The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-26 00:00:00

THE GREEK MASSACRE.

Although full details of the Marathon massacre nave
not yet been obtained, enough is known to justify the
indignation at the Greek Government and people with
which England is now aflame. The murder seems to
have been the result at once of official ime
becility and of political intrigue. From the
correspondence between the British Minister at
Athens and Lord Clarendon, the head of the
Foreign Office, it appears that the ransom was
about to be paid when the brigands received a communi-
cation from certain leaders of the opposition' urging
them to increase their demands to a point which would
seriously embarrass the Ministry. In addition
to the ransom of £25,000 they consequently
stipulated for a full amnesty. This it would
have been a violation of the constitution to grant ;
but the King intimated that he would wink at
their escape if they could be got out of the country. It
is upon the whole a not unpleasing proof that human
nature sometimes breaks through the restrictions of diplo-
matic propriety, that Lord Clarendon committed the
totally unjustifiable and most amiable offence of
offering to take the miscreants on board a
British vessel and carry, them safely to Malta.
But while negotiations still pended, the Greek
troops marched against the band, and the murders of
course immediately followed. Why the troops were
allowed to move at such a critical moment it is not easy to
understand. But why brigandage has been tolerated is.
Greece, on such terms that political parties use it
as a weapon against each other, is a question which
King George will find it still more difficult to
answer. A nation which claims the privileges
of a civilised power has distinct duties of protection to
the subjects of other countries who maybe for the time its
guests, and the sovereigns under whose protection the pre-
sent Greek monarchy has been established certainly have
the right to exact of the King a guarantee that those
duties shall be performed hereafter. What compensation
can be made for the wrongs. already suffered we do no
see ; but compensation of some sort must, at any rate, be
attempted.—Tribune.

THE NEGRO SENATOR.—Senator Revels has left
us, having given a very favourable impression as to hiE
intelligence, modesty, and simplicity. Those who received
him originally with courtesy as the first senator of his
race, were glad to continue their attentions to him as a
very able and agreeable man. His address to the school•
ship boys on Sunday was marked by good sense and good
taster Those who heard him on Sunday evening at Win-
throp-street Church were pleased both with the:mattet
and manner of his address. The hundred"..3 who met him
in private, all testify that in a trying position he gave no
sign of being spoiled by hid good fortune,—Boston
Advertiser. . • _

FENIANS AT THE RED RIVER.
The St. Paul's Press publishes a letter from Dunleithi
saying that a large body of armed Fenians had arrivrt
their cn route .for Red River. They intended to assis
Riel, and were each armed with rifle, pistol, and knife. rrheYt
intend to aim first at the capture of Fort Francis,
the main force is to harass the British expedition 001?
passage through the swamps and marshes which
lie
between Fort William and Red River. Some of the forces
are said to be commanded by a Confederate
officer of standing, and many French Canadians h.,.,5`re
joined them. Some old employes of the Hudson. DI
Company are their guides. One detachMent is
ed
Superior River, intending to march direct to •D'
River This statement must be accepted with ,greatresert::
as Red River, according.to the St. Paul Press, is qui
tranquil, and Riel is expecting to carry out the coral;
mise with the Dominion. The transfer of the Hilds°,/
Bay Company claims is said to be completed, 311
$1,460,000 have been appropriated in the Dominion Far
liament for the north-west.