New-York tribune., 1909-02-21

legiance to the sultan and that save for the two
or three regiments which they have at Con-
stantnople and that commanded by their
adherents they cannot count with any degree Of
certainty upon the army a large.
That the MOslem Clsrgy has more sympathy
for the Throne than for the Young Turk party is
likewise an assured fact, and that is why
Achmet Ria Bey and Hilmi Pacha have forced
the Sultan to dismiss the venerable Shetk-ul-
Islam. who held Office until last week and to ap-
point in his stead a relatively unknown divine
from Macedonia. This change. too Is uf evil
omen for Abdul Hamid. for the fetvah OF the
Sheik-ul-Islam is absolutely Indispensable 10
any change in the occupancy or succession Of
the throne and the late Sheik-ul-Isam was i
man. Of the loftest principles and greatest in
dependence OF character, who could have been
replied upon to refuse to grant any fetvah de-
posing the present Sultan long 5 the latter
avoided the perFetration Of any one OF those Of
fences which according to Koranc law Hberate
true believers from their spiritual and temporal
allegiance TO the Caliph
The old Sheik-ul-Islam showed his strength
OF character last summer when he stood in the
way Of the Sutans proposal to suppress the
pronunciamento at Adrianople by force on the
ground that the troops concerned therein were
after all demanding nothing but their pay and
the reinforcement of the constitution granted
by the Sultan TO the people i'm 1876 and that
under the circumstances he could not grant the
fetvah. which IS necessary before Mosem troops
can be used against Moslems. He therefore. like
ex-Vizier Kamn Pacha. may be regarded as
having contributed powerfully 10 bring about
the Inauguration of a constitutional form of
government. Neither of them, therefore was
likely to render himself party to any coup
d'etat in favor OF reversion to the old regime
OF personal government and Of despotsm, and
the fact that they have been driven from office
by the Young Turk party shows that the latter
is anxious to have in their place men more
amenable to it's wishes and more ready to defer
to its views when 1t deems that the moment has
come to depose Sultan Abdul Hamid
Constitutional government in Turkey has had
no warmer friend and more enthusiastic sup
porter abroad than Great Britain-not only the
people. but also the government. and King Ed
ward himself. Sir Gerald Lowther. the English
Ambas assador at Constantinople has been so ac-
tower of strength In connection
with the new order OF things at StambOu that
he has become the most popular figure in the
Turkish metropolis. where he can hardly show
himself in public without receiving a popular
ovation England has been smoothing the way
for the Porte financially. and has likewise been
giving the Sutan's government her backing in
its troubles with the other foreign powers II
therefore deserves notice that the dismissal of
Grand Vizier KlamiI Pacha. of the old Sheik-uI-
Islam and OF the ministers of War and OF Ma /
rne VINO were appointed ter days ago has Gre
ated not only Dissatisfaction but even dismay in
official and political circles ia London where the
news of the new appointments has been received
with openly ex .essed d!strust and diSapproval
The changes, in one word. have badly impaired
the confidence not only Of the British Cabinet
but likewise of the London money market In
the future of Turkey. end only those powers
seem to rejoice wno can >" expected to- derive
advantage from disturbances and possible chaos
and anarchy in Turkey. which would afford an
excuse for intervention from the outside.
With regard TO Prince Jussuf- f-Isseddin. he is
only second in line of succession TO the. throne
The next heir is the Sultan's younger brother. ,
Prince Rechad. man two years younger than
himself who is devout Moslem and OF high
In spite of the unfriendly manner In
which he has been treated by Abdul Hamid.
who, viewing him with suspicion, kept him in q