Turkey’s Revolution

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TURKEY'S REVOLUTION. BY JOHN T. WOODBURY, JR., OF THE L. D. S. MISSION IN TURKEY.

[On the 24th of April, after a fight with the loyal troops of the Sultan, in which more than a thousand, men were killed, the forces of the Young Turks or Constitutionalists, entered Constantinople, took complete possession of the city and forced the unconditional surrender of the garrison of the Sultan Abdul Hamid's palace. Martial law was proclaimed and comparative order was soon restored; measures were then taken for the protection of the embassies and all foreigners. Three days later, on the 27th, Sheik-ul-Islam, who is the head of the church, issued a decree deposing the sultan, which decree was immediately approved by the national assembly with not a dissenting voice, Abdul Hamid is now a pris- oner in a palace at Salonica, headquarters of the Young Turks. Mehemmed- Reshad Effendi, the sultan's brother, who is two years younger than Abdul Hamid, was chosen successor to reign under the title of Mehemmed V, The deposed sultan is sixty-six years old. The new sultan has for thirty-three years been a prisoner in his palace at Constantinople, because of the jealousy and suspicion of his despotic brother wbo, it is now clearly evident was the instigator of the fearful massacres of Christians which has recently taken place in Armenia, jn which over 20,000 people have been murdered. The new sultan has expressed himself in full sympathy with the constitution, and there is some prospect that another more civilized regime will be inaugurated in Turkey. Several Americans, among them two newspaper correspondents, were wounded during the fight in Constantinople. This article was written just before the events above referred to took place. Editors.]

For years it has been a common saying among our people that Turkey's political affairs have reached such a state of corrup- tion that any change, no matter what it might be, could hardly help being for the better. Perhaps the fact that our missionaries have suffered many inconveniences due to looseness in government, lack of punctuality in officers and precision in methods, may have influenced them somewhat and made judgment a little severe. Loss of letters and papers from the mails, otherwise their extremely late ;

arrival, withholding, 'on thefpart of the officials, books which have

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regularly been examined and marked to that effect by the seal of the censor; unnecessary and unlawful requirements made concern- ing passports, by ignorant and fanatical officers; banishment in deed if not in form by placing soldiers to see that no conversa- tions are held and no work done; compulsory travel in undesirable directions, and in fact almost anything else that would go against the grain of Americanism's freedom-loving spirit, have all been

factors in helping us to the conclusion that Turkey's changes can only be for the better. The present condition of the Ottoman empire substantiates

Drawn from life by Joseph O. Phelps Plowing.

the words of our representatives to this people, wherein they have often said, that even if foreign powers did not interfere and reform this country, that it would in and of itself be revolution- ized, because "a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand."

A majority of officers represent each an arbitrary government or power, wherein he concocts laws to suit himself, and any emer-

gency that might arise, making sure that his concoctions will

but the same time he is very bring more bribe money his way; at

careful that he is not treading on the toes of a superior, of whom more than likely he has bought his present office. If, however, he is accidentally or otherwise brought to task by a senior whom he may have offended by taking a bribe which would otherwise have fallen to his accuser, he in turn bribes hismore powerful adver- sary with a good round sum and returns to his old practices with renewed vigor, for he figures that he must, from some source, get a compensation for that which he has been compelled to pay his lawless superior associate. Thus, the officers, from the mail car. rier on up to the head, buys each his respective office from the

one next in rank, better. The offices are sold from the top down, one man buys an office and then sells offices that come under his management. Each officer which he appoints sells the respective minor offices that come under his jurisdiction; consequently, if a change is made among the head officials, a great commotion fol- lows. Under such a rule there is nothing which money cannot buy. Freedom for the murderer is in sight, if he has a little gold. Under such a tyranny nothing the poor man has is safe from the rich and not even the widow's portion is left to her unmolested.

CHANGES.

From an absolute monarchy the Ottoman empire has become a representative government with a constitution. At the time the constituion was made public, most of the higher officers were changed about in order that no conspiracies might flourish. Next all officers and soldiers were sworn to uphold the constitution in a

peculiarly Mohammedan style with their Wallahe, Tallahe and Belliihe. Next, the government sent representatives to all parts of its domains to explain the new move and tell the people they have freedom. Many of the people mistook anarchy, or lack of government, for freedom, and consequently many officers who had dealt very unjustly in past time were handled very roughly (some being killed) by mobs, urged on by leaders whose business it was to know that lack of government does not mean freedom. The censor and secret service men were then dispensed with. The presses and newspapers were made free to publish what they desire. All men serving terms of imprisonment for plot or con- spiracy against the government were set at liberty. Thousands of

