Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-22

We translate the iOilOWinn article from the Ofl-
entail spectators, OF Feb. I'D. Ii will serve show
the general views of the editors of that paper which
Is known To nave been always opposed ~ the Greek
revolution. The reader will derive from il some
information, ami il he is not satisfied with the rca-
Souue, he may learn on what grounds those who
are Intimately acquainted with the condition of The
Greek place hsir opposition IL Grecian emancipa-
ton. Boston Daily .4drer!iseo.
II is question whether the absolute degradation
of the Greeks, who have been for four hujrcd years
subugated 10y The OtioMans, contributed moce to
the present inSurrcction than the sudden cxaltation
Of the modern Greeks. This position will cease to
he paradoNical after little explanation. When
the Ot;omans invaded the Lower Empire, every
thing yielded to the effort of their arms, aud the de-
generate Greek, his face bent the dust da red not
TO look APP from the Infinite distance which he saw
separated him from hi; conluoror. Ihi; excess OF
degradation always continued the germ of VEN
geance which to burst forth AT the end of fou.
centuries. For what was the CONSEQUENCE The
Turks saw themselves the tranquil posscssors of a
gniicent empire, and finding not the least resist
ance, and every where blind and unhoun,lcd SUBJ
mission, they could not but cohesive profound con-
tempt tof tue people whom they at their feet.
Reposing with security in the impression of their
strength, and satisfied with conQucsts, they nscnsi-
by neglected the art CT war, and despisig and NAL
treating the people whom they had subjected, and
who concealed their hatred in their hearts, they
selves without taking any Ioubc, Of all the arts of
FIRST necessity which they found in full activity q
round them, so that without pcrceivng iihcy become
tributary to their industry, growing by degrees eff
terminate under the Shade of their laurcls AS much
nom ncHpcriehcc as from pride they compelled or
permitted the Raj to labnur and placed themselves
in condition no, tie be able to dispense with his skill
and labomr.
The Greeks having every where become necessary
exercised almost exclusively the arts and trades,
ana their abIcct state. acquired fortune which with
time gives so many advantages those who possess
It, whatever may otherwise he their condition The
prosperity of part of the Greeks, which was to de-
eide the fate of the other part, unqucstonablv
ascendant. Their commerce was extending, was
every day becoming more active, was opening new
branches, and was acquiring every where case and
riches.-The proof of it IS palpabic They founded
schools and s'imptuouS colleges. Barren rocks and
isauds which nature and foreign domina ton seem
ed to have condemned to an eternal poverty, ac-
CURED all the resources of opuleuce, and covered
the sea with their vessels. The Greeks ia fine Cd
tanned important privileges, and it seemed that
their ambition Increased in proportion as every
thing occurred to salts j. it. They at length pre-
s"med too much upon their strength, and shook off
yoke which no longer existed for the Greek j.
sih'us' and which at some other points was SO much
lishtened, aud was becoming still mere light
on looking back then, it is perceived that the
Greeks who witnessed the fall of their empire pu,
the Mussumen to sleep by the excess of their abase
meGt, by their blind submission contributed 10 his
eiicminacy and by bcquea thing their descendants
precious industry, and character of absolute re-
sI2nation, prepared for them by the operation of
thc' The means OF Strengthening themselves in 81
fence, and OF finally declaring themselves udepcn-
dent. Thus, then, il,nobc cause ,ntaincd from
The beginning the germ of event ordinarily glor-
Gus III lie eyes ct men, when success justices it
But Tins day success has not justified it, and the
cause OF tie Greeks has yet crowd Of chances a.
- n.
tunes which may happen, people say thar the Greeks
have revclte twenty years too soon; which mr,Iics
mat the Greeks have had reason revolt, bur that
10 40 IL with l success, they ought to have waited
twenty years longer TO gain greater strength.
We are compelled to think very differentiation
or the fatal impulse given to the revolution by the
singular event which excited Modavia and w ALA
ina, the Greeks would not have thought of rajsinr
nc standard OF revolt and they would still less have
thought OF IT twcnty years hence. For what could
hey desire Fortune. consideration, privileges ill.,
athutions, a sort OF emancipation? They had al
ready obtained great part of all this, and thc,,
would have gradually obtained the rest. A few
years longer and their situation would have becou,c
so happy, that they would have been far from wish
ing chahge The wind of revolution which has
blown upon them has been extremely fatal After |
so many evils which they have drawn upon them |
selves, what remains to them? Hope which is al |
ways uncertain. They compelled to Justify their
revolution, and to with an attractive veil the
abyss winch Is open before them. What wonder |
iul effects may be produced crcduous minds by
ingenuity and c!cquencc? With the aid Of these
two elements Ill contempt OF TRUTH it has been pro- |
we'd without difficulty, that the cause of this revou
ton was the frighfu, the msuppor,abe dcspotlsu
Of the Turks, the Barbarians, c. After this. with |
what Sardanc smile, or with what cold contemnt |
VIII many persons read this sentence of the Specta-
or--Ihc GTeeks reroifed not because then uere boH-
y, bit because Mey 7rere treH fregIed
r
he Turkish Government have been growing more
Mid For this period, there has no; rcigned n sim
,ie Prince OF whom the Greeks have had cause TO
complain. The progress of commerce, of inteIli-
scnce, AMI OF civilization, were turning to their bc
ieht. To deny that the prosperity OF the. Greeks
was always increasing, especially since the time of
ne last SeIm, would be to contradict all evidence
There was no reason why this nrCsoer;f,, sboul1
top ana why 1t should not finally satisfy all nbi
non The revolution, which was but the result of |
so great power acquired is a silent hou,ap c ron
1crco 10 the GODDESS oil the government, which per
i''tte" 'lcih 10 ACQUIRE 1t. But unfortunately, this
Instruction has come to destroy the most evid,,,
advantages and the best founded homes Nv rcho1I
ng, the Greeks have blasted the fruit of iI,r do,1
precious inheritance which their ancestors have he
Iucdueu 10 'Acn, VIZ blind rCsianation and nm
active indu Try. by that, they had BIZ degrees n
e''o'"cu tieir conilton until the moment OF their
revolt his amclofation would have ccuti,,,od
and would have conducted them to tI,c ,b;oo, ~
heir wiShes' 20 happiness which they have lost h,,
wishing 10 be IN hurry. Bot nothing which ! H.
well Is done quick. They wished to make thc,n-
selves power without recollecting that tl,ey had
also received from their ancestors another ;Hbsri.
lance character of levi,y, of vanity, of cunidit
ana OF di5nnion' To conclude, we perceive in The
u'ufe only disastrous days for the Greeks If ,be,,
'aVc NOT Inc disposition, or the rood fo,ton. q, |
;on5e TO an arrangement with the Turks. Nav pro-
'idencs watch over them and over ali people.
From n I1gr 7 o.-,yo.. D.,