246 Mediated Publics
that took place in their province as well as in other important centers of
the empire. After events began to settle down into a new political order,
the revolutionary calendar provided the opportunity to reiterate (and
evaluate) the revolution’s aims, successes, and shortcomings. Events such
as the July anniversary celebrations of the revolution, farewell ceremonies
for the departure of local parliamentarians, sendoffs of local conscripted
soldiers, and the arrival of new provincial governors were all regular
opportunities for the press’s pedagogical voice.
or example, on the first anniversary of the revolution, an “Ottoman F
Hebrew” encouraged his fellow readers to participate actively in the
upcoming public celebrations. “This Ottoman anniversary is not a private
party celebration, not Christian, not Jewish, and also not Muslim, but a
general Ottoman one ... Come all of you for a general brotherly gathering
and enjoy yourselves at this time, in these moments, as brothers. Brothers
from birth and belly, connect yourselves on this holy day in a brotherly
connection, clean, pure, and swear vows of faith to the constitution.”^33
Soon after the celebrations had passed, the newspaper al-Quds trans-
mitted the universalizing message of the events to its readers, seeking to
reinforce their sentiments with this image: “Oh what a happy hour if you
had seen the youth of the one homeland who are in the different [con-
fessional] schools standing side by side next to each other, happy in the
holiday of their nation [umma] and reciting the constitutional anthem.”^34
ese accounts in the press served not only as historical testimo-Th
nies of what happened, but also served to further the scope and reach
of the revolution, both for those who had not been physically present as
well as those who perhaps had not grasped the significance of the events.
With this aim the press regularly published articles, reports, and special
booklets, particularly on the revolution, on the history of the Hamidian
period, and on the history of the Osman dynasty. For example, one Judeo-
Spanish newspaper, El Liberal, outlined a history of the Ottoman reform
movement (the Tanzimat, 1839–1876), offering definitions, synonyms,
and simple explanations about the reforms and the constitution.
n other initiatives, the multilingual press translated the constitu-I
tion and important new laws (such as the Basic Law, election laws, and
compulsory universal military service); reported on the parliamentary
sessions and political developments in the capital; transmitted directives