Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1897. The Sultan of Turkey.

Manawatu Herald, 29 July 1897, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1897. The Sultan of Turkey.

The Sultan of Turkey haa the fate of Europe ia his hands. Should he only have accepted the direction of the Powers in the case of Greece with the intention of defying them in Orete, the position, though simpler, will be bad. Thus the Sultan holds the power to create peace or war and therefore he is» necessarily, a most interesting person. Tho Government of Turkey be it reraem bered, is a puro despotism, though the despot may not always be able to secure the end he would desire. The Grand Mufti, who has the cave of all spiritual matters, enjoys considerable influence as head of the Ulema, and the Grand Vizier has charge of temporal affairs. The Government is carried on by a cabinet of which the Grand Vizier is the head. With all these precautions, the Sultan's word however is law, and thus governmental crisises are frequent, added to whioh, what are'knowu as, palace intrigues have always exercised a certain power in Turkish politics. The Bultan with an embarrassed revenue, said to show a yearly deficit of two million pounds, and with a disaffected army, a useless navy, and with a heavy personal expenditure, has a very diffioult position to fill, and the manner of man who now rule 3is well worth consideration. Abdul Uamid 11, whose name means Servant of the Praiseworthy, is of medium height, rather short than tall, well proportioned in his person, and carrying bravely the weight of his onerous duties, though thp»v> ' are :iLo moments ; .^ UiJ and care worn look c-f-mca across his face. He was born in 1842 and is the son of a Circassian, who died shortly after the birth of her son. He was brought up by another wife, and learnt Arabic and Persian, but in all European languages he made little progress. He was proclaimed Sultan in August, 1876. Previously he had livedyears in retirement, and succeeded a Sultan who was deposed by hid ministers. In 1868 he travelled in Europe in company with his uncle, and his sojourn in the capitals helped greatly to enlarge his mental views and to increase his knowledge. After he had accepted the sovereignty he remained for a time quiet appearing to. recognise the power held by his ministers, but when the Russian war was over, in 1877, he resolved to assume full power, and is said to have shpwn an 1 energy that surprised even those who knew him most .intimately. - Personally he is most benevolent and kind hearted. His character may be summed up as having" for its dominant note an extreme caution, and he perfectly understands how precariously matters stand for the Ottoman Empire. A writer sums up the position by designating the Sultan " as a liberal sovereign, bearing in mind that liberty in the Occidental sense is unknown in Turkey. While apparently a stern despot, he is really paternal and well-intentioned. Whatever be the sins of Turkey, her present sovereign, Abdul Hamid 11, is a kind, benevolent ruler, whose chief aspiration is for the good and welfare of his subjects. ... If Turkey can be saved from oomplete disruption —and those who should know best doubt if this seemingly inevitable evolutionary process can be arrested — it will be due in a large measure to the enlightened government of her present Sultan, under whose reign it has made rapid and vigorous strides in the path of recovery and reform."

The annual 'meeting of the Foxton Racing Club will.be held to night at eight o'clock. Messrs Abraham and Wi'liams hold a stock sale at Shannon to-morrow. Mr 0. E. Zohrab, an old resident of Wellington, died of apoplexy on Tuesday. At five o'clock on Tuesday morning a young man nam-d il. \V. Marsh, of Pahiatua, was found dead in Domain St., Paimerston, near the railway station. Deceased left WoodviHe on Saturday last with the intention of proceeding' to Wellington. The body bore no marks of violence. Death is attribdted to heart, disease. . A patch of opals Struck on the White Cliffs field at Wilcamiia is valued at about £2000. . ... News received by the Ovalau states that the Tongan Parliament was prorogued on the 20th July, after a stormy session. Some time ago the young King's father and the Wesleyan members of Parliament asked the King to dismiss his present Ministers, and appoint Mr M'Kay as Premie.*. The King refused, and since then Parliament has been making attacks on all the members of the Ministry. Many stormy scenes occurred, but no change has been made. An exceedingly rich quartz reef has been struck at Bice's mines, near Qundagai, Sydney. Sixty-one pounds of stone from a " pocket " is estimated to contain £2000 worth of gold. Mr Crabb is at it again, and just as usual, as the Wairarapa Standard 3ays :— The roars of laughter emanating from the crowd at the Post Office corner on Saturday night, suspended business for a time, the cause being Mr Crabb, the temperance lecturer. The slightest remark by any of the crowd was taken as an interruption by the speaker, and he at once " dealt it out " to the poor unfortunates far more forcibly than polite. His personal abuse of the local publicans, too— of whom he knows nothing— wag certainly bad taste, and rightly resented by those present,

We are sorry to notice that owing to illhealth Mrs Cameron ia compelled to l'elinguish business. Mr Alf H. Arbon notifies that he haa resumed business in his o d shop in Mainstreet, and hopes to secure a fair share of patronage. We inspected to-day a large shipment of crockery just land-d by Messrs Hennessy & Co. We can recommend those who want crockary to do likewise. There are chamber sets of quite original patterns, the basins being oval instead of round. Jugs of all sorts, sizes, and cs'ours, including a decided novelty in this distriot in cocoa jugs with lids and perforated lips. There are also tea sets in pretty patterns With small cups and saucers and plates. Vegetable dishes of a mak? and shape out of the ordinary. Flower bowls, cheese dish' 8, &c, <fee. The consignment looks lara;e but the proprietor has no fear of being able to dispose of his purchase, the articles being of first-class quality and good design. F. Angel 1, a well-known long distance runner, who has represented Wellington at the athletic championship meetings, died of typhoid fever»