The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-01
THE REVOLUTION IN CRETE.

have already given very full synopsis OF THIS
document in our telegraphic columns.
.....n.<s4....-f=@E
THE REVOLT Ti0N IN CRETE.
We see that great efforts aro being mace Ut !ho
North to procure material aid Tor tho suiter1h8
Candiotes. If We arc not as enthuslastlc III our
EXPRESSIONS of sympathy for these Turkish rebels
IL may be because, not many yoars since, we were
e.rebelsn ourselves, and by tho whole world LETT TO
fight the battle out by our own unalded etorts.
"a fellow-feelng makes us wondrous kInd. fci-
haps so We are not so sure OF it. we lacnne W
the opinion that long course OF ll-treatmen' nss
great tendency to make one callous; ana natu-
rally 80. Having found others Indifferent about our
trials and suferinge it is not to be expected that
we should voluntarily, of our own accord, occupy
ourselves with the woes of the Greeks before we
are out of the mre ourselves. When queen DIDO
uttered the sentiment, of which the above quota
ton from SHAHspEARE is IN elegant translation,
she had indie d passed through tho trial, but had
come out triumphant, and was in position to IN
dulge in the luxury of compassionating with 9TH
ers m SERIES It is very meet indeed, for the phl-
l,nthropes CT the North to be frantic phi-Heuenes,
bnt il is otherwise with us. STILL the struggle 's
one of great interest. and we like to keep our
readers Informed in regard to it's progress.
The Island of Gambia, smaller than the State OF
Connecticut, is now threatening the peace of Eu-
rope Crete, after it had passed from the Greeks,
into the hands of the Romans, underwent q fre-
quent change of rulors,-frst Roman pro-consuls'
and afterwards Saracens and Genoese, and WAS
sold in 1904 to the Ycnetians, under whose mlld
sway it enjoyed peace for 400 years. In 1868, after
q force war of q years, it passed into tho hands
Of the Turke In 1921, when Greece rose against
her Moslem rulers, and for nine years waged q
war unparalleled for heroic endurance, and en-
listed the sympathios of the world, Crete was the
scene of constant and bloody struggle. The
battle of NaYarino, in 1927, crushed the Turkish
power, and Greece was declared indo ?endent by
Turkey in $780, But to compensate the Viceroy of
Egypt 1.-THE ally of Turkey in that war;, tho Euro
pean Powers made him q present OF tho Island of
Crete, against the wishes ofits people one OF the
most heartless cruelties diplomacy has ever been
guilty of. In 1910 it was restored to Turkey,
under whose rule it has rainly chafed ever since.
Slight instructions have occurred during that
period but the grasp of the oppressor has been
unyielding.
A year ago the Christians Of that Island sent
respectful protest to the Porte asking for relief
from the burdens imposed upon them. Under the
preto1t that these very complaints Turkish and
Egyptian troops were sent to reduce them to sub
mission, and, if necessary, to reduce them by ex-
termination. They have been shut mp in caves
and drowned by the rising tide. No prisoners are
taken. Even women and children have been put
to the sword. Turkey knows how to deal with re-
bells as we'll as other countries, which now very in
consistently take the rebels part. After the Turks
commenced this system Of determination, the
General Assembly OF Crete in September last,
issued the following decree:
.sFaitlful to the oath taken in 1921, and to the
will Of the whole people, who desire the union and
independence Of the entire Hellenic race it is de-
creed:
s.I. The sovereignty of Turkey is forever abol-
ished in the whole territory Of Crete and tho
places appurtcnant to it.
= .u. The indissoluble and eternal union Of Crete
and of all tho places appurtenant to it, under the
sceptres of his AIajesSy George l., is hereby pro-
claimed.
ssIu. The execution of the present decree is con-
fded to the valor of the generous people OF Crete,
and the patriotism of our brother Hellenes, where
ever residing, and in tho iberaGty Of all Phlhel-
ienes as well rs to the powerful lnediation of the
great nations, protecting aad guaranteeing it, and
to the protection Of Almighty God"
Undor the inspiration Of this declaration the
Christians Of Crete have fought with va1or and q
perseverance which savor OF the romantic heroism
that in it's two centuries Of resistance to Mohanme
dan rule has made it famous. They are fighting,
not for political power, but for the right to lve
to earn their bread; to protect their families; and
to worship God according to the dictates Of their
conscionces. Stimulated by this hope, and provok-
ed by the des pair endangered by failure, they have
proved themselves capable OF deliberately sacrif-
cling their own lives in DESTROYING their enolnies.
Tbs story Of the destruction of the monastery of
Arkadi can scarcely be surpassed BY the widest
romances of tradition or history. This building
which has, for twelve hundred years, been tho
most important establishment of the kind in Crete
was magnificent and massive structure. It's
library contained the most valuable manuscripts
and during all the conflicts and revolutions OF
twelve centuries it has never been disturbed by any
Of the contestants 1t had become the refuge OF the
Cretans In November last, it contained one hum
dred md ninety-.hree men, including sixty-two
monks, while three hundred aud screnty-three
women found refuge within it's walls, Six thou
sand Turkish troops we're sent agains5it. A breach
was effected after severe fighting. The court was
seized after moro than half The garrison hadperish
ed In reply toa demand for surrender, monk,
by tho common consent of all tho defenders,
thrust candle into the powder vaults and fifteen
hundred monks were blown into eterni " with their
desperate foes.
The Turkish Government pretends that the re-
belIon has been subaucd, but the foreign Consuls
and Ambassadors know better. The Turks are
still besieging the Island, and arc preparing to
continue their butcheries. Tho Government OF Crete
has issued another declaration to their feDow-cit-
zens asserting the determination of the people to
free themselves or die. The revolutionists have
fod to the mountains, waiting for the return OF
spring to renew hostilitics.
So the matter now stands. The Cable brings us
dispatches every fow days that the war is over,
and that the Cretans had accepted the terms of
the Porte; but the next telegram generally again
contradcts tho news The greatest statesmen in
Europe look with anxious eyes to the East, as the
quarter whence trouble is to be aprrehended It
is now generally understood that Greece will de-
clare war against Turkey, and join with her kin
dred on the adjacent island. In how far this will
have tendency to involve other powers, it re-
mains yet to be seen.
MELANCHOLY EXH1BIT.--Somc days ago Gen.
~, Ia lSa 0f