OCR Text |
Show REVOLT IN PERSIA AIDED BY BABISM A culminating revolution in Persia Is due this spring, says the Constantinople correspondent of the New York Evening Post. At least, this is tho declaration of Anjoumanl Snudet, tho Persian revolutionary revolu-tionary central committee, whoso headquarters head-quarters aro located In Vnlldo I Inn In thnt city. "We have splendid Samsum Khan, the revolutionary leader In Azcr-bejan. Azcr-bejan. with thirty thousand rllles. and fifty field guns." said an Important member mem-ber of the committee, -and we arc sure that the conflict will end In favor of the constitutionalists." Constantinople is the center of the Persian activities. There are about twenty thousand Persians there, and almost all of them, as representatives representa-tives of tho middle class, aro keenly Interested In home affairs. Money, arms and advleo go continually from there, sa they ought to know the truth about Persia Per-sia and the situation. The Persian embassy there is on the Subllmt; Porte avenuo. The emblem of tho lion and sun outstanding In front of the building makes the lookeron remember re-member that there was a Persia In oldn times with a glorious history, which lapsed Into a state of lethargy. Mlrza Rlza Khan, tho Persian embassador. Is n. very intelligent man. Ills library, where I met his excellency, shows that he has a keen sense of the value of Information. Informa-tion. Richly-bound books In French on politics, history and economics. In mahogany ma-hogany bookcases, and a few books lying on his study table, are his companions. Rlza Khan has been placed in an embarrassing em-barrassing position. He Is a liberal, a supporter of the constitutional movement; move-ment; yet he Is a representative of the shah, and In his official capacity lie must report the activities of his master's mas-ter's enemies. But ho won't do it; so ho Is almost on a. strike. For a time ho has not done much diplomatic business, busi-ness, and has Insisted on not talking politics to correspondents. However, we had much to talk about Persia. Her history, her resources, her interesting people, and her ancient, religion, reli-gion, sunworshlpplng, fireworsliipping. still predominant In most parts of the country. This personal Interest aroused the patriotism of this kindly oriental diplomat, and he was moved to talk home politics unconsciously. Work of Churchmen. "Is it true, your excellency," I asked, "thnt the late Muvsafer-Kddln Shah left n will in which he bequeaths a solemn duly on the present shah, lo maintain the constitution?" "I don't know whether it Is true or not," said he. in anger, "but ho was there when his father signed the constitution; con-stitution; Kcoe deyel Edl? (was he blind?) This movement lias existed for some years in Persia, and the leaders aro mostly clergymen of higher rank. Said Mohmad and Said Abdullah, a lato mar-tr. mar-tr. through their energetic und vigorous vigor-ous preaching In tho mosques, have led the populace to the utmost Indignation against whatever is reactionary. When Mushir-ut-Dovleh was appointed grand vizier, Said Mohmad, that fearless old Mullah, wrote to the new prime minister minis-ter of the empire: 'The people of Iran have determined to fight for its independence. inde-pendence. It is advisable that you willingly will-ingly grant a constitution for the country. coun-try. The old regime cannot last any longer. If you refuse lo do all in your power to Induce the shah to establish a parliament, J will lead my people to Insurrection. In-surrection. My lifo Is for tho freedom of my country." "It was this open threat that led the liberal minister to draw a constitution, and induce the late shah lo sign It in the fall of 1D0G. Muzafer-Eddln Shah was not reluctant to accept it. Not only did he put his signature under it willingly, willing-ly, but ho made the crown prince the present shah sign it and pledge himself him-self to Its support. Soon Muzafer-Eddln died and Mohamud All Mirai succeeded suc-ceeded his father as shah on January I), 1907, and he was the first monarch of Persia to begin his rule under a constitution. con-stitution. "The present ruler, although young, and vcrv Jealous of the rights and wel-faro wel-faro of his country. Is still, unfortunate-lv, unfortunate-lv, surrounded by Ignorant, narrow-minded and selfish advisers, who prey upon the booty of the country's income and hate to see their interests endangered by reforms." 