and the magazine, Sırat-ı Müstakim, later called Sebilürreşad, which he owned:
No one, not even the Sultan, could at any time agree that there was even the smallest amount of disloyalty in him. They appreciated his excellence, his zeal.
He had come to Istanbul in order to open schools in the Eastern Provinces, to revivify education. He was a great cherisher of Freedom, he had great courage and civilization. Think of the conditions of the time. What was the attitude of the Palace towards the Namık Kemal's, the Ziya Pasha's, and other supporters of Freedom? Bediuzzaman was far ahead of them as regards courage and fearlessness, patriotism, and love of Freedom. The Palace displayed great tolerance towards this struggle of his for Freedom out of respect for his learning and virtue, but it was not possible to curtail his striving. His youth, his overflowing brilliant intelligence, his love of Freedom, his combative spirit could not save him from the consequences to which the other supporters of Freedom were subject.
He displayed such a degree of courage and boldness in the struggle for Freedom at a time when everyone was frightened to open their mouths and only hinted and made allusions that it was incomprehensible to them. It was only natural that for someone to arrive from the Eastern Provinces and display so much boldness at a time when the Palace and Pashas were sovereign and held absolute power would be met with astonishment and surprise. The despotic Pashas, who considered the people to be their slaves, could see no other way of ridding themselves of him and regaining their comfort apart from saying: 'To display this much courage is not conformable with sanity', and putting him in the mental hospital. That was why he was sent there.
What he said to the doctor in the mental hospital left the doctor in amazement, he was amazed at his intelligence and knowledge, courage and bravery. He understood why he had been sent there, and reminded Bediuzzaman of the refined manners of the age. He advised moderation, then begged his pardon.
Yes, this is the man they said was mad, this mad lion! [^108]
[^108]:Eşref Edip, "Islam Düşmanlarının Tertiplerini Ortaya Çıkarmak Vazifemizdir," Yeni Istiklal Gazetesi, No. 241, 23 March 1966, as quoted in Şahiner, Said Nursi, 97-8.