The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-23
YOUNG TURKS BEGAN RULE
 SEVEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY

This is Independence Day. for the adherents of the Young Turk party for it was on July 23, 1908, just seven years ago, that the Ottoman consti- tutiona1 government was proclaimed The Committee of Union and Progress representing the s.new liberty final ly triumphed over the old despotisnn, and for a time it seemed that Turkey might enter the family of modern na- tons. These hopes, however, have not been realized and the predictions of foreign critics, that the principles of constitutionalism and Islam were irrecoucilable, have apparently been fulfilled
 Prior to the revolution the Young Turks had their Headquarters in Paris, but in July of 1908 they or ganized the Committee of Union and Progress in Salonica- Only July 22 Niaza Bey and his army. raised the standard of revolt at Resina, and the following day the committee, under the presidency of Envir Bey, pro- claimed the constitution Abdul Hanid immediately yielded and is- sued an trade restoring the constitu-- ton of 1876 and ordering the election of a chamber of deputies. The revo- lution was accomplished without sbloodshed, except for the assassina- ton, of few official tyrants.
 The Young Turk bosses immediate ly began to play practical politics, with the result that the Turks gained a big majority in parliament, a1- though the Christian peoples and the Arabs constitute a majoFity of the population of the enpire.d The worst elements in the committee gained the ascendancy. In 1909 Abdul Hanid promoted a counter reVO1ution,t the result of which was to drive him from the throne. The new leaders of 2Tur- key committed one blunder after an Y7 -xrif fk1 f 17 hot iTsd anniversary of Independence Day. found even the. Moslens disenchanted with the new regime. Moreover, Young Turkey had not friend left in Europe, with the exception of Ger many. Then came the terrible con flagrations in Stamboul, and, in 1911, the disastrous war with Italy. The government was almost bankrupt, due in part to the fact that the cunning Abdul Eanaid, foreseeing the, coming all the money he could lay his hands on. This vast sum, it has been aI- 1eged, he confided to the keeping of Emperor William, who war cordial alike to the Young Turks and the Hamidian government.
 The Balkan war seemed for a time to presage the end of Turkey in Eu- rope, and the gallant Bulgarian army did reach the very gates of Constanfi- nople. On the fall of Adrianop1e the Kaiser telegra pl1ed the Sultan that he would do all in his power to have the city restored to Turkey. Bulgaria's S dissension with her allies cost her the greater part of the fruits of her mill tary victories, and Turkey, for the time, was saved. Enyer Pasha and his Young Turk followers were chief " responsible for the entrance of Turkey into the present war, as an ally of the central empires, for among the rank and file of the Turks there was no desire for war. By their a1- 1egiance with Germany, the Turkish leaders were promised unlimited money and great territorial acces- sions, including Algeria and part of British India,, and the restoration of kars. Under the terms of the agree ncnt, Constantinople is to become a neutra1ized city, and Egypt is to be placed under the suzerainty of Turkey but to be administered by Germany and garrisoned by equal numbers of German and Turkish troops. In the event of a Teutonic victory, a greater Turkey will arise from the crunbling ruins of the o1d while Allied success will probably mean that the sick man of Europe will at last be gath cred to the bosom of Allah in the paradise of the faithful