The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 30. THE TURKISH TURMOIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 80, 30 April 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 30. THE TURKISH TURMOIL.

Amid much that was obscure iu the Turkish situation, the final declaration of the Assembly, on the decree of the Shcik-ul-lslam, clears up the situation very considerably, and out of the disorders has (.merged a iw monarchy. The immediate cause of the military revolt, it is now clear, was the issue of orders which, in the opinion of the troops, violated the letter and spirit of the Sacred Law of Mohammedanism. The dilliculty of introducing .Western ideas of government by meaus of representative institutions without at the same time doing irreparable violence to the susceptibilities of strict Mohammedans was brought to a head. The revolt 01 the Constantinople- garrisons, it is almost certain, was due to the belief which was entertained by the rank and file of the first Army Corps, though aot by the officers, thut the Young Turks, who were supreme in the Government, had forgotten the precepts of the Koran in their desire to establish the new political regime. In infusing this belief in the Army there is littl t . doubt the late Sultan was au acquiescing agent, and he has reaped the fruits of his intrigue. There is more than a suspicion also that the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Constitution—for it is undoubted that such would have been the result of the revolt had it been successful—was not prompted by the Sultan on his own initiative. It is believed in many quarters that Austria and Germany, whose dominant diplomatic influence with the • Porte was seriously threatened by the abolition of absolute monarchy, had everything to gain by a return to the old order of rule, and would not have refrained from using their influence with the late Sultan to that end. The sur- , prising state of preparedness of the ; Young Turks' organisation, and the • loyalty to the Constitution of all troops ', outside the immediate influence of Yil- \ diz, completely upset the calculations of ' the plotters, and from all appearances . the Constitution is now established on ', a firmer basis than could have been ex.- ' pected from a decade of it*; pacific ae- ' ceptancc. At the sanm time it would ' be idle to expect that tranquility of ' government is likely to reign in Turkey. • The many evidences of the leaders' lofty , ideals, their genuine love of country, and ', their magnanimous toleration of op- ; pononts certainly present au aspect of ■ the modem Turkish mind that hitherto ! had not been generally understood, and wen' the conditions otherwise, might be ■ accepted as boding but little ill for Tur- [ key's future. But the religious problem obtrudes, and sooner or later will pro- ■ bably again cause trouble. Of this aspect, Professor Vambcrg, in discussing [ the difficulties that face the reformers, 1 recently remarked:—"We have to keep in view how all powerful and all in- • elusive is the iulhience of Islam over . every action and emotion of life by its ', fanatical upholding of the doctrine of ■ future retribution. The pious Moslem must strictly adhere to all the precepts of the Koran and the Sunna, not only ; in his intercourse with the Deity, but in all the phases and points of everyday life. Hearing this in mind, we shall not so lightly look upon the Turkish Constitution as the wonder-working elixir by means of which the old evils of the Ottoman Empire willj abnl'ptly be eradicated and State and society made new , again. Politicians may nurse this illusion, but the impartial inquirer must respect the truth, ami he may not ignore or purposely conceal the enormous difficulties with which the work of regeneration in Turkey is fraught." The most hopeful aspect of the situation *s that the party of reform is now absolute master of the position, with the power of making and unmaking kings. The Young Turks have undertaken an enormous responsibility, in which they have the sympathy of Constitutionalists the world. over.