Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-05
from Blackwood's Magazine for october.]
GREECE. No. l..

questions involved in the contest, ana lne ior-
m;dah,e nrobability that the discretionary
war NAV lirht a fame that will spread through
Enrone nrped il upon Us. But there was a
general deficiency OF facts; the friends and enc
mics Of the cause had equally given themselves
up. TO romance, and it was essential TO truth 10
wait until those mutual misrepresentation mad
had been. in some measure, cleared away. his
has been lately accomplished; some travellers,
led only by a rational and intelligent curiosity,
have within a short period visited Greece
Their works are now before the pubic, ana
from those sources, and such others as our per-
,onal knowledge might supply, a general view
Of the question may be formed Tree from ro-
nance, par,iality or hction.
We disclaim all enthusiasm. Yet we do not
hesitate to pronounce the Cause OF Greece the
cause Of human nature. We allow the greater
part o. the imputations on the Greek character
that IL IS rash, given 10 quarrel, suspicious,
;ncons,ant. and careless OF blood. But the
Greek has not had his trial. He has been for
almost FIVE hundred years a broken man. HIS
place of birth has been only a larger prison; his
education the bitterness o~fheart, the subterfuge.
The sullen treachery, and the furious revenge OF
the slave. What estimate can we form OF the
strength and stature O freedom from this deere
nit and barbarous servitude! Even the vices
of the character may be an Indication OF the
vieor Of its capabilities. The perversion OF
the bes, things is, the worst. The hery ele-
ments that, in its rage, lays waste the rama, Is
the great and exhaustless Instrument OIL comfort
and abundance. But the question may be de-
eided at once-we know what the Greeks have
beenI Ifthey are now barbarians, we must re-
member they were once The lights OF the worie.
But the Turk is a barbarian. All his vices
are thoroughly and incurably barbarian. He is
habitually tyrannlcal, passionate Tor piunder,
and a lover OF blood,-his tastes are barbarian,
extravagant splendour, gross indulgence, savage
Incidence of mind and body,-he enjoys none
Of the resources of ciyiiizatlon,-he has no ma
tional literature,-he cultivates no language
he produces no picture, no statue, no music
Greeks are his linguists and the navigators OIL
his Acknowledgements discipline ms army, anu
carry on his diplomacy. lie reslstS tue ~
cation of Europe with utter scorn, ana even
when forced upon him by circumstances, ne re-
sists it till its nature is changed, and he Is again
the Turk of Mahomet the Second.--he answers
RELIGIOUS conviction by the dagger ne si's
amocr the nations with no other instinct than
tba, of the tiger, TO seek out his prey, ana nav
ing found it, to gorge and sleep.
Yet no nation on earth has had such advan-
,ages for the most consummate civilization--
], has been seated in the central reglon oil the
temperate zone,--the master oil It's eentfai sea
on all its borders from Syria TO Italy on the one
eide and 70 Mauritania on the other. In the
richie q. most magnificent and inspiring realm
,b,, ever was under The dominion OF man---the
land filed with those splendid rememorances
which have been the seed Of knowledge and
higf mindedness to the ends OF the earth; us
rlains and mountains Il succession OF trophies
10 the civil or military glory OF the most Nus
,rious spirits Of mankind. OF all this superb
dominion, the Turk has been the lord Tor al
most FIVE centuries. Yet he is a barbarian stlii,
with all the ferociiy Of the old dweiler OF the
Imaus, even his hospitality and bravery are oui
the virtues Of barbarism, and Wild, nerce, ana
bloody he will remain, unit. the purpose oil ae-
ISOLATION, for which he was brought from ms
deserts, shall be done.
The greatest and the last OF all Inc prophe-
cies had declared that the light oil The early
Church should be extinguished, and pure chris
,iani,y removed to lands remote from its orisl-
ma, throne. The noblesl form that christianity
has vet been permitted to assume, was IN It's
early state on The shores OF the Mediterranean.
The whole Of Asia Minor, then the most tiou-
rishing, opulent, and peaceful portion OF the
Roman empire, WAS filed with Christian tenn
ples. The seven great cities to which the A
49,
pocaly3se is directed, were the heads OF his
hallowed commonwealth, and the foundation
laid by the Apostles was finished by the work
of the hands and blood OF a long succession OF
pune and vigorous followers in the same SER
vices and The sam glory. But it had been
fore.old that this Church would rapidly degene-
rate-,ba, the influence of old corruptions
should deface its purity--that the opinions of
an ex,ravagan, and mystic philosophy should be
mingled with the inspired doctrine--and that,
after a long trial Of the patience OF Heaven. a-
ter casual publication by the bitter PUNISH
menis Of the Roman sword, and casual ie'iSais
of religion, they should be finally coverca oy
ignorance and superstition impenetrable There
has been no prophecy more amply fulfilled
The Turks are now masters OF every spot TO
which the writings of the Apostles were adj
dressed, except Rome.
II mus, be too deep for human knowledge 10