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men were set free. This move gave other prisoners the idea that they ought to be freed, and was a fruitful source of prison breaks. In Sivas the prisoners, by some means or other, secured arms and rushed on the guarding soldiery, killing two. The soldiers stood firm, and after killing nine men, succeeded in returning the re- maining prisioners to their pen-like prison. Next, all Armenians, who, having left Turkey, desired to re- turn, were permitted to do so unmolested. Word was given out that if anybody desired to go to foreign countries, or even to other parts of Turkey, passports would be issued to such persons with- out giving them unnecessary trouble and without charging them an outrageous fee. The Armenians are now permitted to carry firearms if they desire, but thegovernment is yet careful to see that they do not supply themselves with rifles. Though bribery and injustice in court were supposed to vanish entirely under the new system, it has by no means done so; nor could it consistently be expected to be wholly uprooted in a place where it has flourished for so many years, and that in the face of laws affixing heavy penalties, too. Equality of all subjects is a theme much harped upon but never practiced.

Drawn by Joseph O. Phelps Threshing.

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648 1MPR0VEMEN1 ERA.

Last, but not insignificant, is the fact that in this movement the Mohammedan has secured a handle by which he will be able to completely annihilate the Armenian nation. In the past, the Turk has been, he thinks, handicapped by the interference of other nations when he has murdered the Armenian after taking all of his arms. Interference of the foreigner has been uppermost in the Turk's mind, but now it will not be so. In the manner that his cunning has helped him in past ages, it has again come to his rescue. During his six hundred years of tyrannical rule, he has reduced the Armenian nation from thirty-five or forty million to a number that will not exceed five million. In event of another massacre, which the crafty, blood-thirsty Turk would like to perpetrate on the handful of Armenians re- maining, how could he excuse himself? Knowing that the Armen- ian desires absolute freedom, and that if any kind of a chance is given him he will rebel; still further, knowing that if he does so, he can at best cope with the Turk's millions for but a short time, the Mohammedan has given him a dangerous plaything in the form of a little freedom and at the same time furnished himself with a long desired excuse for exterminating his troublesome cap- tives and obtaining what little property has been left unto them thus far. If a massacre should be the outcome of the movement here, and the Turks were held to account by foreign nations his answer would most assuredly be, We gave the Armenian freedom He has misused it, and brought this calamity on his own head. By misusing his liberty he has stirred up our people, and their wrath has fallen upon him, and no one but himself is to blame. Whether such a thing will ever be done or not, or whether the Turk's prime motive foreshadowed such a thing or not, we may not know, but that it looks feasible can readily be seen.

ATTITUDE OF TURK.

Among the Turks there are several divisions. As a general rule the old Turk is against any change whatever in the govern- ment, because he considers that besides taking power out of his hands, striking a telling blow at his religion and his pride. it is

Another class (I might call it the middle one) is willing to concede a little toward making life easier for people other than

'

TURKEY'S REVOLUTION. 649

the Turk. They are a sort of conservative class, desiring to make a reconciliation with as little sacrifice of power as possible, at the same time, understanding that to be obstinate and sacrifice none, will mean, in time, to sacrifice all.

The third and important class known as the "Young Turk," desires that the country be free, and that liberty prevail. His motto is "Freedom, brotherhood, justice and equality." The motto is good, but will it ever be a reality? A parliament may make laws incorporating the grand principles in the four words above, but still, as long as existing conditions prevail there will always be an unwritten law which will say Armenians and Moham- medans are not brothers, and the Armenian is inferior to his haughty conqueror. There is no possibility whatever that, at least this generation of Turks will consider the Armenian as his equal, or, for that matter, any body else. At present, even the Turks say that there is equality among all the Sultan's subjects, but is it so? Not any more so than that it is a fact that the negro of our Southern States is equal to the white man. The law says he is, but the unwritten law says he isn't. 'Tis not an easy matter for a Turk to consider those his brothers or equals whom he and his forefathers for thirteen cen- turies have been taught are "ghower" or God-given especially for them to prey upon. The Turk has become a world-renowned fanatic, and it will take more than a generation to grind outof him the storage of more than a thousand years, unless some extraordinary powers are brought to bear upon his calloused heart.

ARMENIAN ATTITUDE.

