Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-26
GREEK 1NsuRREcTIoN.

i
We copy the following interesting re-
mark from the Manufacturers and Farm
ers' Journal of yesterday:
The intelligence from Europe, brought
by the late arrivals. furnishes plenary evi
dence of tie unsettled state of politics, in
that interesting quarter of the globe. 1t
would seem, that the people of Greek ORR
gin, now under the Turkish dominion,
have aroused themselves to sense of
their degraded situation as to political
rights, and are determined, if the thing
be possible, to break the charm of Otto
man tyranny.
For more than four centuries, the
Turks have held the greater part of the
countries, formerly possessed by the
Greek Emperours of Constantinople, un-
der their dominion: And since the year
1853, when that immense city, after en-
during long and bloody siege, was taken
by the Sultan Mahomet, they have re-
NAMED the undisputed lords of the ascen
dant, in that part Of Europe.
From the time of the schism between
the Greek and Latin churches, to che cap
ture of the city of Constantine, the Greeks
were continually engaged in theological
controversy, mostly Of a very trifling ma
ture. Such was the zeal for polemicks,
that the emperours themselves neglected
the duties Of government, to apply them
selves to these disputes. The consequent
ces of this inattention were, that disorders
and corruption sapped the foundations Of
the government; that the people were op-
pressed, by the exactions of the provincial
governors; shat these governors became
Independent Of the emperors, and that
the force Of the empire being thus weak
ened and divided, the common enemy was
suffered, first 70 obtain a permanent foot
ing on the banks of the Bosphorus, after
wards to pass into Europe, and to circum-
scribe the emperor to the provinces which
Immediately covered the capital. The
Christians Of the West of Europe made
astonishing efforts to avert the ruin which
threatened their brethren Of the East.
But their valor was lily seconded by the
degenerate Greeks; and they were even
tually abandoned to that fate, which they
viewed with SO much apparent indiffer-
ence Their capital was taken; their
princes were slaughtered or banished;
their learned men sought a refuge in
Italy, and the West; their splendid
churches were consecrated to the worship
of an Impostor; and the Crescent foated
| in triumph over that Cross which had SO
long been the object of their idolatry.
The west of Europe was gamer by
this catastrophe. 1t acquired arts and
letters, polish and refinement, from the
fugitives. Those treasures of science,
which had far SO many ages been locked
up from the world. were now spread thro'
Italy, France, Germany, and England.
with astonishing rapidity. The PRESS,
which would seem to have been reserved
among the arcana of science, for this par.
ticular epoch, now lent its quickening in
fluence to the general diffusion Of knowl-
edge, and the dark recesses of the cloister
were suddenly irradiated by the renova-
ted light Of science.
But the lapse of time, which in most
cases, 10 necessary to secure and consoli-
date the power of successful invader,
has been unfavoursble to the Turks. This
is owing, partly to the unstable nature Of
all governments, purely military; partly
TO the maxims Of policy which have pre-
vailed in tho Divan; to the peculiarities
Of their religion, and the innumerable and
enormous abuses and corruptions, which
have crept into every branch Of their ad.
ministration.
When . military invader has over.
thrown and subjugated country, the on.
ly modes of securing it conquest, arc
either an amalgamation with, or an exter-
mination Of, its erisinsl population. The