New-York tribune., 1909-04-25

In April, 1877, the Car declared war. and his
armies nearly reached Constantinople before he
was checked by the jealousies of the other powers
The Sultan made surprisingly good terms Of peace,
however, by the Treaty of San Stefano. which
were modified still In his favor by the Con-
gress of Berlin, two years later. Nevertheless,
Turkey lost her last vestige of authority Mon
tenegro, Servia and Rumania gave up all real
sovereignty in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and lost some territory In Asia Minor. The Sultan
was bound by the treaty to introduce certain re-
forms in the Christian provinces.
Peace once assured from without. however, Alb
dul Hamid adopted his policy Of reaction. He
abolished the constitution, built up a system OF
spies and established loyal bodyguard The
promised reforms made. Surrounded
by dssensions. political and religious. he devoted
his power to retaining his throne and keeping the
empire together. He has succeeded in presenting
a strong front to his neighbors and maintaining
peace during the most of his reign. He has played
races and sects against another within his
borders as he has jugged nations without And 50
he has fought the old established organism Of cor
ruption within and the eager nations without, walt
ing to despoil the possessions of the Sick Man.
The Armenian massacres of 1886 and 1895 were
laid at the door of the Sultan. Whether ne directly
fostered them is not known At any rate, the sig
natory OF the Treaty of Berlin were aroused
TO action. but international relations were so COM
plcated at that time that the Sultan was able to
evade all demands for redress or reforms.
In 1897 Greece interfered in behalf of Crete in her
revolt against Turkish misrule. So vigorously did
the Sultan prosecute the that followed that
Greece was defeated In few months and forced
TO consent TO a ratification of the Thessalonlan
border In favor of Turkey and pay an indemnity
In 1906 the reviving power of the Young Turks
began to be felt The demand for constitution
grew louder and louder. At length, in July OF
lS0S the Sultan yielded and restored the consttu-
ton he had granted in December of 1876 and then
abrogated This constitution provided for the IN
divsibty OF the empire the supremacy Of the
Sultan individual liberty. the freedom Of all creeds
of the press and education, equal legal taxation
senate and two chambers, general election oy
ballot every fourth year. and irremovabe judges.
In 1905 for a time threatened between
| Turkey and ria-Hungary over the annexation
| by latter power of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
! former dependencies of Turkey. Again the Sui
tan's diplomacy triumphed, and AustriaEHungaFy
paid indemnity of S1O.90.00c
| In November. 1895 when massacres were occur
ring in various parts of Turkey, Great Britain had
nearly decided send feet to coerce the Sultan.
| Then the willy Turk allowed the report to go forth
| that Constantinope seething with anti-Chris-
tian feeling and that the appearance Of British
feet would be a signal for a general massacre
! The report was without foundation but II MADE
England hesitate a little During that hesitation
President Cleveland diverted attention by his Ia
nous Venezuelan message. Again the Sultan was
saved
HIS method of dealing with internal troubles Is
illustrated by the tale Of young Turk OF prom
inert family who preached reform with such recif-
lessness that it to the Sutan's ear He sent
for the Young man and received him with marke1
favor, according to the story. The Sultan assured
him of his secret sympathy with reform, and sent
him away with valuable gift. Two nights later
the young man was assassinated by unknown per-
sons in an out of the way part Of the city.
Yet Abdul Hamid has performed some valuable
services to his country He took the Turkish army,
| disorganized and useless. and made OF II strong
fighting force. He organized educational sys-
TEN Under his patronage Constantinople came
! TO have a daily press. He has given magnifcenty
| 10 Mussulman charities
Abdul Hamid born in 1912 and came TO the
throne at the age Of thirty-three. succeeding his
| brother, Amurath Y, who deposed. He is sec
ond son OF the Sultan Abdul Medjid. and nephew
OF the Sultan Abdul Aziz- He is the father of four
teen children
II has been generally believed that il the Sultan
be deposed he will be succeeded by his brother.
Rechad Efendi. who would rule Mohammed Y.
According 10 the Moslem law, there cannot be two
Sultans alive at once. and cannot ahdicate OF
his free VIII. To change Sultans, Il is neces-
sary declare the occupant insane guilty Of
high treason. In the OF Abdul Hamd Il
would be necessary prove that he had not been
faithful TO the constitution. Murad Y. Abdul
Hamid's predecessor was declared temporarily in
sane move of Midhat Pacha's hold a sword
over the head of rhe Sultan. Abdul Hamd.
however. was too strong for him
One observer describes him degenerate OF
the higher order, whose thin upper lip and the
! thick sensual lower indicate a combination Of
passion Feasibility and selhshness,' mingling Of
cruelty and cunning, intelligence and cowardice
man " hose favorite literature tales OF
:, snatio1
on the other hand another critic writes: If Eu-
rope understood rightly the true situation, il would
request Abdul Hamid put himself at the head Of
the Pan-Islamc movement, and by his statesman
like abilities and his conciatory tactics TO make 1t
a force not necessarily hostile to Christian inter
So 1t has ever been with attempts to form true
estimate Of Abdul Hamil H. of contradictions.