The Armenians are divided into two main divisions, both hav- ing absolute freedom and dominion as their ultimate aim, but their modes of procedure differ widely. One division says, let us accept the proffered freedom as a stepping stone to absolute freedom. Under present conditions we cannot grow or acquire power, therefore it is absolutely neces- sary for us to accept the little freedom offered unto us that we may acquire strength to gain the freedom desired (a portion of the Ottoman empire to rule by themselves) With this little freedom . we

650 IMPR VEMENT ERA .

can come into possession of arms and prepare to defend ourselves at the time when European governments decide to free us. If that

time never comes, we may in time be able to free ourselves. The other division says, let us not accept this mock freedom offered unto us because by doing so, we will lose our case with other nations. They will say that since you have accepted the terms offered you by the Turks, you have tied our hands and we can do nothing for you. Let us either die or be free! Now is the time to strike! This freedom movement is simply a trick to weaken us still more, therefore before we are downed never more to rise, let us do something and then implore the aid of foreigners. If they come not to our aid, let us, at least, die fighting for freedom. 'Tis much better than being lured into a trap, and then slain like so many rats, without even a chance of defense. It would be impossible to picture the hatred which most of the

Armenians have for the Turk. In fact, I am free to say that if the Turk and Armenian changed places now, that is, if the former were in bondage and the latter was his master, there would in a

very short time not be enough Turks left to tell the story of their horrible butchery. The Armenian has proved that he is just about as fanatical as the Turk and will give just as much if not more trouble to one who does not believe as he does, if it lies in his

power. The few officers chosen from the Armenians have proven beyond a doubt that they do not know how to use authority. Even though his authority be insignificant, he becomes exceedingly proud, and commands as though he were ''Lord of Creation." There are exceptions, but they are few.

IMPOSSIBILITY OF AMICABLE MUTUAL GOVERNMENT. The mutual hate existing between the Turk and the Chris- tian willbe found an insurmountable barrier to peaceful mutual government, until it be removed, if such a thing is possible. Cold-blooded butchery perpetrated upon the fathers, wives, brothers, sisters and mothers of many Armenians of the present generation has engraved upon the hearts of those who were spared, vengeance and fear; vengeance for their relatives' spilled

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blood, fear lest their own shall be mingled with that of their fallen relatives, and by the same hand that laid their loved ones low. Their despair engendering fear is so terrible at times that it reminds one of a wicked people awaiting the pouring out of the wrath and vengeance of an offended God. The Turk also fears, and therefore hates. He knows too well what it will mean to him if the Armenian ever gets any power. During the time of the massacre he received a warning never to be forgotten from a little Armenian village called Zeytoon. The few Mohammedans that were in that village at the time were butchered in a manner that could only be the fruit of an un- dying hate. Soldiers who had surrendered and given up their arms to that village were afterwards slain with knives, clubs, hatchets, etc., in the hands of the villagers' wives. When the Turk again gained power in that section is it any great wonder that he swore that he would oppress them with taxes to such an extent that they would never be able to again regain their feet? After such things have happened, can the Turk and Armen- ian go towar together against a foreign nation? No; each would fear that the other would turn traitor. More especially the Turk would fear that the Armenian would fall into the ranks of his Christian adversaries. The Mohammedan does not and will not at present either

give the Armenian justice, nor call him brother in earnest. Neither will he consider him his equal under any conditions. Further- more the Armenian does not desire to become either a brother or an equal of the Turk in a mutual government. He wants, first and last, a land of his own and a government of his own, wherein he may do as he sees fit. His six hundred years joint residence with the Musselman has not prepared him to be a successful, self-governing nation. The traits and customs of the Turk have been too deeply instilled

into his life to permit him to be a just ruler or a conscientious servant. A PERFECT MEANS OP ADJUSTMENT. In his mad desire for a country of his own the Armenian is

today ignoring everything else. He even says that religion is at such a time a secondary consideration and any one of their people

who places it foremost ought to be slain. No doubt that his

religion could stand a second place, but true Christianity, never! Think of it! Ignoring the whole plan of deliverance, made by the King of the whole earth, and thinking that they can make a plan that will serve their purpose better. Even if they should become •

freed from their Mohammedan yoke, they would still fall prey to their own depraved natures, which would be worse still. If Turkey's contending parties would only accept true Chris-

tianity, the despised "Mormonism," the gospel of love, they would

have commenced the only solution to their difficulties. They would have commenced a purification of their individuals and thereby make a sure foundation for a righteous, peace-loving nation. Acceptance of the gospel in deed, and not in word of mouth, would put them in possession of the Holy Spirit, which would teach them how to be peaceable and loving, and how to banish their soul-destroying hate, envy and vengeance. May the Lord grant unto this benighted people the spirit of repentance, that they may have the privilege of enjoying the same blessings that the gospel has brought unto us. May they prove in their lives that truth and truth only shall make them free.

Zara, Turkey.

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