Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-28
REIGN OF ABDUL
HAMID ENDS; Ills
BROTHER RAISED
NEW SULTAN is THIRTY-FIFTH
TURKISH RULER
DEPOSITION APPROVED BY OTTO.
MAN PARLIAMENT
Assembly Chooses Reschad and Ap-
points Committee to Notify De-
throned Sovereign and His
Successor of Decree

by ASSOc1dteu EIeSS.J
NONsTANTINOPLE. April 27.-Th4
reign of Abdul Hamid IL en'te1
~ today with his deposition and he
accession of his brother, Mehemn cd
Reschad Effendi as Mehemmed v.
The name is a variation of Mahomet.
it being considered inappropriate to
assume the precise name of the
prophet.
Mehemmed V is the thirty-fifth SOW
ereign of Turkey in male descent OF
the House of Osman, the founder or
the empire, and the twenty-ninth sui
tan since the conquest of Constanti-
nople.
The two houses of parliament, meet
ing as a national assembly, approved
the decree of deposition, which was
read by the Sheik VI Islam, chief of
the Ulemas, and supreme judge on
ecclesiastical questions. The document
recites that Abdul Hamid's acts were
contrary to the sacred law and set
forth a long list of crimes.
The assembly chose Reschad as sui
tan and appointed committees to noti-
ty the dethroned sovereign and his sue
cessor.
The firing of 1O1 guns announced to
the waiting people that new sultaE
had been proclaimed.
The ceremonies connected with the
transfer of the power were simple. Ine
newly chosen ruler came from MS pal-.
ace in Galata through streets lined
with troops and cheering thousa DIS,
and took the oath at the war o1tice.
He then proceeded to the parliameat.
and later went to the Dolmabagtsehea
palace as head of the empire, Where
for so many years he had been prac-
tically a prisoner.
Martial Law Declared
Martial law was relaxed tonight
and the people gave themselves over
to celebrating the victory of the Young
Turks and the end of Abdul Hamid's
reign.
MANY buildings were illuminated and
thousands of rounds were joyfully fired
by the soldiers. 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 viz1er,
while some of his associates probably
will be Hllmi Pasha, the former
premier, as minister OF the interior;
Djavd Bey as minister of finance and
Rifast Pasha as minister Of foreign
affairs.
The Sheik III 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 Res
chad E.ffendi that he was chosen sultan
by the will of the church, parliament.
the army and the people. 1t admon-
ished him to serve God and keep the
sacred law, as commanded by the
prophet.
This Reschad humbly promised
to do.
The fetva was prepared last night,
both Abdul Hamid and his brother.
Prince Reschad, being informed early
today.
Ii
ing, "It is the will of Allah"
At a secret sitting of the national
assembly the decree was read. 1t de-
clared that Abdul Hamid II must alb
dicate or be dethroned. The assembly
unhesitatingly shouted:
"Dethrone him."
Two senators and two deputies
thereupon visited the palace at Yildiz
and communicated to the sultan the
assembly's resolution. Abdul Hamid
replied:
81 expected this; it is fate. My only
wish is that the lives of myself and
family may be safeguarded, and that
I may reside at the palace of Cherag-
han, as 1 wish to die where I was
born"
similar deputation proceeded to
Dolmabag gtschee palace in Galata and
informed Mehemmed Reschad Effendi
of the nations wish. He replied that
he bowed to the will of the people.
Later the assembly debated the mo-
mentous question of Abdul Hamids
future residence. The suggestion that
he be allowed to travel abroad was
strongly opposed on the ground that
1t might cause complications. 1t was
finally decided that he must remain ~
Constantinople.
The sultan-elect came by boat across
the Bosphorus to Stamboul. He landed
near the sublime porte and thence pro-
ceeded to the serasgerat in a closed
carriage A large detachment of cav
airy acted as an escort and carriages
containing his sons and sisters suite
followed.
New Sultan Received
Ahmed Ria. the former president OF
the chamber of deputies, and Gen.
Schefket and his officers, received
Mehemmed Reschad at the portals of the
war office. All kissed the princes
hand. He was plainly dressed and APP
reared happy and radiant. He was
ushered by the entire cabinet into the
great hall, where had assembled the
representatives of the nation and stage
dignitaries, civil, military and eccles-
iastical.
In receiving a deputation from the
national assembly subsequently Me-
hemmed said
"I am pleased to become the first con-
stitutional sovereign. Doubtless my
successor will improve on me, but you
NAV rely upon my doing my best. I
also have suffered oppression and can
therefore enter into the feelings of my
fellow sufferers. Let us endeavor to
work together and for the welfare of
the country"
When the assembly derutation ar
rived at the Yildiz the fetva os Sheik
III Islam was handed to Ali Djevad
Bey, first secretary for communication
to Abdul Hamid. who in an in
ner apartment was guarded by fifteen
eunnchs. Djevad Bey tried to gain adj
mittance by knocking, and after this
was continued for fifteen minutes the
door was opened and Abdul Hamid APP
peared. He accepted the fetva without
comment.
The depueation was then ushered into
his presence and the spokesman said:
you no longer reign over u.s."
Abdul Hamid gave deep sigh of re-
lief on being informed that no designs
were entertained against his life.