Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-05-05
ABDUL DECLARES
IT'S WILL OF ALLAH
YIELDS TO DEMANDS OF YOUNG
TURKS, GLAD TO SAVE
HIS HEAD.
PEOPLE ACCLAIM MEHEMMED
RESCHAD EFFENDI AS
NEW RULER.

ly visited the sultan and read to him
the decree. He informed his males
ty that questions having been put in
the canonical form before the sheik
and his associates as to whether Alb
dull Hamid had not forfeited the right
to rule over the faithful, they had de-
cided yes"
Abdul bowed his head, saying:
1T is the will of the Allah
At a secret sitting of the national
assembly in the morning the decree
was read 1t declared that Abdul
Hamid Ii. must abdicate or be de-
throned. The assembly unhesitating-
ly shouted: ''Dethrone him.
A deputation, consisting OF two SEN
ators and two deputies, thereupon
visited the palace at Yildiz and COM
municated to the sultan the assem-
blys resolution. Hamid replied:
Il expected this. 1t is fate. My
only wish is that the lives of myself
and family be safeguarded and that
may reside at the palace of Cherag-
han, as | wish to die where | was
born"
A similar deputation proceeded to
Dodmabagtsche palace in Galatia and
informed Mehemmed Reschad Enendi
of the nations wish. The newly pro-
claimed sultan replied that he bowed
to the will of the people.
A later assembly, after much de-.
bate, decided that Hamid must re-
main in Constantinople.
At 2:30 yesterday afternoon sa-
lutte of 21 guns announced the depart
ure of Mehemmed Reschad to the
Sera Askerat to swear fidelity to the
constitution.
The sultan elect came by boat
across the Boshporos to STEAMBOAT.
He landed near the Sublime porte and
thence proceeded to Sera Askerat ac-
companied by detachment of cav
airy. The troops along the entire
route, comprising regulars and volun-
teers of all nationalities of the en-
pire, and enthusiastic crowds watched
the procession and acclaimed the new
ruler Ahmed Ria, former president
of the chamber of deputies, and Gen
eral Schefket and his officers re-
ceived Mehemmed Reschad at the
portals of the war Office. All kissed
the princes hand. He was ushered
into the great hall by the entire cab
met, where had assembled represen-
tatives of the nation and state digni-
taries, civil, military and ecclesiasti-
cal. The prince expressed a wish
to perform additions and say prayers.
Shortly before o'clock the prince
solemnly subscribed the oath, which
was administered by Sheik- Ul-lslam.
A mollah offered prayers for the well
fare of the new sultan and the pros
perity of the nation, and the assem-
blage responded amen
Batteries doomed the announce
ment to the city that the new ruler
had been sworn into Office, while ali
who immediately proceeded to Top
Kapou palace to venerate the relics.
Returning by Galatia bridge to
Dolmabagtsche palace, where he will
take up his residence, the new sultan
was enthusiastically cheered by
great crowds all along the way. to
which he responded by saluting re-
peatedly.
Receiving a deputation from the
national assembly, Mehemmed said:
Il am pleased to become first con-
stitutional sovereign. Doubtless my
successor will improve upon me, but
you may rely upon my doing my best
| also have suffered oppression and
can, therefore, enter into the feelings
of my fellow sufferers. Let us en-
deavor to work together for the wei.
fare of the country"
When the assembly deputation ar
rived at the Yildiz. the fetva OF
Sheik-U l-Islam was handed to All
Djevad Bey, first secretary for com
munication to Abdul Hamid, who in
an inner apartment was guarded by
fifteen eunichs Djevad Bey tried to
gain admittance by knocking, and aft
err this was continued for some fifteen
minutes. the door was opened and
Abdul Hamid appeared. He accept
ed the fetva without comment. The
deputation was then ushered into his
presence and the spokesman said:
..You no longer reign over u.s."
Abdul Hamid gave a deep sigh of
relief uuon being Informed that no
designs were entertained against his
life.
For thirty-three years Abdul Ham
id H., thirty-fourth sultan of the OF.
toman empire, has held the powers of
Europe at bay and with consumate
political skill maintained most of his
empire intact from foreign encroach-
ment. He is described as having
brought on Turkey degree of des-
potism such as the country has not
experienced in many generations
The Armenian massacres of 1856