Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-31
@91fIaM:
TIE GREEK rNsURREcTroN.


THE GREEK MsURRECT10N.
One Of the principal political features
in the foreign intelligence brought by
the steamer Asia, is the news of a
formidable Greek instruction, which
it is said has broken out in Turkey
against the Government Of the Sultan
1t is we'll known that a large portion o.
the Inhabitants Of Turkey are not
Mahometans, but Christians, acknow.
Lodging the supremacy Of the Greek
Church, at the head Of which is the
Gear of Russia. It's upon this circum-
stance. more than any other, that the
latter has based his hopes of conquer
ing Turkey. Russian emissaries for a
great many years have been busy in
Turkey IN promoting a good under
standing between the Greek Christians
there and the Gar at st. Petersburg.
who stands atthe head Of their Church.
While theirpolitical obligations have
been to the Sultan, it has been sought
to make their religious sympathies a
still stronger tie connecting them to
the Gar. The presentwar was caused
by the attempt Of Nicholas to exercise
an ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the
Greek Church in the dominions of the
Sultan. which, had it been PERMITTED
would have been a virtual abrogation
of the latter's sovereignty. The Porte
and his Government at ConstaHtinople,
have been for long time aware that
their greatest political weakness and
danger was in an instruction OF the
Greek Church in Turkey, who consti-
tute, il we are not greatly mistaken
alsrge majority Of the inhabitants; and
to guard against the probability of
such an event, the Mussulman ruler
has granted every immunity and privi
lege, so far as the exercise of the rites
OF their religion is concerned, to the
Greek Christians, that they could
desire.
Indeed, with the exception of Eng
land, there is not country in Europe
where the principle of religious tolera-
ton IS carried out to greater extent
than in Turkey. There can be no
doubt that the exactions made upon
the Greek Christians are far less, and
that their condition is infinitely better
than it would be if the Russian eagles
floated from the dome of the Mosque
of st. Sophia, in Constantinople. No
policy could be more injudicious, upon
the part of the Greek Christians, than
that which should seek 10 exchange
the Government Of the Sultan for that
Of the Gar. We have seen it stated
in the letters of intelligent and appar-
emily reliable correspondents from
Turkey, that the Christian population
ofthat country was well affected toward
their Mussulman rsler, and that the
attempts ofthe Russian agents to excite
a different feeling among them had
resulted in failures, and that they
would sustain the Sultan in the present
war.
We shall be somewhat disappointed
if the reverse ofthis opinion proves to
be correct. Il cannot be denied, how
ever, that the fact of this large Greek
church population in Turkey is politi-
cal element that well deserves to be
considered in all speculations upon the
probable termination of the Eastern
difficulty, for whichever side it should
incline it would have a potential weight
in determining the result. Should the
Greek Christians in Turkey pretty
unanimously revolt against the Otto
man government and incline to Russia
it is very doubtful whether even the
united strength Of England and France
could prevens the Gar from conquer
ing Turkey. That such an event will
happen we have no fears, considering
it improbable in the highest degree.
The Gar isthus instigating domestic
insurrection 10 aid his cause. lie is
handling an edged tool which is shar-
pened on both sides and NAV well be
turned against him. The Allied
Powers have. in his conduct, first
rate justification for giving assistance
to the revolutionists in Poland and
Hungary. Ii he goes to war with the
avowed design OF lighting for and main
tanning the Greek Church. how will
thatsuit the Roman Catholics Of poland
who consider that church heretical?--
Ii religious differences, proverbially
the most bitter ofany in the world. are
10 be appealed to in the present strug-
gle, and their mottos are emblazoned
upon the standards Of hostile nations,
the coming war viii be lnconceivably
the most bloody and sanguinary that
ever desolated Europe.
II is already certain that the revolt
uionary political element is to come
into the conflict whether desired or not
by thecontending belIigerents. There
are thousands Of generous and ardent
devotees OF liberty in Italy. Hungary
and Germany, who, when the smoke
OF battle shall have obscured the armies
OF dcspotism from their sight, will
kindle the bonhres OF freedom upon
every hill top and in every valley. and
send up a shout for the redemption
from bondage Of their taihsriaad.
pourTpy CHEAPER THAN PORK.