ARMINIUS VГЃMBГ‰RY SERIES

In fact, the proper commencement of the Turkish revolution dates from the time when the meeting of the вЂњCommittee of Union and ProgressвЂќ declared itself to have left the field of mere theory and entered the arena of political activity, which is equivalent to saying: We are now strong enough to come out publicly and to fight, if necessary, for the sacred principles of Right and Liberty. Of course, single explosions of the carefully laid mines could not be prevented, and the quiet outbreak of discontent in Kastamuni, Erzerum, Bitlis, and a few other places may be well looked upon as the forerunners of the military rising in Macedonia. Turkish, being a language with which but a limited number of Orientalists are conversant, was not within easy reach of our politicians and publicists, and the proceedings of Young Turkey remained for a long time shrouded in mystery.

London, Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Athens, Alexandria, and Cairo were successfully used, and the publications of the revolutionary committees, being looked upon as literary dainties, went off quickly in Turkey. The number of Turkish revolutionary papers had grown up like mushrooms their editors expelled from one place took refuge in another. Considering the very faint knowledge the Yildiz camarilla could acquire in spite of the host of dearly paid spies and delators, we must not wonder at all that the Western world remained in utter darkness with regard to the part played by Young Turkey in the Ottoman Empire. It is very natural that after the death of Sultan Abdul Aziz, and during the terribly absolutist and ruinous rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid, the number of the Young Turkish party should have attained excessive dimensions and embraced not only the easily inflammable young members of the Turkish society, but even many of the Efendis and Pashas of a riper age nay, ladies and young girls took part in secret societies, and as an occasional contributor to Turkish revolutionary I have got letters in my possession in which ladies render thanks for my sympathies shown to their nation and encourage me to further participation in their cause. As time advanced the opposition grew stronger and stronger, and the object of their attack were not only single high dignitaries, but their criticism extended also to the precincts of the imperial palace, whose officials were accused of all kinds of vices and misdeeds, and particularly of leading astray the sacred person of the Padishah, whom, at that time, nobody ventured to assail. e., вЂњThe CorrespondentвЂќ, directed against the then almighty Aali Pashi, whose absolutist tendencies had long ago raised the anger of the younger Turkish generation, who were brought by a smattering of Western political views into collision with the ruling spirit at the Sublime Porte. It was in 1864 that I met by chance a few young Turkish gentlemen, engaged upon editing a revolutionary paper, called Mukhbir, i. To begin with, the great surprise caused by the success of the Young Turkey party is quite incomprehensible.

It was at the very outset of the recent events in the Near East that the public opinion of Europe betrayed an uncommon degree of ignorance and want of experience in political and social matters in connection with the problem before us. Place: Istanbul Lithograph Celebrating the Revolution of 1908 Previously in The Turkish Revolution of 1908. For works benefiting from the latest research see the вЂњMore informationвЂќ section at the bottom of these pages.ДЄrminius Vambery (1832-1913) was a Hungarian scholar of Balkan and Ottoman history. The selection is presented in 2 easy 5 minute installments. 20 by Arminius Vambery published in 1914.

ARMINIUS VГЃMBГ‰RY SERIES

Today we begin the third part of the series with our selection from Article in The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. Assuming that the catastrophe might have been staved off for a year or two, there is not the slightest doubt that the apple was steadily ripening, and in any case would have fallen into the lap of the well-prepared party of Young Turkey.Д¬ontinuing The Turkish Revolution of 1908,

Arminius vГЎmbГ©ry