The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-18 00:00:00

THE ECCLESIASTICAL PROBLEM.

The Times has a second leader upon the disesta-
blishment of the Irish Church, and promises a third.
Mr. Bright's scheme for calling together a general
assembly at Dublin, to determine the future consti-
tution of the Church, is declared to be full of insu-
perable difficulties. It is the Imperial Government
and the united Parliament which must undertake the
labour, with such light respecting the wishes of Irish
Churchmen as is forthcoming. There is no reason
to suppose that Irish Churchmen desire a change
in the articles or liturgical forms of the Church;
therefore it would be easy enough " to vest the
reserved ecclesiastical property of Ireland in com-
missioners for the common worship of the congre-
gations attending the Episcopal Churches according
to the liturgies prescribed in the Book of Common
Prayer of the English Church, and for the edification of
such congregations in the doctrines defined by thearti-
cies and formularies of the English Church. If in after
times events should arise to inspire Irish Churchmen
with a desire for a change—if they should think the
old truths insufficient or incomplete, they would
have but to ask and obtain their freedom ; but the
duty of the English Legislature at this juncture is to
consult Irish opinion as it exists, and not to shrink
from defining the doctrines and worship of the
disestablished Church of Ireland by reference
to the Established Church of England, if such be
the desire of Irish Churchmen." The Times adds :
" The Establishment will be disendowed. Its
clergy will be reduced to the rank of their fellow
priests and bishops of other communions, and the
Imperial Legislature will have achieved a great act
of justice both to the Irish nation in what it shall
' have taken away, and to Irish Churchmen by the
guarantees of order
yid respect for their wishes it
will have maintained.

FOREIGN NOTES,

TURKIIT AND GuncE.

The enthusiasm of the Greek populace in ravour of war
is the most unfavourable symptom of the dispute between
Turkey and Greece. They are disposed to forget all the
evils of the inefficient government they have suffered so
long, and are ready to encounter the disasters of war, pro-
vided they are led on au expedition which holds out some
hope of extending their dominion. A war must be the
ruin of many of their countrymen, for the number of
Greeks who live under Turkish rule is very considerable,
being not less than a quarter of a million. in Constanti-
nople there are 27,000 Greeks, in Smyrna 18,000. Further,
notwithstanding the enmity between the two countries,
each carries on more trade with the other than
with any other State. Two-thirds of the whole
mercantile marine of Greece is engaged in
commerce with Turkey. Next to Turkish vessels them-
selves, the coasters under Greek colours are the most
numerous in Turkish ports. What do the Greeks hope to
gain to compensate for the loss of this trade ? It is all but
impossible, too, that they can succeed in a war unless they
have aid from other quarters. Whilst the Greek forces of all
arms do not number more than 20,000, the Turkish army
on a peace footing consists of 148,000 regular troops, besides
very numerous irregulars and auxiliaries. Nevertheless, the
smaller State seems bent upon an appeal to the sword.
The arrival of 1,000 volunteers in Crete, which is
announced by telegraph, is almost equivalent to a declara-
tion of war. Greece has one powerful argument in its
favour. As the Temps points out, it can suffer no loss of
territory by its temerity, for although it may not be desi-
rable that Turkey should be broken up, the Powers would
never tolerate Ottoman aggrandisement.
In France the general belief is that peace will yet be
preserved. Most of the official journals still rely upon
diplomatic interference to prevent war. As Greece is
a protected State, being taken after the battle of
Navarino under the guardianship of England, France,
and Russia, those Powers are justified in exercising greater
pressure than would be possible in the case of a State
wholly independent. The Independance Beige says that
the recall of the ambassador was broueht about by a
communication which the Greek Government sent in
reply to the Turkish ultimatum. This reply conceded
many of the demands of the Porte, but it was so offensively
worded that the Ottoman Government at once ordered
its representative to leave Athens. The Belgian paper, how-
ever, believes that a war will not ensue from a m ere
formality. If the two States can agree about the substance,
they ought not to quarrel about the shadow. At the time
of the Crimean war, Greece was prevented from attacking
Turkey only by the occupation of Athens by English and
French troops. A similar expedient is not wholly out of
the question now.