NEWS OF THE WEEK.
-w-E have dealt elsewhere with what is one of the most dramatic events of modern times, the revolution in Turkey, a revolution by which the most absolute autocracy in the world has been suddenly converted, on paper at any rate, into a Constitutional regime. Here we will only repeat that though we are bound to express doubts whether what is, after all, an Asiatic country—Turkey in Europe is but a fragment of the Empire—can be governed on Constitutional lines, those doubts do not arise from any want of sympathy with the Turkish Liberals, orfrom any failure to recognise the weakness and wickedness of the old regime. The danger is that the leaders, unaccustomed to liberty and Constitutional government, will push things so far and so fast as to cause a reaction in the minds of the backward and fanatical Mohammedan population, who, after all, form the vast majority of the Turkish Empire. Meantime it is pleasant to note that the worst members of the Yildiz camarilla have been flying precipitately from Constantinople. A telegram to Friday's Times tells us that the notorious Izzet Pasha, who might well be described as the evil genius of Turkey, disappeared from his house on Thursday, and has probably fled. At the same time, the members of the hated Melhame
who are Syrians like Izzet Pasha, have also escaped. The Young Turks have been endeavouring to catch the fugitives, but on the whole we cannot help thinking that it is fortunate they have not so far been very successful. The capture of men like Izzet would only be an embarrassment to the new regime. No doubt the desire for revenge, or, to put it more fairly, the desire to punish State criminals, is natural enough; but at the same time the most permanent and successful revolutions are undoubtedly those which avoid an effusion of blood. If the Young Turks are wise, they will create a pre- cedent in magnanimity, not follow one in severity and bloodshed.
