250 Mediated Publics
Ha-Herut’s anger had been cumulative; yet it also reflected a broader dis-
satisfaction with the post-Hamidian order that had fallen far short of
expectations in numerous ways. Furthermore, the general overturning of
social hierarchy (from the previous “institutionalized difference” to man-
dated equality) in the constitutional period had turned out to be prob-
lematic. In one writer’s words: “When the constitution was proclaimed
in Turkey (sic) and the word h.urriyya rang out, our joy was great, very
great, thinking that we would finally... be able to breathe a pure and free
airnd yet] our situation has gotten worse. Yes! Worse!”... [a^43
s the Jewish community was not alone in its complaints about A
the shortcomings of the new era, the press offers us a window onto the
development and expression of growing inter-communal rivalry. Rather
than expressing ahistorical religious hatred or economic competition, the
inter-communal rivalry of the constitutional period was cast through an
Ottomanist lens. Tensions between communities found their expression
in the pages of their newspapers, particularly around the new rights and
responsibilities of citizenship and the persistent privileges of non-Otto-
man individuals or communities. The language of a shared citizenship
and nationhood was juxtaposed next to the much more complicated real-
ity, where both Muslims and non-Muslims alike resented their own forced
contribution to changing the status quo while questioning their neigh-
bors’ unwillingness to do so.
perfect illustration of this is the case of universal military con- A
scription. In 1909 the Ottoman parliament declared conscription uni-
versal for all Ottomans, reversing the past exemption of non-Muslims
from the Ottoman military. In the prevailing euphoria, the Ottoman mili-
tary was praised for its role in the revolution and in bringing h.urriyya,
while the Ottoman public was eager to participate in the benefits as
well as responsibilities of citizenship. Universal conscription was talked
about as a tool of social engineering, a universalizing experience that
would Ottomanize the empire’s polyglot communities. Public discourse
embraced universal conscription as sharing the burdens of defending the
empire from internal and external threats as well as—importantly—pro-
viding an end to the myriad privileges (and subsequent marginalization)
experienced by the non-Muslim communities of the empire.