Junction City High School - Junco Ed Yearbook (Junction City, OR)

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1'! I 5,137. 'u 3.11 A . u, 9 31 NV 0' Q t . , kn V ,- l '03 N3 'o' .55 I 532ml 0. Pl '5. l 0 ' X A. wt; o '1 Khmi . y 4.. I w '9 W, a .. b. i . 00 O U :l kt ; t i M h?! NJ? a i V t; .3 bit ' 4' T i K k b f5 tion. Some of the old naval ships which were falling to ruin were put 1nto commission and anchored directly in line with the palace of the wily ruler, so he became practically a prisoner. The Americans hardly realize what an important influence their countrymen have exerted in helping the Turks establish a consti- tutional government. For eighty years our missionaries have been laying the doctrine which makes free government possible. The founding of the educational system by the Americans has done much for the enlightenment of the Turks. The Turks themselves have earnestly sought education through all possible means, and they proved to be apt scholars. For example, one young man, a Syrian by birth, spoke the English language well, besides more than a dozen others. He was also a stenographer and Was but an average scholar in college. The young womxen seem to be as eager for an education as the other sex. Young girls between the ages of six- teen and twenty, having studied the English language but one year, presented some of Shakespeareis plays with ease and grace that would put most of our girls to shame. i The ttYoung Turksll are reaching out to other civilized nations, America in particular, for help to recover from the tryanny that has bound them so long in slavery. All told, the Turks have accomplished much. While the Euro- pean nations were quarreling over the possession of Turkey, they stepped forward and asserted their rights. In Shefket, Pashals grand army of 30,000, as fine a body of soldiers as ever marched, not a drop of intoxicating liquor could be found. The contrast between this state of affairs and the way the soldiers carried on in former times cannot help but be seen. Re- ferring to the battles fought in the East, it is said that the Moham- medans regarded a barrel of whisky as equivalent to a reinforce-. ment of one hundred men, for by rolling it before the enemy it would be sure to be greedily attacked. Another trait belonging to this army was their strong patriotism, on Which, as stated by the eminent statesman, Baron von Stein, early in the nineteenth century, 0the strength of the nationh depends. This army deter- mined to make all necessary wars as Tibloodlessii as possible, and when the rebellion of 1909 came it was so quickly and completely suppressed that the constitutional government was placed upon a 69 ,4;EA 3N a ,0. .

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5112 1311qu Eurk By Helen Ehrmann, ll3 During the early part of the year 1908 the growing discontent with existing regime in the Ottoman Empire on the part of the different races of this cosmopolitan country, including Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians and Arabs, aroused a cry of distress that was heard all over Christendom. Even the Christian people, who, outside of the Turkish boundaries, wished to have the despotic rule of Abdul Hamid, the Nero of the age, ended. The crisis was reached when in the south two young Turkish soldiers of undying fame raised the standards of the revolution and started the wave of reform which swept the country with lightning rapidity. By the term llYoung Turk, I mean the subjects, either young or old, who were disaffected by the growing burdens placed upon them by the growing despotic action of the ruling power, and who kept in touch with each other by means of a secret organization. This term applies to the Christians, Jews and Turks, who lived in Turkey or had been in exile because they were afraid of death if they re- sided in the Fatherland. One of the principal aims of the llYonngr Turks was to abolish the diabolical espionage system established by their rulerea system. which created suspicion among all the people for fear an indiscreet word should bring death from the bloody sword that was ever suspended over the trembling subjects. The Chain leading up to the central group was so carefully concealed that no one has ever been able to discover the source of that wonderful power. When it became known that a constitutional government had been granted Turkey, aged exiles from all parts of the country re- turned to the capital. As they were all llYoung Turksf the secret organization became the prime factor in the administration of the government. The people then began to shout illibertyll and the Inhabitants nearly Went wild with joy at the thought of deliver- ance from slavery. All looked to the Committee of Union and Pro- gress for guidance, and Abdul Hamid was distinctly told that his life would be spared as long as he ruled according to the constitu- 68 vi

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higher and firmer basis than before and Abtlul .l Iainid was the na- tionis prisoner. His impeachment was earned 011 In strict .aeeotd- anee with the constitution and religions law of the land. HIS reign came to an end by the selection of Mohammed V as his successor, who is now the beloved ruler of the Turkish people. What is the result of the Young Turk organization? Have they accomplished that which they set out to accomplish? It is only necessary to note the happy, smiling faces of the inhabitants of Turkey today to realize that despotism is a thing of the past. Fear has been banished, ambition for knowledge strength- ened, and thought enlivened. Corruption was speedily brought to justice, so that today there is no more honest administration of gov- ernmental affairs in the World than in Turkey and the stability of the internal program of the iiYoung Turks is shown in the frequent successful rapid transit movements against revolutionists. America as a Christian nation. now well advanced in years, bearing a history filled with unselfish action toward weaker na- tions, can well afford to continue the practice of the Golden Rule in. its attitude towards the people of the East who are in the strug- gle for government ttof the people, for the people. and by the people? a iv v Q- 1 ,w 1 y , t g9 I Q'h m 3k 9 i- I o h ,.; y i .i my 1 ?' , Q . 4 1U 17' L w i? t Y i. ,3? 34 givuit i h t w u, p u u n i av tr, :1 it: have . ,aww- 1 zjvetvl M ug ru'h oil 3 ! V: s.s-I- rnmou 7h. 4 I ,3: mi M Wm t. .,.e WW 5 4 w. h. :W'mg J ,ka nu;- 1n sue -. . o8 tutu gun... , u! e H ! :Wq. tn.