Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/191



Confronted by the facts mentioned in the preceding chapter, the Turk could not stand indifferent. He had two alternatives, to submit or to oppose. He could appreciate the vitality of this progressive element in his dominion, and, laying aside every prejudice and fanaticism, endeavor to rebuild his decayed government, or take his ancient policy of reducing the Christians low by plundering their accumulated wealth and crushing their honor and aspirations under his feet. He preferred the latter policy, and by Satanic devices prepared the way of destruction in the following steps:

1. The First Step Was to Have a Fanatic and Narrow-Minded Sultan. In 1876 Sultan Aziz was dethroned and secretly murdered with the apparent accusation of "Abusing the Treasury (!) of the Highest Commonwealth." Just three months later his nephew and successor, Sultan Murad, was deposed with the accusation of "Sick-mindedness." Perhaps both accusations were true; yet who can say that nine in ten Sultans did not abuse the wealth of the government and have a sound and practical mind? The fanatic and adventurous party of the palace was after another thing; they planned to have a Sultan that