Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-29

Washington, D. c., April 2e.
The Turkish ambassador today
formally notified the state de-
partment of the succession to the
throne of Mehemmed Reschad Eff
fendi as sultan of Turkey, under
the title of Mehemmed ".
Constantinopie, April 28.-Ab-
dull Hamid, the deposed sultan,
left the capital last night for Sa-
ionikl. HE was accompanied by
eleven women of his harem. He
was conveyed under cover of dark
ness from the imperial palace at
Yildiz to the railroad station at
StambouI.
The train with the deposed sul-
tan on board is due at saloniki
tomorrow.
Enver Bey, leader Of the Young
Turks, said today that the de-
posed sultan will be tried at
Saloniki, probably for InstlsatIng
mutiny and murder among the
troops. News received thus far
today from Trebizoned, Jerusa-
lem and Smyrna whore change In
sultanate greeted great rejoicing.
In an audience last night, Sulta.,
Mehemed " protested It was premat
ture to address him as ''your majesty
He said:
This moment Is portentioms to tho
Turkish nation. My enemies have
slandered me. They said was a mad
man. bordering ON imbecility and they
shut me up for years. But Allah so
Willed It,. Now in his merciful bounty,
that he has been pleased to call me
to fulfill my destiny and rule over
Islam, | wish to send a message tn
Europe and the world. / have ever
been an ardent supporter to the cause
of enlightenment, liberty and prog,
ress. 1t Is Allah's will that I mount
the Ottoman throne. / shall enter up,
on that important office, fully realiz,
ing its duties and responsibilities. But
by the help of Allah I shall act justly
and honorably to all men, be thgy
giaours or true believers.
My voice has been silent for thirty
three years, but the voice Of CON
science has never been stilled. AL
though shut up have contriyed
feebly perhaps, to keep in touch with
the march of progress in the outside
world A few partisans loyal to me
know that from earliest years, while
faithful to the Koran, have been ar
advocate Of constitutional charter and
parliamentary institutions. From this
opinion I have never deyiated. / hold
1t today as strongly as | did when 9
young man, seeking to imbibe knowl
edge of western civilization and meth
DDS. am a firm supporter of the
policy of young Turkey. With the full
enjoyment of political freedom ses
nothing incompatible with the Mohanl
medan sacred law"
Mere Change Of Mysteries.
With the deposition of Sultan Abdu
Hamid and the elevation to the throu,
of his youngest brother, Reshed Ell
fendi, Turkey exchanges one man o
mystery for another, merely nopint
for the best. Abdul, the bloody, treacn
erous despot, goes out, and Reshed
weak, but reputed to be Of progressive
inclinations, comes in backed by tn,
new regime of the young Turks. Re
shed, according to the most authorita
tive reports, is nonentity. but in tina
fact the young Turks repose mos
hope. The constitutionalists intent
that the new sultan shall rule onl.
in name, and nonentity Is best snite,
to their program.
Reshed, according to the cable die
patches, is only too glad to accept tn
succession, be 1t only shadow of th'
great power welded by his brother
| for in doing so he exchanges a prisol
( for throne. From a virtual prisone
in a palace guarded by the sultan
soldiers, watched by the sultan's spie
and restricted to an existence shape'
by the sultan's orders, Reshed be
comes at one step the ruler of th
Turkish empire, the head of the Mus
selmans. and the arbiter OF the des
tiny of the deposed brother, who ha
been his iailer for a generation.
If little is known Of the real Abdu
Hamid, the dark mystery OF Europe
still less is known of HIS successor
Though he has been the popular idc
of the progressive Turks for decade
only the most meager information
concerning Reshed's personality. a