It will be observed that the former ministry is retained, indicating that
for the present, at least, public affairs will keep in the accustomed
channel.
[Inclosure.]
The Imperial “Hatt.”
[From the Daily Levant Herald of September 12,
1876.]
The following is the text of the inaugural address of the new
Sultan’s reign, read at the Porte on Sunday last, of which we gave
the chief points in our impression of yesterday:
My Illustrious Vizier, Mehemet Rushdi
Pasha: My beloved brother Sultan Murad V having, by the will of
Providence, had sovereign power and the khalifate withdrawn from
him, I have ascended the throne of my ancestors in conformity with
the prescriptions of Ottoman law.
Considering your known experience, integrity, and zeal, and your long
acquaintance with state affairs, I confirm you in the post of grand
vizier and president of the council of ministers, and I maintain all
the members of the cabinet and the other state functionaries in
their respective posts. In placing my full and entire confidence in
God, I firmly hope that all the ministers and public functionaries
of the empire will aid and co-operate with me in carrying my
intentions into execution. Those intentions have exclusively in view
the consolidation and glory of my empire and the complete enjoyment,
by all my subjects, without distinction, of freedom, of the benefits
which result from public tranquillity and the good and even-handed
administration of justice.
All the world knows that the present situation of the Ottoman Empire
is critical. The multifarious causes which have brought about this
sad state of things all spring chiefly from one source, namely, the
insufficient and inequitable execution of the laws, based upon the
prescriptions of the sheri, (the public and sacred law,) as also the
fluctuating diversity and want of uniformity in the administration
of the affairs of the country. Irregularities and illegalities have
crept into the administration for some years past. Mistrust has
taken possession of the public mind on the subject of our finances,
and the failure of our credit has been the consequence. The working
of the tribunals has been defective, and they have not succeeded in
insuring the rights of the public. Our industry, commerce,
agriculture, and all the elements which contribute to the prosperity
of a people have lacked development, although our country, as all
the world admits and recognizes, is well placed for the enjoyment of
these advantages. All that has been attempted hitherto for the
prosperity of the nation and for individual liberty, for the
tranquillity and well-being of all our subjects, natives and
foreigners, without exception; all the endeavors hitherto made to
accomplish these ends have not been crowned with success; and this
has chiefly arisen from frequent changes in the administration and
the failure to follow out steadily a uniform system. This general
regrettable result, in fine, is traceable to the fact that the laws
and regulations of the country have not been adhered to in letter or
in spirit in a stable and persistent manner.
The great object to be aimed at is, therefore, to adopt measures for
placing the laws and regulations of the country upon bases which
shall inspire confidence in their execution. For this purpose it is
indipensable to proceed to the establishment of a general council,
or national assembly, (the original Turkish expression is medjiliss oumoumi,) whose acts will inspire
every confidence in the nation, and will be in harmony with the
customs, aptitudes, and capabilities of the populations of the
empire. The mission and duty of this council will be to guarantee,
without exception, the faithful execution of
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the existing laws or of those which shall be
promulgated in conformity with the provisions of the sheri, in connection with the real and
legitimate wants of the country and its inhabitants, as also to
control the equilibrium of the revenue and expenditures of the
empire.
The council of ministers is called upon to devote itself to a
thorough consideration of this important question, and to submit to
me the result of its deliberations.
Another impediment to the good execution of the laws and regulations
has arisen out of the facility with which public functions are often
confided to incompetent hands, and from the fact of public servants
and employés being subject to frequent changes, unjustified on
legitimate grounds, which entails very serious inconvenience upon
the state and the transaction of public affairs. Henceforward every
public function and employment will constitute a special career. To
employ in the service of the state capable and competent persons;
not to allow of any dismissal or transfer without valid cause; to
establish ministerial responsibility, as well as the graduated
responsibility of all public functionaries of every rank, each in
what concerns his own duties: this is the invariable rule which it
is advisable to adopt.
The material and moral progress which all the world is at one in
acknowledging in European nations has been accomplished, thanks to
the diffusion of public instruction, science, and the fine arts. Now
as my subjects of all classes have, I am happy to declare, by their
intelligence and natural capacity, special aptitudes for progress,
and as the propagation of education constitutes in my eyes a
pressing and vital question, you will consider without delay the
best means of insuring this important result, by raising the
aggregate amount allotted to public instruction in the budget in a
sufficient proportion and as far as possible.
Moreover, immediate reform must be effected in the
provinces—administrative, financial, and judicial reform—in order to
create throughout the provinces a really normal state of things, and
one in conformity with the bases adopted for the central
organization.
To the disturbances which broke out last year in the Herzegovina and
Bosnia, at the instigation of evil-intentioned people, the rebellion
of Servia has been since superadded. Considering that the blood
spilt on one side and the other is that of sons of a common country,
I am profoundly afflicted at the continuation of this state of
things. It behooves you, therefore, to take the most effectual
measures for putting an end to so deplorable a situation.
I confirm all the treaties concluded with friendly powers. While
maintaining their faithful execution, you will endeavor to draw
still closer the amicable relations which we entertain with these
powers.
Such are, in substance, my wishes, such my intentions! May the
Almighty deign to crown our efforts with success!
Given on Sunday, the 23d day of
the month of Shaban, 1293, (September 10,
1876.)
