The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-04-29
ABDUL KAMID
is DETHRONED
His Brother, Reschad Eitendl,
Proclaimed Sultan.
TURKEYS 35th SOVEREIGN
Decree OF Deposition Reciteo Ina,
Abdul Hamid's Acts Were Contrary
to Sacred Law and Set Forth Lone
List % Crimes. the Whole Making q
Terrible Indictment

icFFpte INDICTMENT.
Constsntinople. April 2s.-The reign
OF Abdul Hamid H. ended with his
deposition and the accession OF his
brother. Mehemmed Reschad Enendi
as Mehmed V. variation OF Ma
homet." It being considered inappro
pirate to assume the precise name o.
the prophet Mehmed V is the thirty
NTH sovereign OF Turkey. in male de
scent. OF the house OF OSman tho
founder OF the empire. and the twenty
ninth sultan since the conquest Of Con
stantinOple- The two houses OF pariia
ment. meeting as a national assembly
approved the decree OF deposition
which was rea6 by the Sheik- Ul-Islam
chief OF the ulemas and supreme JUDGE
on ecclesiastical questions. The docu
ment recited that Abdul Hands acts
were contrary TO the sacred law. and
set forth a long list Of crimes. the
whole making a terrible indictment
The assembly chose Mehemmed-Res
chad as sultan and appointed commit
tees TO notify the dethroned sovereign
and his success or OF its action. The
airing OF iol guns announced to the
waiting people that a new sultan haA
been proclaimed.
The People Celebrating.
Martial Law was relaxed and the
people have given themselves over TO
celebrating the victory OF the Young
Turks party and the end Of Abdul
Hands reign Many buildings were
Illuminated and thousands OF rounds
were fred by the soldiers for joy.
The question Of the new cabinet has
not Yet been settled. but il is thought
that Ahmed Ria will be grand vizier.
while some OF his associates will prob
ably be Hilma Pasha the former pre-
mier. as minister OF the interior:
david Bey as minister Of finance. and
Rifaat Pasha as minister OF foreign
affairs
The Sheik-UlIslam. supported by all
the principal personaEes OF the higher
church administration. issued the
fetva. as the decree OF deposition is
called II informed Mehemmed-R Res
chad Enendi that he was chosen sui
tan by the will Of the church. the will
OF the parliament. the will Of the
army and the will OF the people. II
admonished him TO serve God and to
keep the sacred law. as commanded by
the prophet This Reschad humbly
promised 10 do.
The Sheik-Ul-islam. It is said per.
sonally visited the sultan and read
him the decree. He informed his
majesty that the Question having been
put In canonical form before the sheik
and his associates as to whether Abdul
Hamid had not forfeited the right to
rule over the faithful they had de-
cided Yes"
Abdul Says It's the viii Of Allah.
Abdul Hamid bowed his head say
ing; 1T is the will of Allah
AT a secret meeting Of the national
assembly the decree was read. Il de
clared that Abdul Hamid II. must alb
dictate or be dethroned. The assembly
unhesitatingly shouted: 'Dethrone
him"
deputation. consisting Of two sen
ators and two deputies. thereupon Wis
tied the palace at Yildiz and com
municated to the sultan the assem-
bly's resolution. Abdul Hamid re-
piled:
Il expected this: II Is fate My only
wish is that the lives OF myself and
family may be safeguarded and that
| may reside at the palace OF Chera-
CHAN. as | wish 10 die where | was
born"
similar deputation proceeded to
the Dolmabagtsche palace. In Galata
and informed Mehemmed- Reschad Eff
tendi Of the nations wish. The newly
proclaimed sultan replied that he
bowed TO the will Of the people
Later the assembly debated the mo-
mentous question OF Abdul Hands
future residence. The suggestion that
he be allowed to travel abroad was
strongly opposed on the ground that
II might cause complications. II was
finally decided that he must remain in
Constantinople.