The Washington herald., 1909-05-23
Rx Fx-ATTACHE.

deposition at over $50, 600 00-
Enormous as IS this figure. Il VIII no
longer. appear exaggerated when the fact
IS taken into consideration that through
out The thirty-three years OF his reign
he has had virtually free access to the
national treasury, the first claim upon all
the annual revenues that he made use
CT his autocratic power to secure great
estates in every portion Of his empire,
and that he. as a general rule, confis-
Gated the fortunes Of all those who had
incurred his displeasure OF who had died
within his reach
Thus ex-Khedive ISmail OF Egypt, who
was induced under the most tempting
promises TO transfer his residence from
Naples to Stamboul, Abdul Hamld even
going so Ear as TO hold out to him pros
poets Of restoration 70 throne al Cairo.
end who was detained in giIded captivity
for The remainder Of his days on the
shores OF the BOsphorus, IS known 10
have left a colossal fortune. Of which
the Sultan cooIly assumed possession,
turning a deaf ear 20 the dead mans fam
fiy and relatives
The extent Of Esmairs wealth may be
estimated by the fact that for an entire
week prior 10 his own deposition In lSlS
ammunition wagons were engaged in con-
veying treasure from his palace OF Alb
Geeu at Cairo By the old and deserted
road 20 SueZ. where Il Vas placed on
board an Italian steamship. which had
been chartered for the purpose. It may
safely. therefore be taken for granted
that the figure OF $50, tsS97. .l59. given as a
of q
Abdul Hamid, Is not exaggerated
The most careful search OF the Yildiz
Kiosk. where Abdul Hamid made his
home for more than three decades. has
led 10 the discovery of sums amounting
10 some SS000.o00 hidden away in caches
revealed By his former retainers-
But the bulk OF his treasure has not
been found, for the very simple reason
that II has been deposited abroad Abdul
Eamid. following the example OF most
other European sovereigns. has always
kept a very large sum on deposit in for
eign banks partly IN provision OF the loss
Of his throne and partly. toe, IN order to
assure the future OF those OF MS wives
and CT his children who enjoyed m a
more special degree than the others MS
love and affection
Ever since the coup d'etat OF last Sep
tember. when he was compelled to pro-
lmulga1e anew the constitution which ne
had granted IN 1S76. he has been adding
10 his boards abroad, with the idea Of
placing all his available property beyond
the reach Of any such revolution as that
by which he has now been overwhelmed
a man Of remarkable shrewdness and
ability, he IS known TO have realized his
T.
deed. there is no doubt but that he would
have escaped capture had It not been
that he had not sufficiently taken into
account the speed with which the troops
from Saloniki moved upon ConstantinOple
and their remarkable organization
That the Turkish government viii ever
recover any Of this treasure which the
ex-Sultan has IN safe keeping in fcr-
eign capitals is TO the last degree unlike
" indeed. the banks In which the
money Is deposited may be relied upon 10
withhold all information as 70 its cha-ac-
tCr and extent
Moreover, several Of the financial iastI-
tutions where he IS known 20 have money
have announced that they viii even 20
so far as 70 refuse 70 honor his signature
rs iong as he remains q prisoner and he
is not a free agent Il Is fortunate that
this has been widely published al Con-
stanti1ople. for Il vii have the effect Ot
protecting the fallen Padishah from any
attempt or the part Of his jailsrs 70 ex-
tort from him by means Of threats, NAL
treatment. and even torture orders upon
the custodians OF his property for its
surrender
None has watched the attitude OF the
ex-Sultan's banks abroad in this matter
with a greater amount Of interest than
the various crowned heads OF Europe: |
and IL must have been with a feeling
OF distinct relief that they have learned
that Abdul Hands money is beyond
the reach Of the new government IN Tur-
key. so secure. indeed. that even he him
self cannot obtain possession Of any por-
ton thereof until he has been restored
20 fun liberty and assurances have been
obtained that he is an entirely free agent
and not acting under fear or cOmpuI-
sion For il relieves their anxiety as 20
the safety Of their own savings; that IS
20 say. Of the money that they have put
away N provision OF a rainy day. Most
OF them have funds on deposit abroad
For in these days Of democracy there
are few. il any, OF the anointed Of the
Lord who can feel absolutely secure
Ing OF national cataclysm. Whenever a
ruler is Overthrown one of the first things
that happens is the confiscation OF bis
fortune.
The various reIgDing dynasties Of
France, OF Spain, OF Naples Of Tuscany.
and OF Parma have all undergone this
experience within the last hundred years:
and while Duke Ernest Of Brunswick aid
Cumberland, has through the chivalry
Of the present German Emperor recovered
control Of his enormous private fortune.
which had been seQuestered for more
than a quarter OF q century by Prince
Bismarck, all the crown property Of the
former House OF Hanover remains con-
fiscated
One OF the disadvantages 10 which
rulers are subjected, and from which
ordinary citizens are naturally immune,
IS the state Of uncertainty in the popular
mind as to their title to any property
which they may possess There is usually /
no question az ali about the ownership
Of the banking deposits Of a private indi-
vidual. always providing that the money /
has not been stolen.
But al sorts Of arguments are raised !
with regard to the rights OF royalty to /
property The latter may be divided for /
convenience sake into three classes. /
namely. their entirely private estate. re- 1
sultilg from lsgacies, from savings. and /
from successful investments; sometimes /
even speculations.
Then there is the income which the I
sovereign and the members OF the reign ]
Ing house derive from the national treas /
lirv under the head OF civil list The i
latter must not be regarded IN any way /
IS q stipend. but merely as q quid pro quo 4
for crown lands which they have ceded I
60 the nation Thus in England the /
Crown lands which Queen Victoria and /
Elward VI surrendered on their acces-