THE DEPOSED MONARCH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1909, Page 7

THE DEPOSED MONARCH.

EABLY TEARB OF HIS REIGN. THE STRUGGLE WITH RUSSIA. Abdul-Hamid 11., whose intrigues to restore the old system of absolute rule have resulted iv his downfall, was born on 22nd [September, 1842, and succeeded to the throne on the deposition of his elder brother, Sultan Murad V., on 31st August, 1876. The early years of his reign were clouded by a great struggle with Russia, which resulted disastrously for the Turkish arms, and peace was secured only at the cost of a heavy indemnity. Britain narrowly escaped becoming involved in this war, for in February, 1878, when the victorious Russian army had reached San Stefano, seven miles from Constantinople, the British fleet, in defiaaice of treaties, steamed through the Dardanelles and anchored iii the Sea of Marmora for the protection of the capital. War was imminent, but was averted by the efforts of diplomatists. PROSPEROUS TIMES. Careful administration by the Sultan's Ministers gradually restored order and prosperity in his troubled dominions and confidence in his rule throughout Europe. In these early years Europeans who met the Sultan m direct intercourse agreed that he possessed great personal charm and a gracious winning courtesy. On tho other hand, Ministers of State used to speak with deep feeling of the insults and abuse poured oil any, even the highest, who^had the misfortune to express an opinion that did not agree with his wishes. The sort of atmosphere that prevails at the Yildiz Kiosk is shown by a conversation between a Turkish official and an Englishman, at a time when an ultimatum had been presented, and the Sultan was flattered up to believe that he had only to go into Egypt and resume possession, and that the British would never resist. The Englishman remarked, "But you know better than that, a>nd of course you give better advice when the Sultan asks your opinion." "God forbid," was the reply, "that I should say to the Sultan anything except what he wishes *me to say. No ! When he asks me, I reply that of course the master of a million soldiers has only to enter Egypt and it is his. And it is not for nothing that 1 do this. The Sultan is pleased with me, and signs some paper that I have brought him, and it may bo worth 10,000 piastres to me." ' HATRED OF BRITAIN. The Sultan hated Britaia with a permanent and ineradicable hatred ; this feeling dominated his whole policy, and caused' him to tolerate Germany, which otherwise he disliked. England, had alt ways been the friend of the Reform Party in Turkey ; and the Sultan was the great reactionary who had trodden the Reform Party in the dust. But, worse than that, England, pretending to help Turkey against Russia in Asia Minor, took possession of -Cyprus as a "place of arms." Now to the Sultan tho sting lay in this, that Cyprus was his private appanage, and not part of tho State. The whole revenue of Cyprus went to the Sultan's privy purse. But, worse still : at first the English paid over the Cypriote revenue — about £95,555 a year — to Constantinople, but after the Gladstonian Government came into power, in 1880, this revenue was diverted to pay interest oni tho Turkish Debt, emptying the Sultan's privato purse into the lap of the European bondholders. The Sultan, therefore, welcomed the German 'intervention, for the Germans encouraged him to govern as he pleased. They even persuaded him that railways were necessary for military efficiency, and showed that the Hedjaz Railway must- be the foundation of the Khalifate. This was the origin of the German railway concessions, which gave so much trouble in after years. PERSONAL NOTES. Some interesting details of the Sultan's later life are given in "The Private jjife of the Sultan of Turkey," \% ritter by a son of the late Prince of Samos, one of the Sultan's Ministers, and an English translation of which was published a few years ago. AccordiSg to this writer, the Sultan has at his command a power of dissimulation which enables him to hoodwink completely foreigners coming in contact with him : "He has tho gift of making himself agreeable in order to win the friendship of those who approach him, especially foreigners. He tnkes all kinds of pains to please them, and it is seldom that a European leaves him without being fascinated by his cordial and charming manner and exquisite tact. The Sultan, in fact, practices the art of politeness and hospitality nob only as an Oriental, but also as a Euiopean. Nowhere are foreign notabilities received as royally as at YiWiz, and even mere toarists passing through Constantinople, and present al Sehimlyk, will be- received with honours. If they form a numerous, party all kinds of flattering attentions are showered upon them during the ceremony, and before leaving they find a sumptuous lunch served on the terrace of the Yildiz Kiosk. Cigarettes are presented to them, and an aide-de-camp of the Sultan conveys to them the imperial compliments. Again, at their depaiUire from Constantinople — a full view of v/hich has been facilitated by order from the palace — they are presented with Turkish sweetmeats, dftaieUea, etc., aa souvenirs of his Majesty. And th/v visitors go away delight-.

Ed with their visit, convinced thafc the Sultan is a most affable and courteous prince, and thai the complaints of Euvope are entirely unjustified. Despite the care he takes of his health, lift is prematurely old and broken. He is extremely feeble, and only keeps up by dint of will power. His body is so thin that it is little more than a skeleton. After having tried in ■vain, by every possible means, to increase in weight, and, and finding himself unable to do so, he abstains from everything. likely to make him thinner. He has an atrocious fear of death, and dreads illness in general and contagious diseases.