0 Revolutionary Committee. The embassador directed mo to the headquarters of the revolutionary central cen-tral committee. "They aro In dally communication com-munication with all revolutionary committees com-mittees in Persia." he said. "They receive re-ceive telegrams from them every day. and know the situation well. I get my information in-formation from them also." Vallde Han is in Stamboul on a hilltop. The bazaar, tho entrance, rug stores, and red dyed whiskers make one feel as If In old Persia again. Upon inquiry from tho Anjoumanl Saadet (freedom committee), T was directed to the room which bears on its door tho humorous number 23 Mah-moud Mah-moud Tabaz, a young Persian merchant, and a leader In the committee, sitting In front of a table, was busily engaged in going over official papors and documents. Ho showed me a telegram from Sir Edward Ed-ward Grey, assuring the committee that Iho British government would not interfere inter-fere with the Internal affairs of Persia. Then he produced a telegram Just received re-ceived from Samsum Khan. Informing tho committee that Tabriz was in their bands, and that thev had established there a provisional government. Then he produces pro-duces copies which he had prepared to telegraph to their partisans in Spahan. Rasnt, Shiraz and other places where the revolutionists aro strong, lo inform them of the latest Important news. "Our country, said tills Persian revolutionist, rev-olutionist, "needs a shaking, and we aro the shakers. In Persia for generations thousands of worthless men have been receiving public salaries without eam-Jng eam-Jng or deserving them. When any one gets into a government position there, he receives a salary which Is paid to him quarterly, even when he Is permanently perma-nently out of service, and on his demise the salary is transferred lo his heirs. Very often by bribing dishonest treasury treas-ury officials, salaries have been obtained ob-tained for outsiders, or even for minors, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a year. And these undeserved un-deserved salaries of enormous sums have been paid from generation to generation. genera-tion. The. imperial treasury, thus robbed and depleted, could barely pay a meager salary to Its starving clerks, while thousands thou-sands of worthless scamps, who never did a thing for t ho government, spend their fat. salaries In riotous living. "On the other hand, almost all tho of-ficas of-ficas aro open to the highest bidder. To be appointed to some office tho candidate candi-date must first pay enormous sums to the king, then to his subordinates.- Once In office, he subjects the people to gross extortions, having no salary, and being desirous of making up the money paid for hls'appolntnient lo office. "Financially. Persia Is today almost bankrupt. The taxes, which are tho main Income of the imperiul treasury, are wasted In the hands of Incompetent and dishonest administrators. Persia's Imperial debt Is over 30.000,000 of roubles, rou-bles, most of which Is loaned by the Russian Rus-sian governmenl. There Is no Income, that could be safely used for tho payment pay-ment of this debt except tho custom receipts, re-ceipts, and these aro In the hands of Belgians. Tho shah Is now keeping the wolf out by selling the valuable relics of his ancestors, but that will not Inst long. A new loan Is impossible; the entire nation na-tion is opposed to it, and will not recognize recog-nize any debt made by tho present administration. ad-ministration. Unpaid Army. "As to the military organization, it Is simply a farce. There are n few battalions bat-talions under the instruction of an Austrian Aus-trian general, but nothing Is provided for their maintenance. They are poorly dressed and almost, hungry. It Is very common rt see oven in the heart of the capital city. Teheran, soldiers working In the capacity of servants and porters to earn their living. 'The whole army numbers num-bers scarcely 30.000 soldiers, who are so poorly equipped and so badly drilled that they aro helpless even against the horde of Kurds who are continuously In-vat'u'ng In-vat'u'ng Persia. Cossacks. on whose bravery tho shah is counting in the present struggle, aro mounted soldiers from AzerbeJan. who, for the last few years, have been drilled under the Instructions In-structions of Colonel Polkovnlkoff, a Russian Rus-sian Cossack. Their number is not more than 2000. "This state of anarchy cannot last any longer. A people may suffer for a period of years; but once tho spirit of resistance awakens, it marches onward, dcmollsl-jrig all barriers, till the persecuted receive their long-delayed justice Now we have five out of seven Persian provlncen In our hands, and the shah Is left all alone, in Teherun. We have a better equipped army and more monev to keep on the fight till the lctory brings freedom for all Our committee up to date have supplied sup-plied the revolutionists In Tabriz with 30.000 modern guns and flfly cannon. This very week," ho added, "wc forwarded forward-ed i"00 pounds for tho use of our army, in the spring Samsum Khan will march on Teheran, dethrone the shah, and proclaim pro-claim the constitution. If only tho Russian Rus-sian and British governments let us alone we will sottlo our affairs." 'Wliat kind of government would your pnrty prefer to have In Persia?" 