The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-16
BRUTAL TURKISH RULE.
OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT CHARG-
ED WITH SECRECY, DES-
POTISM AND
CRUELTY.
Turkish Government Wants S1OO,.
100000 Loan And Hopes To Secure
It From The French,

Constantinople, Sept. IL. - The
present situation Of Turkey in regard
to its internal politics is most singu-
lar. The history of the country Of
fers nothing that is analogous to the
consequences of the revolution Of
three years ago. Strange and mag
nif1cent In its commencement, the
existing regime has come to be both
absurd and revolving.
The power which the Turkish peo-
pie obey Is secret. 1t resides in a
committee. the personality Of which
has never been clearly known, and
which remains hidden in a provincial
village. The power that 1t exercises
Is as despotic as that Of any Of the
successors Of Mahomet the Great.
A farcical constitution masks.
though in part only. the real condi-
ton Of things. The press is said ID
be free, yet Journalists who displease
the occult ruling power are assassi-
mated In the open street in Constan-
tinople, and the assassins are never
pursued. although their identity Is
known to everybody. There is an
elective Chamber of Representatives,
but Deputies who do not satisfy the
occult power are cast into cells,
whence they come forth paralyzed or
deaf. or with fingers minus the nails,
which have been torn out with in
struments Of torture. What the de-
throned Sultan could not have done
without arousing the unanimous pro-
tests of the nations OF Europe the
committee does, and civilized Europe
tacitly permits 1t.
Nobody knows what passes In the
conclaves OF the governing COM
mittee. It's members may change
from time to time. through internal
intrigues which remain unknown to
those outside The ferocious schem-
ers who surrounded the "Red" Sui
tan took good care not to engage in
any open struggle after his fall. There
was simpler way. The Grand Viz
Ter. who is now the chief representa-
tive OF the executive power, was for
25 years. I am informed, one Of the
most trusted agents Of Abdul Hamid.
Only the vaguest responses can be
obtained when one asks regarding
the composition Of the secret commit
tee. whose seat is at Saloniki. There
are seven members, among whom, it
Is reported, are a retired army cap
tain, retired under prefect, former
customs director and four associates
who are probably merely the tools of
the others.
hTe only clue to this strange mys-
terry Of the retention OF power by the
committee is the fact that Germany
Is behind it. and Germany is closely
associated with Abdul Hamid. The
revolution was at first believed to
have ruined the influence Of Ger
many at Constantinople. but she has
re-established herself there stronger
than ever, since men who are de-
voted to Abdul Hamid have obtained
practical control Of the ANONYMOUS
committee.
That Germany should make herself
the prop Of the present odious sys-
tenn Of barbarism seems almost in
credible. but 1t Is true. 1t is natural
that such n state Of things should
carry with it violent hostility toward
France. England and Russia, which
the semi-official press continues to
cover with every sort Of insult.
Here is summary Of some of
the more recent crimes commit
ted by the present Governments:
journalist named Zekki Bey was
assassinated near Constantinople. He
possessed, it is said, some documents
winch II published or exhibited would
nave injured the Government.
The assassination furnished the
occasion for the seizure Of these pa
pers at his home or office. In other
words. 1t was among the effects of
man who had just been murdered
that search was made by the crimi-
nal authorities.
Another Journalist, Fouad Chukri
Bey, was condemned to deportation
Tor five years because he had written