The Daily News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 224, 15 September 1908, Page 2

The Daily News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. HISTOItY 01'' Tllli TURKISH CON STITUTiUN. Turkey, iu tlu: eyes uf the world, lias in recent times occupied a backward pusiLiuu in -Europe, souiewnat anaJagous to Unit ol Ciiina, ia Asia, but the era of tile Turkish democracy promises to effect that which the Powers of Europe have striven, without result, to achieve—the freedom ami security of the Christians alike with tho Mohammedan people of the Ottoman Empire. A few weeks ago, for tnic second time in tile course of a long reign, Abdul Hamid granted a Constitution. Oa the former occasion, during tltio crisis of 187(i, the echo of guns proclaimed to the world the retorm of Turkey, but the period of reform was of short duration. The recent history of Russia and I'ersia has taught uthat the despotisms of Europe ami Asia are not immortal. Turkey is much more thoroughly permeated wit.ii M .'stern ideas than Persia; it has .had for a whole generation a Liberal parly which never quite surrendered or despaired; it has a large Christian population whose pride is to consider itself European. In each of these vnree eases the despot lias yielded to pres sure, and, on the whole, probably,, the opposition to which Abdul Hamid capitulated was the most formidable ot them all. It was a general strike, and more particularly tho railway strike, which induced the Czar to grant a Constitution in 1900. It was the preachin'g of the clergy and the 010.-iiis; of the bazaars which brought the .ShaJi of Persia to terms in I'JOG. Abdul Hamid has had to yield to a triumphant

military revolt. Few rebellions in history, says a recent number of the London Daily Mews, can show a progress so rapid and so regular as this political mutiny in .Macedonia. Two weeks before the crisis, a few determined oliicers had taken to the hills, and the fellow-con spirators bad murdered a general or two; the only serious feature, of their action was 'tie fact that the mass of the army, in a puzzled passive way, appeared to approve it. Day by day, th'; rebels extended their administration over t'lie mountainous country on the Albanian borderland, while the Albanian tribesmen, always rebellious and bitterly anti-Turkish, rose ia sympathy behind them. Meanwhile in the garrisons the spirit of rebellion gained officers and men alike. The Young Turkish leaders quietly surrounded Monastir, and entered it unresisted. Simultaneously the Albanian tribesmen seem to have occupied Uskub, and in Salonica the authorities abandoned all pretence of controlling the popular party. In all three towns, the Young Turkish officers proclaimed a Constitution, and the Turkish population, with a doubt in tho eventual success, gave themselves over' to rejoicing, and events soon proved that their confidence was not misplaced. An army holding Salonica controls the railway to Constantinople, and Abdul Hamid was not the man to risk his personal safety in a civil war, and lie determined to surrender. The following morning the Constitution already proclaimed by the army in Macedonia was accepted by the Sultan in Constantinople. It liad behind it the sanction of successful force.

Tile second Ottoman Parliament opens under more promising conditions tlian the lirst. In IS7O Audul Humid hud two objects in view when lie grant'etl a Constitution. lie wanted to stave off a European reform scheme which would have given autonomy to JJulgaria. He had to buy his claim to a disputed Uhronu by accepting tie' conditions which Atidhat Pasha and his Liberal friends imposed oil him. lie is. of course, 110 more sincere to-day than he was thirty-two years ago. liut lie is afraid, and fear, while it lasts, is apt to produce an involuntary sincerity. There was no force in' 187 Cto keep him to his word. Tflie Young Turks of that day were not soldiers. They were a group of semi-educated oflicials. The mass of the people had fewer grievances then; Western education was less diffused; the army was indifferent. Abdul Hamid could not to-day play with the reformers so lightly as he did thou. Hut there are,, none the less, endless difficulties before t/he new movement. The Voting Turks in Paris made the deposition of the Sultan tile first of their demands, and thsy were wise, While he rcigas ha Will intrigue. He will try to buy Hie soldiers with money and promotion.lie will play on the jealousies of races and creeds. He may attempt to revive a fanatical reaction by the old policy of mns-aeres. The ft rand Vizier whom he has chosen, "little" Niid Pasha, is an old man with a very chequered history. He it was who first assisted Abdul Hamid to build up iiis system of personal and palace • rule, though afterwards he tried too late to retrace his steps, Finally, there are; as there were in 187(i, external complications, which may react unfavorably on tile future development of the Turkish Constitution. Those who hope tire most from this Turkish revolt should be the last to minimise its difficulties and dangers, it is not only the Turks who must lie satisfied, but tlic nouTurkish races also, including the Albanians, and they are doubtless thinking mueji more of their own national self preservation than of the good of Turkey as a whole. if Turks and Christians can work together, if Turkey can be reformed at the centre, if the army and the civil service, and the Parliament are opened 011 equal terms to Christians, then clearly the epoch of special European intervention has gone by. Any intervention which suggested that Europe cares only tor the Christians of the Empire might revive tllie latent fanaticism of the 'Moslems, and expose the Christians to all the, fury of a hostile reaction, Engla-id, says the News, must show herself tlio impartial friend of all who desire freedom and equality, ready to advise or to mediate, but slow to coerce or intervene. We have now no longer a despot to deal with. ' it is a nation which

confronts us. There will bo uo reason to interfere on behalf of the Christians if this nation is loyal to the promises wliidli tile leaders of the revolt Jiave made in its name. We must remember that tlie whole atmosphere of Turkey is poisoned with suspicion and intrigu'e. One indiscreet word, one hasty diplomatic act, might ruin the prospects of tile most liopefn] movement which Eastern liuropo has yvt witnessed.