The New York herald., 1868-04-20
The Cretan Struggle.

In the HERALD of Saturday we published
special cable despatch from Athens, re-
ceived via Trieste and London, to the effect
that the insurrection in the island Of Gambia
had again broken out, that the fighting had
been severe, and that the revolutionary forces
had been successful. 1t was also stated that
assistance was being given to the insurgents by
the Greeks and other Christians. We are slow
to believe that the insurrection has broken out
afresh. The Athenian origin of the report
makes it doubtful. It is notorious that for
some time past all reports regarding Turkish
affairs which have reached us through that
channel have been highly colored and some
times positively untrue. The publication OF
the Turkish Red Book, of which we have al
ready given extracts in the HERALD, has done
much to set this Cretan difficulty in its true and
proper light. It is now undeniable that the
evils of Turkish rule have been greatly ex-
aggerated; that if there were evils these evils
have been remedied, and that the government
of the Sultan is now actuated by the most kind
ly and benevolent motives towards the Cretans
and the Christians generally throughout the
empire. 1t has also been made plain that
the insurrection would never have taken shape
but for the oficious meddling and selfish policy
of Prussia on the one hand and Greece on the
other The most mistaken notions have all
along prevailed both in Europe and America in
regard to the actual condition of Turkey. Our
sympathies have naturally enough been with
the Christian as against the Turk. But our
sympathies have often been blind and unreason-
able. We have insisted that the Turk should
leave Crete and the other so-called Christian
provinces of the empire forgetting that the
principle of nationality cannot be applied in
Turkey but to beget general disorder. "In
Crete" as is shown by the Red Book, cone
third of the population is Turkish, in Thessaly
one-fourth, and in Epirus one-half" In an
empire 80 composed it is manifest that govern
ment cannot be conducted purely in the inte-
rest of any one class or party or religion More
we have no right to ask than that the balance
be held with an even hand, and that impartial
justice be done to ALL Russia has ceased
actively to interfere in the affairs Of Turkey.
We cannot say so much for Greece. 1t is still
her object to keep alive the spirit Of insurrec-
ton. Her eye rests hungrily on Crete. We have
no cause of quarrel with Greece; but neither
have we any cause Of quarrel with Turkey. If
the Christians of Crete have claim on our
sympathy so have the Mohammedans. Men
and women are not necessarily bad because
they are Moslems, just as men and women are
not necessarily good because they are Chris
tians. So long as the government Of the Sui
tan goes on in the spirit of modern progress.
doing that which is just and right by all its
subjects, SO long 1t will be our duty to cheer it
forward. We shall have words of equal kind
ness for the Greeks when the Greeks shall
show that they deserve them. Meanwhile the
Greek government has enough to do within
its own proper and legitimate sphere Of ac-
ton, and it would consult the interests Of
the kingdom best by leaving the Sultan and
his subjects to settle their own affairs. Greece
is not just yet model kingdom.