Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-03

Gree e.

Bayard Taylor has recently visited Greece
aud gives an account OF disposition and chsi-
ac.er which will not be pleasing to the aami-
rers of that race. The inhabitants hummer
only a million, yet be asserts that notone-hiln
of the present population can with justice %
called Greeks; the remainder are Siavonians,
Alhanians and Turks, with slight infusion
of Venetian blood. Il was only IN Mania,
on the slopes Of Parnassus and 10 parts OF
Doris, that be found the ancient type 10 any
considerable amount. Owing to this sdmi1-
ture, he says there is grea! diversity IN ma
ture of the modern Greeks, and their number
is still SO small that one must be cautious In
stating general characteristics. Neverthe-
less he ventures on declaration which we
know will stir up the bile of some Of the ad.
mirers OF Greece, to say nothing OF the Greeks
| themselves.
Mr.. Taylor says that the present race Of
Greeks preserve some features of the ancient
race,-'theT are vain, laxative, fond of argu-
ment, and fond of display. Their apprecia.
! ton of TART, however, has utterly persisted
! Most of them profess leaning toward demo-
cratic principles, yet they are pleased as
children at the tawdry pomp which surrounds
a throne. They are passonately fond OF gain,
! yet, with the most elastic temperament IN the
world, dislike manual labor. One OF their
best general traits is their eagerness to learn,
| but, unfortunately, it ceases az soon as they
are capable of obtaining an Office under Gov
ornment Official corruption is as prevalent
! in Greece--as -as-as in the United States,
/ but there is no means Of preventing it there.
| There is not an honest society sufficiently
large 10 brand the genteel pick-pockets, and
80 the great bulk of the population are 10 no
better condition than the Christian subjects
| uf the Sultan, while horde of ieeches, mill.
tary, naval and civil, thrive and fatten upon
! them. More than one prominent man here
with whom | baVe conversed on the state of
the country, has said to me: 'Wewant more
people. What can VIC do with million Of
nhabilauts' Yet at this moment numbers
Of Greeks are em!gra;ing from Acarnania
into Turkey. There might have been long
ago, Il considerable influx of German emf
grants, yet the government refused TO per-
| NIT it."
1t is admitted, however, that the Greeks
have three leading virtues-they are remar-
kably cbsste; probably the most temperate
people IN the world; and they are most unset.
fish and devoted in their family relations
which, alone, Mr.. Taylor comedies, form
! basis Of coed a most sufficient to redeem them.
| The expenses Of the Greek Government are
enOrm u. ThereVenues amount TO more than
! 100000 annually, one-tweiith OF watch IL
swaliow!d up by the court. Norway, says
Mr.. Taylor, with "a small revenue and larger
populauon supports her roads, schools colleg-
CO, steamship lines, army, navy, aud police,
| aud keeps out OF debt. Greece has an army
Oi officials, such as no country in Europe rela-
| lively, exhibits. There is la her navy about
one officer TO every q men; in the army,
which numbers 5000, there are Secenty Gene
| rals.
Mir. Taylor demolishes all pretensions Of
Greece TO Republicanism or Democracy. lie
| says that the liberal features of the Consti-
tuition are sounding nothings, and that the
| king has virtually the appointment Of the
whole Legislature in his own hands How
ever, our traveller comedies that the Greeks
manifest remarkable avdity for learning,
though he attributes it, in great many in
stances, TO the desire otrscaping manual labor,
and obtaining the consideration which place
under Government affords. Nevertheless, he
speaks well OF the University OF Athens, and
In emphatic praise ol the excellent school OF
which, from twenty to thirty years, has rem
Gered service Of the highest character to
| female education in Geece. Mr.. Taylor also
admits that Greece has made decided progress
IN commerce. The blue cross" lie says,
NOW floats, not Oh y in every port in the Med
IterTancan and Black Seas, but in most OF the
ports Of Europe. The trade carried on at
ConstantInop!e by Greek vessels is larger than
! that OF all other nations combined. Greek
houses are now common, not only in Trieste,
Vienna, Marsciles, London, Paris and Man
chester, but are also springing up IN the
! United States. In spite OF what is said cJn-
corning the commercial dishonesty Of the
! Greek merchants in the Orient, those who
settle in the OccIden., bear generally as good
a character their Frank brethren. The
race has y natural aptitude for trade, and
upon this feature one IN ght also build hope
Tor the future Of Greece. But what that
| future will be, We cannot even conceive
Htch. ULpath.