p. 11 | Revolution in Turkey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 28, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 17.

Revolution in Turkey

SINCE July, 1908, Turkey has been under the control of what is termed the Young Turks party, or Committee of Union and Progress, which at that time, supported by the Third Army Corps, compelled the Sultan to promise a constitution and a parliament. In February the Young Turks compelled the Grand Vizier, Kaimil Pasha, and his cabinet to resign, and placed Hilmi Pasha in the position. But it is evident that those statesmen who have all along questioned the possibility of success in the fight for a constitutional government for Turkey are right in their fears. There has been a growing dissatisfaction with the Young Turks regime, which on April 13 reached a climax in the mutiny of a large part of the troops against the minister of war. The members of the cabinet were compelled to resign; the Sultan accepted their resignations, and a new cabinet has been formed. Seventeen were killed and about thirty wounded in the riot which occurred about the government buildings. The Young Turks party is contending for civil and religious liberty, but with the mixture of races in Turkey, with the differences in religion and customs, there is little promise of a speedy establishment of a constitutional government.