The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
Bv Ex-ATTACHE.


That the existence of the Ottoman En-
pire IS such IS rapidly drawing 70 q
close IS the conviction Of al those who
have made a study OF affairs in the
Southeast OF Europe. and who, free from
any extrsvagant prejudice in favor Of
one OF another Of the divers nationalities
concerned. are able TO take a broad. and
eb0ve all an impartial view, OF the pres
ent situation.
Events follow one another SO quickly az
stamboul. Just az present, that even the
foreign ENJOYS and diplomatic agents ac-
credited 70 the Sublime Porte seem IN
able TO keep track thereof. No sooner
had Abdul Hamid been congratulated on
his emancipation from the thraldom Of
1hs Young Turks than the latter, tenn
porarily downed, recovered their suprem-
iacy, and. after storning his palace, re-
moved him from the throne
His brother Rechad has, during tsa
past week. been invested IN his stesc
with the attributes Of sovereignty. But
there IS no telling whether be viii be
filing the role OF Sultan a year. six
smonths. or even six weeks hence. In
tact. those people entitled by their expe-
rienoe OF the Orient 70 speak with au-
thority, are Of the opinion that his reign
win be short lived, and that the hour Is
near az hand when the prophecies OF the
-5ismemberment OF Turkey, and its dis
appearance as such from the map Of the
world, will be fulfilled
Every great power Of Europe is girding
its loins. and preparing for the fray
which Is likely to ensue In connection
with the partition OF the Turkish Empire,
and the division Of the spoils. and En-
perez Francis Joseph's words were full
Of meaning when in discussing with
Francis Kossuth the other day the de-
mand By the majority Of the Hungarian
parliament at Pesth for the establish
ment OF & national Magyar state bank,
n lieu OF the now existing Austro-
Hungarian state bank. he declined TO
sanction the project. on the ground that
the tine was not pTOpiuous, and that
any such move would be likely 70 injuri-
ously affecS the monetary credit OF the
dual empiPe at the very moment when
extensive military measures may become
necessary requiring effective financial
backing
This may be taken in conjunction with
the fact that although the war depart
ment al Vienna has freed the Reservests,
which Il had summoned 10 join the col
Ors early last February and March. it
still maintains along the Turkish, Ser
Wan. and Russian borders armaments
which are so altogether out Of proper
ton to the ordinary peace footing as 70
indicate a belief az Vienna n the i'm
---sro--0. Of No., s--Fe---7z rfor-1T 4r--rrh1a
From every part Of Turkey comes
news Of more or less open rebellion
against the Sublime Porte. IN Syria the
peOpIe, who have long enjoyed the right
guaranteed 70 them BY the foreign pow
ers Of being ruled by a Christian gov
ernor general. instead Of by a MOsiem,
are clamOring for independence.
The Arabs, who have always resented
the yoke OF the Turk. which has weighed
upon their necks with particular heavi-
ness. have been encouraged BY the con-
fusion which prevails al COnstanJiuOple,
and by the impotency Of the imperial
government 10 break out in a more eX-
tensive and far-reaching insurrection
than ever before, and according to The
reports Of Captain Mark sykes. who has
Just returned 20 London from the East,
are busiIy engaged in destroying and OBJ
literatiEg the recently opened railroad 10
the Holy City Of Medina
The Greeks believe that the tine has
arrived for their annexation OF that por-
ton Of the Province Of Epirus which
stil remains in the hands Of the Turks,
and also Of Crete; while the BulgaTians
are awaiting with impatience the mo
rnent 70 march into Macedonia for the
purpose Of adding II 10 their newly pro-
claimed kingdom Bulgars figure very
largely among the population Of Mace
dOnia, and Ferdinand and his govern
ment have made q point OF Insisting in a
marked manner that his new title should
be, not Gar OF Bulgaria, but Gar Of
the BuIgaTs," so as TO Indicate that his
sway extended beyond the present bOr-
ders OF his dominlons. into Macedonia
and over the Bulgarian towns and VII
lages there
The Albanians, who were specially IA
vOred by Sultan Abdul Hamid. and who
now find themselves shorn OF many Of
their former advantages. are determined
upon q restoration OF their old-tme inde-
pendence: and the Armenians are putting
forward analogous pretensions and agi-
tating n favor OF a revival Of the former
kingdom Of Armenia
On the Island Of Samos the people have
arisen and killed the Turkish governor
general, while from Asia Minor come
not only reports Of sanguinary massacres
Of Christians by the Moslems, but also
the announcement that the latter are
dissatisfied with the new order az Con-
stantinOple, which they regard as a usur-
patton OF supremacy by the Rayahs, or
subject Christian races, and are bent on
restoring all the former power Of Islam
on the shores Of the Bosphcrus
Il has been impressed upon them that
although Abdul Hanaid's deposition had
been effected by means OF a fetvah OF
the Sheikh-Ul-Islam. yet that Il was IN
reality the work OF the Christian mem
bers Of the national legislature. where the
bulk OF the votes for his dethronement
were cast by ATmenfans, Jews. Greeks,
BUlgars. Macedonians. and Servians.
Il is they, moreover, whos formed the
overwhelming majority Of the legislative
delegation appointed to announce to Abdul
Hamid his downfall, and TO notify Rechad
Of his accession to tho sovereignty. That
Christians and Jews should have Il IN
their power 10 deprive a MOslem Sultan
OF his ruiership over a Mnhammedan en-
pire on the pretext that he had tampered
with the sacred books Of Islam has
aroused the indignation OF the followers
OF the prophet in all parts Of the world,
even IN Afghanistan and in India, while
IN Turkey itself it is likely to speedily
develop INTO a general rising Of the No
hammedans against the present regime on
the shores OF the BOsphorus-
With regard 10 the accusation brought
BY the Young Turks party against Abdul
Hamid Of having tampered with the
sacred books Of Islam, and which was the
first and main charge on the strength Of
which they were able to extort the fetvab