacres OF 1856
we're laid at the door of the sultan,
but whether he directly fostered them
or not is not known. Yet Abdul
Hamid has performed some valuable
services TO his country in addition to
preventing the partition OF the do
mains in Europe among the powers
He took the Turkish army, disorgan-
lied and useless, and made it a
strong fighting force. He organized
the educational system, permitted a