The Portland daily press., 1867-01-01

France and Turkey are equally Interested /,
keeping the Cretan Revolution and the East
ern Question which looms behind it out O
sight. The dispatches which have from tim,
to time assured us that the rebellion had beer
put down are believed to have been inspiret
by these two governments. At any rate tb,
revolution is still in progress The Greel
island of Syra is only a few hours by steam
from the Cretan coast, and is doing for Crete
what Nassau did for the Conieleracy. The
steamer Panhellenion has made some twent,
trips to Crete with ammunition and recruits
and the war unquestionably continues Here
is what the New York Tribune's correspond
ent writes from Syra, under date of Nov. 81:
The little island whose snow-clad summit we
! can see from here across the "blue Egean. .
has been from time immemorial the field Of
! tyranny and brutal conquest and is now the
victim OF diplomacy which rescued them
Thirty six years ago Crete freed herself from
the most fanatical, brutal and cowardly of ali
expressions and was by diplomacy tied hand
and foot and handed back to her oppressor IN
seems incredible that SO infamous crime could
have been perpetrated in the life time of men
now living; that in this epoch the rulers ot
great nations have so violated the spirit of JUS
tice and liberty as to enslave whole popula-
ton, who for nine years had battled and suffer-
ed for freedom and won it with the expendi-
ture of half its number, and miseries and mar
tyrdoms icnonceivable to us. And such slav-
cry as it was handed back tol-that of South
Carolina was better The life, the honor, the
property, everything that was was the Mus.
sulman's-"his wife, his man-servant, his maid-
servant, his OK, his ass, and everything that
was his"
Well, the crime is working its pun;sbmant
unrepented and unatoned for, and a fire il
kindling in Crete which may make summer
hay OF the line plans and castles in air of the
rulers of the world. Austria, who was the
most earnest instigator of the dismemberment
of liberal Greece in $780, has paid her nenaItv
OF at least first installment OF it; ENGLAND
and France who now maintain the Injustice
then committed, are coming to the Indictment
seat faster than they dream. Russia alone of
all those who sinned is repentant and mag be
saved.
/ am no prophet nor even a prophet's son bnt
am deceived ifthe Cretan insuri e tion is NOT
the kindling of flame which shall consu,ne
emperors and wipe out dynasties, and that last
and basest OF EmperOrs building his Summer
palace of 1867 and bidding the world he at
peace till it is opened, throwing ashes the while
on the hre, may lind that it is burning under
him God grant it. =
The conduct of the French and Englsb
Cousuls IN Crete has been worthy the antece-
qents OF IoSo. Inc former, more Turk than
Islam was, has not hesitated not only to
lndorse all the falsehoods of the press of Com
stantinople and the official reports of the local
government, but has exhausted invention i'm
framing slanders Of all kinds against the
Cretans, has spent his time in proselyting
and his official influence in intriguing for the
Turkish government. The policy of the lat
Ter has been diabolical from the outset II
threw into the island 10000 of its most fanat-
zeal soidlery, and making no concessions or
enorts TO conciiIate the people, rushed with
fell brutal Jury against the island. VILLAGES
were destroyed, women and children massa-
cred IN cold blood, everything devastated to a
degree almost inconceivable.
