THE NEW SULTAN.

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

THE NEW SULTAN.

A CHARACTER SKETCH. The Turkish law of succession, ac-' cording to ancient custom, gives the throne to the eldest male . relative of tne deceased bovereign The Sultan's presumptive and legitimate heir is, therefoie, his brother, Rechad-Effendi, whom the revolutionary leaders have selected as his successor. Prince Rechad is now sixty-four years old. The author of the "Private Life" says that although not endowed with much intelligence nor possessing much education, he is a man of excellent judgment and considerable integrity. He also has over his deposed brothei 1 , among other points of superiority, that of knowing thoroughly at least one language — Persiaa — in which, indeed, he has written verse. Actuated by the best motives, sincerely distressed at the condition of tho empire, he keeps well posted as to events, although his brother, the Sultan, tries to dull his faculties by encouraging in him a certain tendency he shows for drink. He is practically a prisoner, being surrounded by the Sultan's agents, waited on by the servants in the Padisha's pay, who rote his slightest word and gesture. His partisans are all men of character and standing, who now stand aloof, but await with patience and resignation the blessed hour when their friend and their country vTill be delivered.