The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03

ing a gateway to that sea.
Another change in the world map was
effected on September Q, when the Bel
gian Senate adopted the Congo annexa-
ton treaty. Now that this great African
state has come under the colonial juris-
dietion of Belgium, the disagreement of
King Leopold in Africa becomes thing
or the past, as does also the woEd-wide
movement which was SO vigorously
waged to abate the cruelties to the Con-
go natives for the purpose of increasing
the Congo rubber supply.
In Turkey the liberal movement which
was so long held in check by the Sultan
finally succeeded in forcing him to grant
the country a constitutional form of gov
eminent. Thus, in Turkish history, July
"a is Independence Day. The party which
brought this about is known as the
young Turks"
On January11 a secret Congress as
sembled in Paris, composed of represen-
tatives of those nationalitles which were
especially suffering from the tyranny of
Abdul Hamid. The decision was reached
that all should unite for the purpose of
obtaining a constitutional government.
Thereafter mutinies became more and
more frequent in the Ottoman army, and
the Sultan, finding himself unable to
quiet the unrest, granted q constitution
promised, but which never materialized,
and at the behest of the Young Turks,
stripped of power the men who had long
been fattening on the people. Incelebra
tion of the event a mass meeting was
held in New York city on September 7,
in which Turks. Armenians. Albanians,
Greeks and Syrians, now calling thems-
eelves Americans, participated. A letter
from President Roosevelt expressed
sympathy.
The program of reform announced by
the Young Turks includes the reorganiza-
ton of Turkish finances, which have
long been honeycombed with graft and
thievery; the Introduction of the educa-
tional methods of Western nations, and a
universal military service.
EYidencing the wholesome respect with
which Abdul Hamid regarded the ascend
macy of the new party, he announced the
surrender of nearly all his crown lands,
which could be made to yield revenue
of Sc, 000,0 900 annually to the national treas
ury In the face of the Balkan troubles
the Young Turks acted with special good
judgment counseling peace.
ION december II, amid great public re-
joicing, the Sultan of Turkey drove
through the streets of Constantinople
to the Parliament and opened in due
form the first Turkish parliament. The
Turks went wild with enthusiasm.
The Lisbon tragedy Of FEBRUARY /, which
resulted in the death of King Carlos I,
and the Crown Prince, LUZ Filippe, was
the climax of despotic rule which defied
Parliament and people. The royal family
and its favorites. together with the Pre-
mier and his friends, had ben accused
of gross extravaganza and corruption.
The national debt had become stagger-
ingly heavy. Taxes kept increasing. And
still there was not enough revenue.
Finally, the King fearful of the power
of Joao Franco. who had won popular
support by his fight for various reforms,
besought Franco to save him and the
country from ruin. But Franco used such
drastic measures that the spirit of revo-
luton was only strengthened. He tried to
rule without a Parliament. Royal DEGREES
took the place of legislative statutes.
More and more dictatorial became Franco
until he finally announced that he had
been clothed with unlimited power to
check the republican movement
So bitter was the feeling against Franco
that upon the assassination of the King
and Crown Prince he was obliged to flee
from the Countrywide dead Kings Sec
ond son. a boy of nineteen, assembled to
the throne as Manuel II. He. chose Rear
Admiral Ferreira do Amara1, monach-
ist Premier and won popular regard by
restoring constitutional guarantees and
setting free political prisoners Since then
Portugal has dropped back to its accus-
toned place, out of the eye of the world.
Similar political conditions in Argentina
were revealed Just a months after the Por-
tuguese assassinations, when a bomb was
thrown at DIR. Alcorta, President of the
republic Because the Congress had re-
fused to vote the budget for the MAIN
tenance of the government. Alcorta dis
ba 1afn a nd ba
appropriation without its sanction.
Persa's struggle for liberty, which be-
gan in 1907, has been greatly complicated
by the intrigue of foreign powers seeking
ACKNOWLEDGMENT there. Both Russia and
Great Britain are after all they can get
in Persia, England having special inter-
ests in the southern part OF the country,
Russia in the north. After granting a
Mejliss, or Parliament, the Shah changed
his mind and sought to abolish its pow
ers With a strong force of Cossacks,
said to be paid from st. Petersburg, he
tried to compel the Parliament to sur
render certain members accused of con-
spring against the throne. Conflict re-
suited, and as a sequel the Parliament
house was destroyed and 1000 lives lost.
Late in November the Shah announced
that he had abolished the constitution,
government and such a condition was
against the will of Allah; The old year.
therefore, bequeaths to the new much
trouble in this quarter Of the globe.
Agitation against British rule have
arisen in two great possessions of the
empire. In Geneva an organization
known as the Young Egyptians have
begun a fight for the restoration of their
country to it's native population. In India
a revolutionary element has been throw
ing bombs and distrib lting seditious liter
allure in the hope of obtaining govern
ment "by Indians for Indians" The stu
alton became so serious late in November
that Earl Mimic, the Viceroy, found 1t
necessary to cut short his vacation and
hurry back to Calcutta in an effort to
quiet the unrest, which had been IN
appeased by Fing Edwards decree, Is
suedearly in TIE month, after granting
greater political rights to the native pop
ulation In the British Parliament. John
Redmons resolution for home rule In
Ireland was passed, after being amended,
Subject to the supreme authority of the
imperial Parliament"
With the appointment on April Of the
Rt. Hon. Herbert Henry Asquith as pre-
mier of England the liberals of England
have steadily regained their former
strength. Mr. Asquith appointed a cabinet
made up for the most part of his prede-
cessor's associates. The significant
changes were the promotion of Mr.. Lloyd
George to chancellor of the exchequer;
the shifting of Lord Tweedmouth to the
SD