FORMER CONSTITUTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 7

FORMER CONSTITUTIONS.

Forms of constitution, after the model of the West European States, have been drawn up at various periods by successive Ottoman Governments, the first of them being embodied m the "Hatti-Humayoun" of Sultan AbdulMedjid, proclaimed February 18, 1856. There was a similar decreo of Sultan Abdul Hamiu II 111 Novembor, 187 G. But'it has always been considered that the carrying out of' theso projects of reform is impossible in the' present condition of tho Ottoman Empire. Tho Sultan s apparent sincerity has no doubt taken Western Europe, as well as his own subjects, by .surprisa.

Prince Sabah-ed-Din, a nephew of the Sultan Abdul Hamid, in a. speoch made at a recont congress held in Paris of Turkish. Armenian, and other societies. opposed to the present regime, said'that it must be thoir chief object to bring about a bettor feeling between tho Turkish and non-Turkish elements in the Ottoman Empire. Tho movement, which for tho last two years had been spreading in Asia Minor, showed that ,tho Turkish people were, not only becoming conscious of their rights and duties, but were beginning to' act as a "centripetal force" with regard to the nou-Turk-ish elements, and to neutralise the "centrifugal" effects of the Sultan's policy. He especially rejoiced at tho better relations which were now being established between Turks and Armenians. Pointing out that a community which has been trained to rely upon personal effort invariably succeeds in securing a suitable form of government, lie. urged his Turkish fellow countrymen to look upon thoir schools as existing, not solely for training civil and military 'officials, but for forming men of initiative and independent character, ablo to serve their country in agriculture, industry, and commerce.