The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-03
CHI A r L E. S TON
THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY 3, 1867.
TIE REVOLUTION IN CRETE.

TIE REFOL UTT0N IN CRETE.
A little over thirty years ago the independ-
cncc Of the Kingdom Of Greece was csi ablshcd,
after several years Of severe fighting. charac-
terizcd by cruel and barbarous fcroc:ty on the
ono side, and the most heroic selfsacrifcc
on the other. The result was not brought
about until after tho armed and active media
tion of the Great Powers of Europe. Turkey
had to be first thoroughly lumiliated before
she acknowledged this severance Of the classic
territory from her domain. The Kingdom of
Greece. we regret to say, has been far from
success as an experiment of the constitutional
monarchy. Still, however tho country may
have been retarded in progress and prosperity
by domestic brawls and monthly changes of
their ministry, it will be generally conceded that
Christian people is more secure Of life and
justice when ruled by sovcrcigns Of their own
confession, than at the mercy of Turkish ru-
Ter, and prosecuted by the petty tyranny and
blind bigotry Of the fanatic Mussulman officials.
1t is for this reason we think it pity that
the Great Powers did not do their work tho
roughly when they were engaged in it in the
cnce from Turkish rule, but it did not suit the
diplomacy Of the day to sever this Island from
tho Sublime Porto: and its people were once
more handed down by their Christian brethren
Of thc West, to the tender mcrcics Of the Turk.
They bore this yoke, as best they could, for
thirty years longer, without any serious oppo-
sition to the constituted authority. A few
months ago, however, the flame, so long smoth-
cred, broke out afrcsh,-tlc whole island is in
insurrection, and the full strength Of the Turk
ish power is brought to bear against it, We
hear Of an army of fifty thousand men in the
field, and formidable navy engaged in block
aiding the Crean ports. Greece, and the re-
naming Greek and scmi-Grcck provinces of
Turkey (scrvia, Ccrhaonia, and Bulgara) are
in hearty sympathy with Crete. Italy, SO re-
Gently engaged in similar struggle ex-
tends her sympathy and assistance to the in
snrgcnts Russia also is understood to be
friendly TO their cause.
France and England alone, the two great
leaders Of Christian civilization, are in sympa-
thy with the Turk. England fears for her
Eastern possessions She must, al all hazards,
keep On open roadstcad 10 the Orient, anu any
movement tending to the disintcgration Of Tur-
key, is considered dangerous to British Esat
India interests. France. it is said, has proffer-
Ell the use Of her feet to enforce the Turkish
blockade of Crete. She frowns on the present
movement from different motives from Eng
land. If the Greeks and any large number Of
Italians engage the side Of the Canadians,
the struggle must necessarily assume very for
midablc proportions, an array Of the East
against the East In such combat France
cannot remain mere neutral spectator She
must become involved as principal. But we
can readily sec why NAPOLEON should not be
dcsirous of becoming embroilcd in a foreign
quarrel. lie is bent on having peace in Europe
next Spring for his Exposition, and the reopen
ing Of the Eastern question is entirely incom-
patiblc with that desire. Moreover, he has
been so sgnaly unsuccessful in his Mexican
expedition, and in his German diplomacy, and
more recently still in the naval attack on Corea,
that he cannot feel much encourn gcd as vet
for new foreign enterprises Of any magni-
tude.
There is great uncertainty in regard to the
actual state Of things in Crete. II is affirmed
that the kilograms we receive in regard to it
cmanate from Turkish, therefore hostile and
partial, sources. These dispatches, it is fur
thcr asserted, have the endorsements Of the
English and French Consuls, and constantly
report the defeat and failure of ile insurrcc-
tion, with a view Of preventing any assistance
from without.
syra, Greek island very near to Crete, is
he x-ho fGa Az.
plies of food, arms, volunteers, etc, through
the Turkish blockade. Syria is to Crete what
Nassau was to the late Southern Cenfedcracy
There has been much suffering, nevertheless,
among the people there, as these supplies are
both inadequate and irregular If, however,
the Cretans can hold out few months longer,
1t is generally thought that Greece will join
them, and risk success or annihilation UPON
the issue. If she does, Austria, Russia, and
the other Powers will in all probability become
involved in the quarrel
Much stress is laid by some Of the CORES
pondents on the brutal conduct of the Turkish
commanders and the troops under thcm against
the people Of Crete; but we deem it unnecessa-
~ to dwell on this point; it is sufficient to say
that this conduct IS now just what it always
was under similar circumstances
The Central Cretan Committee at Athens
have sent petition to the United States for
help. This country will doubtless give them
considerable moral support, and perhaps much
also IN voluntary contributions from individual
citizens, but we do not think that the United
States Government will do ought to become
mixed up with this the most :'entangled" of all
European alliances
Some interesting dispatches will be found in
our telegraphc columns this morning, relative
to this new Greek revolution.
a new GAa1E.-Sonae ingenious person has in
vented new game, which contain; ali tho best
features ad II Of billiards parlor croquet and