The history OF the war so far is record of
enduring heroism, patient suffering of women
and children, maternal sacrifices and resoIu-
tion under trial on one side, and unmitipable
brutality and barbarism on the other, such as
IN our country cannot be comprehended The
pohey OF crushing out went on the SUPPOSE
ton that the Cretans could be frightened or
tortured into submission before the world had
| time to see what was gsing on. Twenty days
We're supposed to suffice for this but the calcn-
lation tailed. Then the cunning of the devil
came IN to help out. They pretended that the
| Cretans had surrendered, and that all was fin
ished. Already Europe had begun to move for
the heroic islanders when this news fell like a
/ pail on all their friends. Volunteers turned
their faces away and contributions were stop-
ped. Garihaldi was about throwing his sword
IN, when the news came that it was too Late
So much time gained; ten new DAYS added to
| their twenty. But in those ten days nothing
was gained, and the old falsehood must 90 out
on service again; and lest it come back pro-
tested, they must have Endorsements; and be-
| hold! all ready to lend their names and those
OF their Governments are the Consuls of Eng
land and France, But this week. the last in
November IN. 81, we know that not only the
government has not succeeded in breaking
the spirit of single district of Crete, but that
| the insurgents have just inflicted, ut Arkadi
one of the most damaging blows on the inyad,
ing army that the history of these strupgl
can show. Every day volunteers are lantling
and the Cretans getting better arms; and
though their wives and children are perishing
under tie knife anu r1le snow, they are ftlr-
ther from submitting than ever -
The following letter from the Central Cret-
an Committee at Athens has been received by
DR.. Howe of Boston:
! SIR: Greece entertains ineffaceable FEELINGS
| OF gratitude u the humane and generous peo-
| pie OF America for the sympathy they eyiuced
durllg the Greek struggle fer Independence -
Ihe American people, with the cordial conc,,r-
! renee OF the American Government Inv tba
iood anu clothing they sent to Greece saved
thousands OF Greek families from starvation
and prevented the dispersion OF Greek armies
still making head against Turkish oppression
and barbarism
The noble frigate Hellas would never have
reached her destination aud taken part in the
! war If Independence, had it not been for tLe
kind interference and assistance of the Ameri-
can Government towards completing her
equipment and dispatching her to Greece The
Cretans IN their previous struggle for indepepd-
ence were partakers of the American acts of
J memorate.
The Cretans unable TO endure any longer the
violation of the slender privileges and liberties
| winch the Turkish Government had solemnlv
accorded them, and driven to desperation by
the heavy and constantly increasing burdens
imposed on them, at length took up arms. with
the determination of achieving their independ-
ence or OF perishng, victims Of liberty, in the
attempt.
In commencing the arduous contest. the
Cretan insurgents especially turned their ewes
to the people and Government of the United
States OF America, convinced that American
sympathies would, as formerly, be extended to
the struggle OF the Cretans, who have ventur-
ea 10 oid aehance to the whole Turkish Em-
pre-, and III addition to it, to the whole power
\ OF Egypt Accordingly, one of the first steps
| adopted by the Cretan Insurgents was to trans
mt solemn appeal to the President of the
United States and to employ certain other
! measures, the result Of which they are eaperIv
waiting to ascertain
requiring in America a faithful INTERPRETER
| OF their feelings and exigencies they have nat
uraliy thought OF their former benefactor. DIR.
Howe, who, by his long residence in Greece
| during the former war of independence and
by his generous and effective services during
that period, as well as by his efforts to advocate
the Greek cause as a historian of the Greek
struggle, secured to himself the veneration and
affection Of the Hellenic people
| The Cretan Central Committee in Athe ms !.
acting in accordance with the sentiments of the
Greeks in general, and the Cretans in particu-
lar,hereby appeal to your well-known philhe lle-
nlsm and entreat you to step forth again as a
champion OF that country which was of old the
seat and source of liberty and civilization. This
You can effectively accomplish by exeI ting
| yourself in establishing in as MANY parts Of
America as possible Greek Committees for
raising and dispatching contributions to Cretan
insurgents.
| The Cretans on the achievement of their in
dependence, will eyince undying gratitude to
their American benefactors. Crete. at the
present moment is in the utmost want of arms.
anmunitions, provisions, as well as offs naval
force to Illustrate the existing Turkish blockade
! of her shores.
| In stating to You our wants. we leave it to
the generosity and discretion of yourself and
friends to do whatever you may find right and
possible in our behalf at this momertous crisis
cfour country's history.
| In conclusion, We beg to express our COM
plete confidence in your philhellenism, your
Judgment, and experience; and hoping to be
honored with speedy reply,
We remain, Sir
Ysur sincere and grateful friends