The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-27
THE, EASTERN QUESTION.


end. The ssmoial sympathy" OF Europe and Amerl-
ca was inadequate to sustain the poor mindful Of
starving Candiotes against myriads OF wellfed and
wel-discipIined Turkish troops. In the London
Times, Of the 4th instant, we. find confirmation
Of the rumors of the hopelessness Of their cause
Hundreds Of women and children for weeks we're
conveyed on board neutral vessele from Crete to
the neighboring harbors Of Greece, and their exc
dus was hailed as an evidence OF determination
on the rart of the Cretans t. unencumbered IN
their movements, and enabled to fight their battles
to the utmost On tho 20th ult., however. the
French gunboat 'Satamander, followed by an Otto
man frigate and corvette, entered the Pir@us,
near Athens, bringing back to Greece AO OF her
volunteer warriors. Others OF their comrades 1t,
were waiting in the island for an opportunity OF
embarkiug and even treating with MUsrAPHA' Pa
sHA TOR permission to take their passage in foreign
vessels Open war, even id the mountain districts,
seems to be altogether at an end, though guerrilla
warfare may be kept up for season, or even
break out again and again for years. But the men
who turned their backs upon Crete would hardly
have deserted their flag if even hope OF pro-
longed resistance had remained. - go: ., :.
The reception these disappointed heroes met
with at the hands OF their counuymen is not the
least remarkable incident in campaign which has
been sgnalized by the tragic episode Of Arkadi.
The mob OF Athens, on hearing of the arrival Of
these mfortrnates, came down to the ,Pir@us with
determined purpose to inflct upon them the
chastisement due to towards or traitors: AS soon
as the volunteers began to disembark they were
assailed with such ehalstorm Of paving stones,
and such 80 shower Of cudgels," that they were
glad to take refuge n the vessels they had left;
and to seek the protection of their crews. Some
received wounds, some we're flung into the sea ;
two or three, as is srepo1ted, beaten to death
and few would have escaped the same fate hal
they left altogether at the discretion Of the
infuriated rabble.. The cries were "Down with the
deserters, and deflers Of Hellenic honor! Throw
into the sea the renegades who saved their lives
on. board Turkish ships n: !; !.
r.. These patriots, for whom ungratefu Greece had
80 harsh awelcome, seem, however, to have de-
served better reception, for it was less by the
lead and steel Of the Mussulman that they were
oYerpowered than by the impossibihty Of finding
subsistence in the idesolated country. So long as
focks roamed on the hills they fought and con
quered and il was only when the bones Of the last
sheep were, picked clean that they came back to
have the reproach Of having lived at free quarters
in the land they were rescuing from thraldom
flung in their teeth. Those among them who ca
capped from the hands Of the mob we're put ashore
in desert ialet in the Bay of salamis, WHENCE it
is to be hoped, after time has been given for the
evaporation of unjust popular displeasure, they
will be allowed to reach their homes in safety.
However absurd and wrong headed the behavior
Of the Athenian mob may appear on this occasion,
it may be taken as symptom OF the earnestness
with which that exoitable Greek nation looked
upon the Cretan struggle.
The Turkish Government has in the meantime
averted the danger of an insurrectionary move
ment in Servia by prompt concessions. The Ser
VANS demanded that all the fortresses in Servia,
formerly garrisoned by the Turks, should be given
up to the Servians, and the Sublime Porte has
complied with the request, surrendering even the
important fortress of Belgrade, which on many oc-
casions had served as the great bulwark of the
Turkish empire. serria has thus become virtually
Independent Of Turkey, belonging to the Csmanic
empire only in name. But the Turkish Govern
ment by giving up what it could not hold, has dis
embarrassed itself Of dangerous enemy and be-
come able to concentrate it's forces for other pur
poses.
Other concessions of no less important nature
have been made to the public opinion Of Europe
The Sultan has resolved to grant to his Christian
subjects all political rights enjoyed by the Mussul-
man, and even to conyoke Parliament, which is
to meet at Constanlinople The Frel. oh Govern
ment g endeavoring to induce the Sultan to sell
the island of: Crete for q large sum Of Eor,y to
the Viceroy of Egypt, and to cede to France the
Bay of Suda for a naval station. This transaction
naturally excited the jealousy of England, and it
is reported that strong squadron OF British ships
has been sent to Alexandria to watch the move
ments of the French fleet. But, as the French
Emperor is not now in condition to desire q con-
fict with tirst-class power, it is probable that
British opposition will prevail upon him to drop
for the present all plans which might lead to a
serious complication.
Whether tho reforms resolved upon by the Sui
tan, sucL as the extension OF political rights and
the introduction Of parliamentary institutions, will
produce lasting amelioration of things in the
Turkish empire, is very doubtful The character
Of the government, as well as the ruling class, is 30
to. the development of true freedom
and civilization, that relapse may be expected at
INV time But these measures seen, tn hsye for |