Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-08-30
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Person aiIties Behind the Transformed
Ottoman EmpIre-The Young Turk
Organization Really Masonic
Movement-Ths sultan a. Tool.
~ WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Constantinople.-At the back of
avery movement must be men. The
Of Turkey from
medieval absolutism to constitu-
tional government was not wrought
without human agencies. Who did 1t?
At tho time Of the constitution and
the revolution there were stories Of a
romantic secret committee In Paris,
with chief possessed Of greater
craftsmanship and more dictatorial
powers than any crowned head in
Europe. The present Paris commit
tee is disgruntled and in opposition,
and it is rather generally admitted
that there was considerable romano
Ing about the original committee.
Admittedly the Young Turk move
ment was bit of successful oppor-
tunism. It's leaders were quick to
take advantage Of favorable events.
which is certainly nothing to their dis
credit. The men were ready for their
chance when it came.
A German on Top.
\. But now, after the lapse OF many
months, who is the top man in Tur-
key? Amid all the personalities here.
which one towers above all others?
It is none other than Baron Won Bee
berstein, the German ambassador.
One searches in vain for this omnis-
scient, omnipotent' Young Turk OF
whom we read so much at the time OF
the passing of the old order. Instead.
he finds behind the forces at work
here this shrewd old diplomat. the
abIest in Europe, who has within
year recovered all the prestige that
the German cause lost with the fall OF
Abdul Hamid.
In domestic affairs, as we'll as in
foreign relationships the hand OF Won
Beeberstein may be traced by those
whose business it is to know the in
wardness OF current events here. Since
this wise old German Is an, extra
Turkish personality, perhaps it Is not
fair to consider him in looking for the
most influential figure in the present
regime.
A Glimpse Of the Sultan. :,
1t is easier to say who this man Is
not than who he is. First of all, it
is not the sultan. He may be elm
mated at the outset. A high diplomat
who has had to converse with the
present sultan says that the ordeal
is like talking to wooden man. One
encounters various terms in the dip
lomatic circles to describe the nonen-
tity of Mohammed v. Doubtless,
many of these are exaggerated, like the
stories of his devotion to the fow-
ing bowl The sultan sees no for
eigners, but anybody may see him at
the Selamlik-the weekly function
when he goes to the mosque to pray.
With Abdul Hamid, this was an or
deal to be dreaded and he sat cover
ing in his carriage in coat OF mail.
Apparently his brother is glad to have
this weekly outing, for the poorest
hamal that totters over the Galata
bridge beneath his monstrous load,
sees more Of life than does his Royal
Highness. He likes the pomp Of the
lines Of soldiers who line the high
way for the short distance from the
palace to the mosque.
These soldiers are part Of the mod
ern army; on the whole. well armed
and fairly well set up. Along with
them one sees the archaic, red-hel.
meted fire brigade, with the long
leather guards at the back Of their
helmets. The. lancers. who are the
sultan's bodyguard. are plainly Mongo
lian, and fine fellows they appear. The
sultan. himself. stares at the crowds
as the crowds stare at him, or as
countryman gazes at the circus. He
wears a fez. and but one decoration on
his breast. His face Is weak, with
puffs under the eyes. His beard Is grey
and rather close cropped. He looks
for all the world like the type Of ge,
NAL old New England ne'er-do-well.
whom one may see summing himself
outside the house, or sitting on q
cracker box in the corner store. while
his wife runs the family affairs.
The day l saw the sultan an Amer.
lean girl in the carriage next mine
was aiming a camera at him. He
was attracted by the fresh young fig.
ure, and obligingly turned his face
toward her and smiled-and then
kept on smiling and craning his neck
toward her like gay old firt. It was
not very dignifed or royal. but it was
decidedly revealing, especially when
pne remembers that this man Is King
Of kings" Commander Of the Faith
full" and '"The Shadow of God on
Earth Incidentally. he is political
cipher.
The Prisoner Of saIonica.
Nor is Abdul Hamid any longer q
possible factor in Turkish affairs.
Wild rumors fly around occasionally
OF his escape from his imprisonment.
in the garb of a woman servant. and
OF his being at the bottom of revo-
.lutionary plots. This is the last Of
the contingencies that the present
government has to face. The best
advised say that, while Abdul is mo.
rose and sleepless, he none the less
is too fond of life to take any chances
with this committee. His supreme
passion is to be permitted to die q
natural death. For q generation he
has been haunted by the nightmare
OF violent death.
Now he is guarded by the most
trusted representatives of the commit
tee of union and progress. am told
by one whose knowledge Of Turkish
affairs has proved correct on other
points that the jailers OF Abdul Hamid
are men who have blood feuds with
him-whose relatives the deposed
sultan has slain-and who would be
glad of an excuse to square their &C.