The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-06-03
The Political Transformation
Of Turkey
Concluded from Page 81

for their purposes.
When all the adherents of the
Young Turk party had returned
from abroad free from fear, when
the press had been liberated, great
wave OF enthusiasm swept over the
entire country. This, too, was en-
tlrely unexpected to us. We had
thought the Turkish people to be pos
sessed OF no sense of political values.
NOW we beheld them rejoicing in
common over the new era. There
was ardent determination among the
various classes, committees of peace
were established between the various
nationalities; Turks and Arabs.
Serbs and Bulgarians met upon a
common ground, and national unity
and brotherhood were everywhere
proclaimed. Such a fever of enthu-
slasm may arouse feeling sufficient
ly strong to sustain substantial in
situations of national unity. But
when we remember the background
OF mutual distruSt and warfare, we
can realize that it may not be lasting
enough to sweep away historic facts.
That which has been soWn must have
its harvest. In Turkey we have in
the first place the Turkish race,
which as the ruling race is more or
less disliked by all other subject peo-
pies. The Turks are intelligent and
have certain moral virtues; they had,
however, allowed themselves to get
into political conditions which we
have discussed. To the Turks are
especially opposed the Arabs. The
Arabs have been trying for a genera
to hpn0 l. 1o1-s rsI
minion. They are a very Warlike
race. In Asia there are, besides, the
Kurds, Armenians and Syrians, all
subject to constant warfare and law
lessness. The feud between the
Kurds and the Armenians has long
been sustained both through racial
animosity and religious antagonism
Only last week hundreds and thou
sands of Armenians were killed
There are also many differing ele-
ments on the European side. Each
seeks the supremacy of its own race.
The Bulgarians want greater Bull
garia built on the ruins of the Turk
ish Empire, and the Servians want
the same thing for themselves. How
out OF all this there can arise a uni
fled feeling, is a mystery, almost i'm
possible to solve. Yet we have seen
the beginning of such union and in
the end it may be built strong enough
to uphold unified nationality
Turning to the events Of the last
few days, we note that after the
revolution of July, political parties
were speedily formed. There is one
called the Islamic party, which was
composed of the reactionary ele-
ments, especially deposed office-hold-
ers who wish to appeal to religion in
order to overthrow the new and re-
establish the old regime. On the 9TH
ere hand, the Liberal party which is
in favor Of local autonomy for the
various racial elements in Turkey
supports the new regime and has as
a political ideal federal state. Be-
tween the two there is the Young
Turkish party of Union and Progress,
demanding national unity, parliament
tary government and strong central
administration.
In February it was claimed that
there was a movement on foot to de-
pose the Sultan. AS a result, the
cabinet was changed. Kamil Pasha,
the Liberal prime minister, resigned.
The cabinet which then came in last
ed for short time only, because on
April 13 a new revolution broke out.
This also was a revolution of the
army, but unlike it's predecessor, it
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