The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-07
Two Hundred May Be Executed.
DEPOSITION OF THE SULTAN.

sibly 200'
DEPOSITION OF THE SULTAN.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 27.-The
reign of Abdul Hamid II. ended today
with his deposition and the accession
of his brother. Mehemmed Rechad Eff
fendi. as Mehemmed V. The name is
variation of Mahomet.
Mehemmed v. is the thirty-ffth
sovereign of Turkey, in male descent
of the house of Osman or Gilman, the
founder of the empire, and the TWEEN
ty-ninth Sultan since the conquest of
Constantinople. The two houses of
Parliament, meeting asa national as
sembly, approved the decree of depo-
sition, which was read by the Sheik-
ul-Islam, chief of the Ulemas and su-
preme judge of ecclesiastical ques-
tons. The document recites that Alb
dull Hamid's acts were contrary to the
sacred law and set forth long list
of crimes, the whole making a terri
BILE indictment. The Assembly chose
Rechad as Sultan and appointed COM
mittees to notify the dethroned SOW
ereign and his successor. The firing
of 101 guns announced to the wait
| ing people that a new Sultan had been
proclaimed.
Peaceful Change OF Rulers.
The ceremonies connected with the
transfer of the power were simple.
~ II Is
palace in Galata through streets lined
with troops and cheering thousands,
+, and took the oath at the War Office.
He then proceeded to the Parliament
and later went to the Dolmabagtsche
| Palace as head of the empire, where
| for SO many years he had been prac-
| ticalIy a prisoner.
| Martial law was relaxed tonight,
| and the people gave themselves over
| to the celebrating the victory of the
Young Turk party and the end of
| Abdul Hands reign. Many buildings
| were Illuminated and thousands of
rounds were joyfully fired by the sol
| diers. General good humor prevailed
everywhere. The question of the new
cabinet has not yet been settled, but
it is thought Ahmed Ria will be
Grand Vizier, while some of his asso-
ciates will probably be Hilmi Pasha,
the former Premier, as Minister of the
Interior; Djevad Bey. as Minister of
Finance, and Rifaat Pasha, as Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs.
Deposed by Church Decree.
The Sheik-ul-Islam, supported by
all the principal personages of the
higher church administration, ISSUED
the fetva, as the decree of deposition
is called 1t informed Mehemmed Re-
chad Effendi that he was chosen Sui
tan by the will of the church, Parlia
| ment, the army and the people. 1
admonished him to serve God ant
keep the sacred law as communicated
by the prophet This Rechad humbl!
promised to do.
The fetva was prepared last night
both Abdul Hamid and his brother
Prince Rechad, being Informed earl,
today. The Sheik- ul-Islam, it is said
s personally visited the Sultan and rea
Y to him the decree. He Informed Alb
e dull that the question having been pu
d in canonical form before the Shelk
= ul-Islam and his associates as t
: whether Abdul Hamid had not forfeit
S ed the right to rule over the faithful
/, thew had decided Yes" Abdul bowe
S his head saying, 1T is the will {
= Allah"
d At a secret sitting of the Nation;
h Assembly the decree was read. 1t d
y clared that Abdul Hamid III must a.
dictate or be dethroned. The Assemb
If unhesitatinglv shouted: 90 DethroI
at him!'
i Abdul Seeks Only Life.
Of Two Senators and two Deputi
r thereupon visited the palace at Yild
of and communicated to the Sultan Il
ne Assembly's resolution. Abdul Ham
IL replied: 81 expected this; it is fat
t. Ny only wish is that the lives of M
re self and family may be safeguard
to and that / may reside at the Palace
Cheraghan, as l wish to die where
,e, was BORN
A similar deputation proceeded to t
Dolmabagtsche Palace in Galata a.
informed Mehemmed Rechad Etfendi
ne the nation S wish. He replied that
IT. bowed to the viii of the people.
ge Later the Assembly debated the n
All mentous question of Abdul HamiC
future Iesluehce' Inc suggestion IN
IRE he be allowed to travel abroad W
We strongly opposed on the ground that
as might cause complications 1t W
-as finally decided that he must remain
Constantinople.
nd At 2:30 in the afternoon a salute
is twentyone guns announced the dep
me ture of Mehemmed Rechad to the S
to askerat to swear fidelity to the cons
18th tuition. Had his succession followed
red death of the Sultan this ceremo
to would have occurred at the Top Kali
de- Palace, where the relies of the propl
ut are preserved, but as the succession
= ! h., IL