1 Inquired In-quired of this young revolutionist. "Of course," ho said, "constitutional monarchy. Persia Is not prepared for a republican form of government, as a fow radicals In our ranks are claiming. But particularly we are not Inclined to support sup-port tho present iCaJar dynasty. Wo want a shah, a 'wooden monarch, and a strong parliament. There aro others who have bettor rights to claim the Persian throne than Kajars." Money for the Causo. This revolutionary committee here lias secured ample means to raise money for the constitutional cause. Not only does every Persian here conlributo a goodly round sum, but all the taxes Intended for the shah's government go to the revolutionary revolu-tionary treasury. Every Pei"sian subject residing- In Constant Inoplo Is obliged lo pay taxes, each according to his financial capacity. A merchant, pays one pound a year; a shopkeeper half a pound, and a laboring mnn one-quarter of a pound. These taxes are. paid regularly to the An-joumani An-joumani Saadet, and official receipts arc given for them. When the committee decided to get hold of this J'at Income they saw tho necessity of having tho official seal and stamps used for the purpose. Ono night about a month ago, they kidnaped tho shah's officer and compelled him to give up all his official papers, the si'al, the stamps, worth four thousand dollars,- und all money he had collected for tnxes. Now this official business is carried on at tho revolutionary headquarters, without any Interference. Kidnaping is a game played by tho revolutionists universally. Shua-es-Sultaneh. brother of the shall, who recently re-cently landed at Resht from Europe, was kidnaped by Insurgents, who demanded a ransom of five thousand dollars. Many other cases may be cited. When I was l-eady to depart, the cool-headed cool-headed Persian merchant said: "I understand that we have a hard game before us, but we aro hopeful. The Persian says: 'To learn swimming one must go Into the water.' If Persia lie able to swim, then she will be called to play an importaiiL role in tho civilization of Middle Asia." This movement, in Persia seems bound lo succeed, sinco the Persian liberals are following tho steps of tho Young Turks. This is not. of course, a sudden outburst; It has been In progress for a score of years. When Persia was Isolated, Iso-lated, cut off from communication with Iho outside world, self-satisfied, unaware of the civilization of other nations, her people thought the world was within the boundaries Jf Persia tho master of the globe the shah, and the traditions and laws of Iran the supremo code of the universe. The traveler, the commercial agei, the railroad brought rays of the light of civilization and progress. Consequently. Con-sequently. It was an insignificant minority minor-ity that awakened to see the deplorable deplora-ble conditions existing In their own country, coun-try, tho fanaticism of their religion, tho barbarism of the law, the extortions of pettj tyrants, the poverty of the people and . the avarice of parasites. Then the first signs of resistance began, and developed de-veloped slowly but gradually. Rise of Babism. The rise of Babism was the very first appearance of the Persian liberal movement. move-ment. The Intolerance; and selfishness of the Mohammedan clergy gave birth lo a new sect, Bablsts. who came forward lo demand purer religion, a brotherhood of man, justice to all and abolition of tho old feudal system. They were Protestants Pro-testants of Mohammedanism, with a bold spirit of resistance to predominant despotism. des-potism. Persecutions, cruel punishments and martyrdom sanctified tho causo of Babism and Increased the number of Us adherents. Persians arc ceremonial in their dealings deal-ings with other religions. Anything touched by a non-Mohammedan is considered con-sidered nejls Impure. Bablsts protested I against such superstition and associated themselves' with Christians. This Increased In-creased the popularity of the now sect. Babism has spread all over Persia. In everv rank and caste. The astonishing fact is that the active leaders of Bab-Ism Bab-Ism and liberalism are clergymen advanced ad-vanced In both age and enlightenment. So mediaeval are forms and ways of living In Persia that no movement of this characic-r could have appeared except ex-cept under the guise of religion. The Mollah of Shlraz, an old priest, who is tho father of Babism, was a man of thought, a type which could be easily compared with sixteenth century rot'orm-ers. rot'orm-ers. Ho knew llttlo or nothing of the progress of western civilization, of the hlslorv of western JCurope. yet he preached preach-ed and wrote his teachings in a simple and popular style. In this way his plain words of "love, charity and equality" reached the humblest hamlet in tho country- . . While Bablsts could bo easily credited as promoters and pioneers of tho Persian Per-sian reform movement, one cannot Ignore Ig-nore the political, economic and social conditions of the country as the main causes of tho present uprising. The masses In Persia are poor, hungry and harassed. Considering the fact that there are no courts, no Jury, no trials, the tortures which an unfortunate victim suffers at the hands of a newly-appointed officer arc beyond the powers of description. descrip-tion. Cutting the nose, walling up. maiming, maim-ing, hanging head down, burying alive, crucifying, administering the bastinado, are a few of tho means employed by despotic officials In their dealings with the. unfortunate and wretched inhabitants. inhabit-ants. No wonder that Persia is in revolt. |