Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-05-13


will be in the hands of the Young
Turks themselves. The advance made
in the revolution of last July is thus
made permanent. The party of prog
ress has broken the old sultan that
dared to oppose 1t and has fntrenched
itself so thoroughly that there will be
no further efforts at dislodgment. AS
in England under Cromwell and
France under the convention, the SOW
the forum, from the king to the par
Lament. The people are emerging
from the shadow OF the throne. We
are coming into the kingdom of man.
Liberty is to be the new political gos-
pei In all lands. Democracy, having
captured the occident, is now storm
ing the strongholds of the orient. 1t is
no longer so much question Of the
cross against the crescent as 1t is a
question of progress against privilege.
The Young Turks are imbued with the
spirit of the twentieth century, are
trying to keep step with western Eu-
rope and America. They stand for the
reign of common sense, common hu-
manity, common decency. They are
democrats In turbans. They have
shown to Christian nations that the
conquest denied to the sword of the
crusader has been granted to the
torch of science and the wand of free
dom. In this case peace hath her vic
tories" transcending those of "war"
The results of this revolution are inf
nitely hopeful. the most hopeful signs
seen in recent days.
Three conspicuous leaders OF the
Young Turks are Ahmed Ria, the
president of the chamber of deputies;
General Schefket Pasha, the command
er of the victorious army that has just
captured Constantinople, and Enver
Bey, his assistant in command, to
whom Schefket Pasha chivalrously
gives credit for planning the cam
paign. All three of these men have
gained many of their ideas through
contact with the outside world, Ahmed
Ria through Punishment from his
country and Schefket Pasha through
education in Germany. Enver Bey
was In. Germany at the time the recent
revolt broke out, but hurried home in
time to organize for the march on Con-
stantinople, which has resulted In the
dethronement of Abdul Hamid.
The Hymn of Liberty.
These men will do much to shape
the course of empire under the reign
Of Mohammed v. 1t is significant that
at the coronation of the new sultan the
hymn sung was not the usual Hamidian
hymn. but the hymn of liberty. Even
more significant is the statement of
the ruler himself to NJ. H. Donohue
of the London Chronicle, who has
been friendly with the Young Turk
leaders for years. 1t is the first time
a ruler Of Turkey ever gave a state
ment TO the press, another sign of Mo
hammed's progressive character. Here
is the statement in full:
During my seclusion OF thirty-three
years my enemies have slandered me-
They have said that / was Il madman,
bordering on imbecillty, and shut me
up for years But Allah has so willed
1t that now in his merciful bounty he
has been pleased to call me to fulfin
my destiny and rule over Islam.
II beg you to be the envoy for the
deliverance of message which
would send to Europe and to the en-
tire world and which is the first of its
kind ever to be sent out from within
these walls.
Say to them that | have ever been
the convinced and ardent supporter of
the cause of enlightment. liberty and
progress. BY the help OF Allah. the
most high, l shall follow unswerving-
ly the path of duty. seeking to act
justly and honorably to all men. be
they giaours or true believers.
'My voice has been silent for thirty
three years, but the voice OF true con-
science has never been stilled. You
ask me what think of the situation
In modern Turkey as | find 1t today
after the political resuscitation of long
years. will tell you that though shut
up here I have contrived, feebly per-
haps, to keep in touch with the march
Of progress of the outside world.
''The few partisans who have been
loyal to me through the dark days of
adversely are aware that from my
earliest years, while faithful to the
precepts and teachings OF the Koran,
have been an advocate of n consti-
tutional charter and parliamentary in
stitutions. From this opinion I have
never deviated. hold 1t today as
strongly as / did when young man
seeking to imbibe the knowledge of
western civilization and its methods.
'I am firm supporter of the policy
OF young Turkey, with full enjoyment
of political freedom. I see nothing in
It incompatible with Mohammedan
sacred law"
Personal Description of Mohsmmed.
A person who is we'll acquainted
with Mohammed v. gives the follow
ing sketch:
'He is tall and we'll proportioned.
but inclined to stoop. His features are
regular, but he has hooked nose like
that of Abdul Hamid. His eyes are
blue and his hair and beard are light
red. His manners are very gracious
and easy, and he is exceedingly gen
erous and kind. He is not at all
fanatical, but he is sincerely religious
He plays unusually well on the piano.
and he is a great admirer of classical
music.
HI flo tha dapnSad cuItap tba pou