They were the Golden Cadre...

They were called the Golden Cadre.

There were about ten of them. They staged a revolution against Abdul Hamid II. Before the revolution, Abdul Hamid naturally threw them into dungeons. He had some arrested. He exiled others to distant lands. He provided them with salaries and jobs so they wouldn't go hungry in exile.

He was that thoughtful.

The Golden Cadre carried out what we call the Parliamentary revolution in the Ottoman Empire in 1908, the Constitution and Constitutional Monarchy Revolution. Revolutions involve hangings and executions. But after they carried out this revolution, they did not hang or execute one another. Like a gentlemanly team, they shook hands and promised to work together.

That was until the religious communities, sects, and bigots ruined everything.

When they rebelled on March 31st, The Golden Cadre did not forgive the traitorous members of these communities and sects. They hanged some and exiled others abroad. They also sent Abdul Hamid to Thessaloniki. This was because Abdul Hamid, as a Sultan, had failed to uphold the Constitution and the constitutional monarchy as he had promised, and had turned a blind eye to the reactionaries.

That is exactly what they did not forgive.

Interestingly, it was the year 1903. Ali Fethi was a student. In an incident where he was caught, "I will place a bomb under that man, I will bring his palace down on his head" he had said. The person he referred to as 'that man' was Abdul Hamid. 

But 6 years later, when Abdul Hamid was being sent into exile in Thessaloniki, his life was entrusted to Ali Fethi.

That is fate. 

Ali Fethi could have killed Abdul Hamid on the way, shot him in the head, or thrown him off the train. But he did nothing of the sort. He showed no lack of respect toward Abdul Hamid, whom he had rebelled against and wanted to kill.

He stood with hands clasped in respect before his defenseless sultan, who had only his life left.

They were that merciful and respectful.

Later, they became like father and son.

This Golden Cadre was an extraordinary group. They were rebellious. They were noble. They were Unionists. Most were staff officers. Some wrote books, others painted. Even the best painters could not hold a candle to them. Each of them knew at least two foreign languages. German and French were a given.

They were constantly reading books.

There were even poets among them.

They dressed like models and posed like leading men.

Their swords were sharp. Their barrels were ready to fire. They never missed their mark. But they would not harm an innocent bird. When angry, they would draw weapons on each other or plot assassinations, yet they would stand united on the front lines. They would even challenge one another to duels. Titles like 'Pasha' meant nothing to them. They would not even listen to the Sultan.

Who am I talking about?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Enver, Cemal, Talat, Kazım Karabekir, İsmet İnönü, Ali Fuat, Ali Fethi, Fahrettin Altay, Halil Kut, and many others.

They were called the Golden Cadre. The cadre that defended the homeland as the Ottoman Empire was collapsing. The cadre that awakened national consciousness by carrying out a revolution in the country, instilled the National Struggle in the people, and taught citizenship. The cadre that revived and breathed life into the weary, broken Ottoman Empire. The cadre that won the Battle of Gallipoli. The cadre that lent a hand and contributed to the War of Independence. The cadre that supported Mustafa Kemal when he crossed into Anatolia.

The cadre that joined him. The cadre that provided the mortar for the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

The War of Independence had ended, and most of them had closed their eyes to life.

Atatürk had become President. Journalist Nizamettin Nazif Tepedelenlioğlu wrote an article in his column against Abdülhamit. Also known as; “Crazy Nizam/ettin”.  Atatürk read the article. He called Crazy Nizam to his side. And he gave him a stern reprimand;

-“I read your article. You must have been a small child when the constitution was declared. But I congratulate you, you bring those days to life well. However, it is clear that you do not like Abdülhamit at all” he said. 

Then he paused, thought for a moment, tapped the pen in his hand against the book in front of him, and continued his words:

-“Do not love Abdülhamid. Still, do not love him. But never dare to insult his memory. Look, child. Let me state my personal opinion briefly. Experience has shown that in a state where the majority of the people are suspicious and the borders are surrounded by enemies, Abdülhamid's administration is a great tolerance. Especially if this administration was implemented in the final years of the 19th century...“ he said, finishing his words.

Atatürk had defended Abdülhamid, who had thrown him into prison and sent him into exile. He had scolded Deli Nizam, who had written critical articles about him that bordered on insult. He did not allow a single word to be said against Abdülhamid, whom he did not like. He showed respect for his memory and made others show it as well.

This was the Golden Cadre.

It was noble. It possessed nobility.

Even though Abdülhamid had thrown some of them into prison and sent others into exile, he had acted respectfully toward this Golden Cadre. “The great misfortune of having met late” had told Ali Fethi in a speech.

Anyway,

Now, at the wedding of Abdülhamit's granddaughter Berna Sultan Osmanoğlu, Şevki Yılmaz has come outand said, "I curse the degenerates who exiled the Ottomans." He is supposedly insulting Atatürk. This sentence is so wrong and baseless; first of all, it was not Atatürk who exiled Abdülhamit. It was Enver. Or rather, not even Enver, but Sultan Reşat. He was exiled by his decree. Secondly, Abdülhamit did not insult anyone for exiling him. He did not even say a bad word about them.

What is it to you?

Furthermore, that Enver Pasha had already rescued Abdülhamit from Thessaloniki when it was occupied and brought him back. He saved his life. "You did not support me, you did not vote for me, so I have no support for you either; deal with your own problems." did not say.

That was this squad. They were that noble.

Furthermore, the grandchildren of Abdülhamit also gave a fitting response to Şevki Yılmaz; “We are proud to be citizens of the Modern Turkey founded by Atatürk” they said.

This was what befitted both them and their grandfather, Abdülhamit.

I am addressing those who cast aspersions on Atatürk, Enver, Cemal, Talat, and İsmet İnönü;

They were the Golden squad; which squad do you belong to?  Are you a cult, a religious community, a plunderer, or a corrupt cadre? Or are you thieves?  Or are you from the treasonous cadre that rebelled against the state on July 15?

Whose side are you on?

Whoever you are, don't bother trying.

You lack the caliber.

You cannot even be a fingernail of Enver, who knew at least three languages, or Atatürk, who knew at least five.

You lack the quality.

You cannot even be a tin can in the scrap heap of that Golden Cadre.