The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1909. THE PERSIAN REVOLUTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2558, 20 July 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1909. THE PERSIAN REVOLUTION.

Events are moving rapidly amongst Oriental nations nowadays, and Abdul Hamid, the deposed Turkish Sultan, has not had to wait long for a- mate. The individual who’ has been qualifying for partnership with the villainous Abdul is Mohamed Ali, who, until Friday last was Shah of Persia. In this ancient domain, as in Turkey, there has of late years been a persistent demand on the part of the masses for constitutional government, and in both countries the reigning despots have been slow to learn tho lesson that the tide of public opinion can never be permanently withstood. The Turkish potentate held on successfully for a score of years, but it was only by playing upon the religious prejudices of his people that he was able'to reign as long as he did. Ultimately even • this brand of diplomacy failed and now ho finds himself stripped of all authority, publicly degraded, and living as a prisoner in the country that ho once dominated. The Shah of Persia looked on whilo all this was happening and took ids cue accordingly. Whereas lie had strenuously refused to concede any points to tho Constitutionalists, keeping the Mejliss or Parliament closed down till they should give way to his autocratic demands, he suddenly decided to call that body together. Before, his negotiations with outside nations had been limited to an attempt to borrow money wherewith to fight the Nationalists of his own country, but he now submitted the terms he was prepared to offer to his Parliament for the approval of Britain and Russia. They were said to appear satisfactory to those countries, hut the Nationalists evidently considered that in waiting until, in imagination, he saw tho Turkish Sultan’s head about to be decapitated, Mahomed Ali had timed his recantation a trifle too late. So as the Reform Party in Turkey had marched upon Constantinople the Nationalists of Persia marched upon the capital, Teheran. Their forces must have become immensely strengthened of late, for it is only a month or two since they were reported to bo starving at Tabriz, and practically at the mercy of the Shah’s besieging force. In any ease, probably as the result of the moral effect of the Turkish coup-d’etat, they found themselves capable of dominating the situation at Teheran, and as in Tur. key, the reformers gained the day with little, if; any, bloodshed. Once in power tliov have wasted no time in dealing with tho autocrat who has been causing all the trouble, and Mahomed Ali lias been promptly deposed. His exMajesty is occupying a Russian bungalow and is said to bo under a Russian and British guard. This is probably fortunate for His Highness, who might otherwise have suffered the same fate which has on previous occasions in history been administered to despotic, arrogant monarchs who have provoked their long-suffer-ing subjects beyond the breaking point. Mahomed Ali has not had a long reign, but it has been lengthy enough to demonstrate that he is thoroughly well equipped with the qualities tliaV have in the past given Oriental potentates such an unpleasant reputation. He was appointed Shah upon the death of his father in January 1907. Prior to this he had, while Crown Prince, approved of the Constitution that had just been granted to the Persian people, and upon his accession lio ratified it. He had not been Sovereign long, however, before he made it clear that a Parliament was only good so long as it obeyed the dictates of His Majesty, and when it became so presumptious as to limit the Civil List to £IOO,OOO a year, Mahomed replied very simply by placing the leaders of the Nationalist Party in jail. This was the beginning of a bitter struggle between the Shall and the Parliamentarians. A notable event occurred in June of last year .when the Shah’s forces stormed Teheran and destroyed the Parliament buildings. Since then Mahomed has been managing affairs at his own sweet will and, though constantly promising to call the Mejliss or Parliament together, lie never took any * finite steps in. that .direction until the “awful example”, of Abdul Hamid forced his hand. Now lie will have ample leisure to reflect upon the dangers of procrastination. It is to be hoped that tlio new Shall will benefit from the experience of liis predecessor and that under his rule some much needed stability will be given to the public affairs of tlie once mighty Persian Empire. If the Nationalists, on their part, use their power with anything like the intelligence and moderation displayed by the reformers who are now in authority in Turkey, tho revolution will constitute a very great benefit to civilisation and to 'humanity.