Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-12
ABDUL HAMlD DIES.
VIENNA ANNOUNCES

'N'h'ihoSN f''H' L i.S' irt.'
1871. Russia declared war against tho
Porte. Abdu! made gallant fight
against tho russians. and thus
strengthened his prestige at home, but
the fortune OF war turned against HIN,
in February. 1875. after the fall Of
Plevn. and tho passage Of the Balkans.
Tor peace.
The treaty cf san Stcfauc which
was concluded between Russia ond
Turkey. was a bitter pill for the Turks.
as il conceded TO Russia mos; impcr-
tart advantages. But the Jealousy OF
the western towers avertnd the most
serious danger. y conference WAS
called. which declared the treaty Of
San Stefano null and void aud modi-
fled its terms in such a manner as TO
deprive Russia of The fruits OF it's
victory. while curtaiiins the power or
the Porte and forcing the Turkish gov
/ erimcnt Ia agree 10 certain reforms in
its Christian possessions In Europe and
:. STA
BY the terms OF the treaty OF Berlin
the Turkish provinces OF Bulgaria and
Eastern RcumGlia were practically
made independent and placed under
Christian governors: Bosnia ana Her
.cGovina We're given in charge OF
Austria and eventually became part
OF the Austrian monarchy; Cyprus was
given 10 England, and slice Ct Turk
.sh territory TO Greece. In addition
TO th"t the Porte VIZ; deprived OF it's
suze"ani,y over Rouma mia ard Serbia
and its control over the Island Of
Crete.
Abdul Hamid knew that lie was per
. fcct!y hnipicss in the hands Of the
European powers and with truly ORR
entail faialism he submitted to the in-
evitablc. unprotcstinS. hu, with tn.
mental reservation to let the future
take care o! itself. He showed no
great anA,ety 10 carr" out the re-
forms. either in Europe or in Asia.
which the treaty OF Berlin demanded
OF him, though il regard TO Bulgaria
atd Eastern Eoum.lia he was fairly
! loyal 10 the treaty
Abdul Hamid was a past master in
the ar; ot cunning and OF cutmatchinu
the craft of the leading statesmen and
diplomats OF Christian Europe. and the
manner IN which he held his own
against The great powers for more than
"a quarter Of century by means o.!
procrsstination, duplicity and playing
on their jcalousies and riva!ries. one
against tho other. was little short OF
wonderful. lie found TIE source of his
strength and practical immunity in the
JEALOUSY which III: various great pow
eTs entertained for one another in CON
nccii6n with the possession OF Con
stantinopic. England threatened war
with Russia when the latter had its
troops at The very gates of CONSTANT
nopie in 1871. and they were forced 10
retire without fulfilling what had been
inc cream Of every Russian since the
days of Peter the Great
ga the other hand. the great powers
TOOK good care. not TO permit the I,or; 9
10 extend it's power or territory. When
me Turks after defeating the Greeks
N II war begun bE the latter were
Within DAYS march OF Athens. their
! further progress was stayed by Russia
ana the other great powers of Furopc,
and the Sultan was deprived OF every
partlcio of the fruits of his victory.
Many times the Gnsl partition Of the
ottoman Empire seemed inevitable, but
.fhdul iiamid with mastery skin and
! diplomatic cunning. succeeded i'm avert
inE ;hc catastrophe
MORE FEARED THAN LOVED
EVEN WITHIN OWN COUNTRY
notwithstanding his undcniahlc dip
'o'hatic ability and his many other
good qualities. which were often
praised by distinguished statesmen
Ike Lord Beaconsiirld. bismarck and
others. Abdul Ham:d was never pop