The Marshall republican., 1909-04-30
Turkey Has
New Ruler.
With Abdul Hamid Deposed
the People are Celebrating,

med v is on the throne of Turkey
and tonight Constantinople is re-
joicing. Natal law has been re-
laxed, buildings and streets are il
Illuminated and soldiers are firing
thousands OF rounds of blank cart
ridges. True to the teachings of
the Koran, no intoxicants are be-
ing consumed by the Mohamme-
dams and the rejoicing is OF a sur
prisingly orderly manner.
Mehemmed Reschad Effendi, Alb
dul Hamid's brother, is to reign as
Mehmed v, variation of Maho-
met, it being considered inappro-
pirate to assume the precise name OF
the prophet. He l. the thirty-fifth
sovereign of Turkey from the house
Of Osman, the founder of the en-
pire, and the twenty-ninth sultan
since the conquest Of CONSTANT
nople.
The two Houses of Parliament,
meeting as national assembly this
morning, approved the decree OF
deposition, which was read by the
Sheik vi Islam chief of the Ulemas
and supreme Judge on ecclesiasti-
cal questions. The document re-
cites that Abdul Hamid's acts were
contrary to the sacred law and set
forth long list of atrocious crimes
The ceremonies connected with
the transfer of the power were sim
pie. The newly chosen ruler came
from his palace in Galata through
streets lined with troops and cheer
ing thousands and took the oatn
at the war office. He then went
to the Parliament and later to the
Dalmabagtsche palace as head OF
the empire where for years he had
been prisoner. The question of
the new cabinet has not been set
tied but it is believed that Ahmed
Ria will be grand vizier, while.
some OF his associates probably
will be Hilma Pasha the expremier
as minister OF the interior, Djavid
Bey as minister of finances and Ri
faat Pasha as minister of foreign
affairs. a
The Sheik VI 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 Reschad Effendi that
he was chosen sultan by the will
of the church, the will of the par
lament the will of the army and
by thewill of the people. II ad-
monished him to serve God and to
keep the sacred law, as communi-
Gated by the prophet. This Res
chad humbly promised to do.
The fetva was prepared last
night both Abdul Hamid and his
brother, Prince Reschad being in
formed early this morning. The
Sheik vi Islam personally visited
the sultan and read him the decree.
He informed the sultan that the
question had been put in cannoni-
cal form before the Sheik VI Is
lam and his associates as to wheth-
er Abdul Hamid had forfeited the
right to rule, over the faithful and
they answered "yes.n
Abdul Hamid bowed his head and
said, "It is the will of Allah"
A deputation consisting of two
senator's and two deputies then Wis
tied the royal palace to coimmuni-
cate to the, sultan the national as
sembly's resolution. When the de-
putation arrived at Yildiz the fetva
of the Sheik vi Islam was handed
to Ali Djevad Bey, first secretary
for communication to Abdul Hamid
who in an inner apartment was
guarded by fifteen eunuchs.
Djevad Rey tried to gain admit
tance by knocking, and after this
was continued for some fifteen min
utes finally Abdul Hamid came to
the door, turned pale with fear and
cried in Turkish:
"Why do you want my lifeP"
Y There was no reply and Abdul
Hamid continued; 81 have reigned I
thirty-three years, but l have done |
i'll to nobody. Why do you want |
my hfe2n
No reply was given and the sui /
tan went on, II made war with |
Greece. Why do you want my
life?r
The deputation still remained si- |
lent and again the sultan spoke say |
ing, 3For thirty years / treated my |
brother well. Any other sultan
would have had him killed, so why |
do you want my lifeFn
After a short pause Abdul whin-
ed Ditifullv. HOnIv lef mo live and |