The Washington herald., 1909-04-28

Constantinople, April Z7.-Abdul Hamid
II was driven from the throne Of the
Ottoman empire to-day. and his brother,
Mehemmed-Reschad a weakling under
the title of Mahommed Y. reigns. but
does not rule. in his stead.
Some hours before Parliament approved
the decree OF deposition this morning
soldiers of the constitution went 10 the
ET6iz Kiosk 70 seize Abdul Hamid. The
palace was searched vnsuccessfuny for a
long time
II became necessary at last 10 force an
entrance into the harem. and there the
monarch was found squirmfng on the
floor in a sort Of fit. real or stimulated.
He was quickly placed in a closed car
r!age and driven rapidly TO the Cheragon
Palace. a beautiful building near by on
the very edge Of the BoSphorus, where
his elder brother. sutton 8Iurad Y. who
was also deposed. Vas incarcerated for
more than twenty years.
Abdul Hands dethronement vas not
technically an act Of Parliament or Of the
Young Turk committee. It was accom-
pIished in the only lawful manner by a
fetva or decree Of the sheik-AI-Islam.
the head Of the Biohommedan Church.
Unfit 10 Rule.
This document declares that Abdul
Hamid is unfit TO remain KaHfa By rea-
son OF his religious unworthiness ana also
because Of his tampering with the Holy
Writing and of blood -uIltiness. Il Is the
Moslem theory that the throne is never
empty and therefore Mehemmed- -Reschad
became defacto Sultan, as a matter Of
f~ct. as soon as the announcement o.
the removal Of Abdul Hsmid was issued.
Meheamed- -Reschad drove through the
streets to the parliament house. being
everywhere acclaimed with apparent en-
thUsiasm, and he Immediately took the
oath Of fealty 10 the constitution. \ sa-
lutte Of lI guns proclaimed his accession
There is naturally nothing but sstisfac-
ton visible among the population OF the
capital but Il would be assuming too
much TO expect that the change viii be
accepted fully throughout the empire.
There IS grave reason 10 fear an outburst
Of religious fanaticism, taking the form
Of the massacred Christians in some parts
OF the country Nevertheless. the trans
e. f.e 1,oo-. oeF,,t,5 -+---sr.- .----1t--
Moslem traditions. and with far greater
decency than the circumstances Of Ab-
dul Hands enthronement more than
thirty years azo.
Believe They Have Evidence.
The Young Turks believe they possess
overwhelming evidence Of Abdul Hamid's
guilty connection with the revolt Of April
13- They found much telegraphic cor
respondence at the Yildiz Kiosk bearing
or this point. The amount OF money. evil
IDENTIFY received as bribes. found n pos
session OF the captured soldiers Of the old
garrison was simply incredible
One company OF gendarmerie alone took
from its prisoners s4e0G Among seventy
policemen taken prisoners. one had $50
in his pocket Il is absurd and fncon-
pTehensible how the assertion can he
made that the Sultan knew nothing Of
the uprising in the face OF such evidence.
The money captured Included many Eng
lish sovereigns.
The Sultan's personal aid-de-camp.
Shskir Pasha, has committed suicide.
The city remains quiet. but the streets
are fun OF people. The CHEF topic Of
discussion Is the future treatment Of Alb
dul HaInid, who viii be kept a close
prisoner wherever the assembly decides
he shall be incarcerated. This will Ger
tEinly he in the vicinity Of Constantinople
50 that he win be under the strict s,5r-
veiliance Of the consrtutionaIists. though
his final prison may be on the Asiafic
side OF the Bosphorus.
Many Arrests Are Made.
Arrests are taking place ever bo,-
The city IS full OF fresh troops. The in
terment Of the victims Of the recent fight
ing is being carried out on a large scafs
According 10 the latest estimates. 100 wera
killed and 2ooo wounded. There have
been many executions. the total number
OF which viii never be known. The parts
Of the barracks where the fighting took
place are already being demolished
1ell---Afket Pssha. in an interview fa-5a1
declared that the present garrison OF the
caI.ital would 5s dispersed: The grsst bar-
racks al Pera would be razsd and 4bs
SIZES used Tor villas. Neither the second
nor the third army corps would remain in
Conslantinople. but sixteen battaIiOns
would be distributed in the environs.
while SO Saloniki gendarmes would re-
main il the city itself
Chefket Pasha admitted that he had
been offered the grand viziership. but
said he mad refused it as he would re-
fuse the post CT minister OF war because
he did not want It said that he came
with the troops seeking his own advance
ment-
Mehemmed-Reschad. who comes to the
-Erore is a nonenity. This is in his "a
yOr FOR be viii reign only in name. He
has been virtually a prisoner throughout
the reign OF his brother. and It IS not
surprising that he IS little more than
sens- aligt
T. IS the general expectation that
Ahmed Ria viii become grand vizier.
Abdul Hanid IS quoted as saying. after
he had been made q prisoner:
7 expected this. It is fate Ny only
wish IS that the lives OF myself and my
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