Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-22
0bIo Statesman.
[From the National Intelligencer.l
The " Eastern Question -

degree of interest in Europe and Ameri-
ca and in this country especially there
has been manifested so lively an inte-
rest in the Cretans that in many of our
cities very large contributions have been
made toward their relief and assistance
From the character of many of the ap-
peals for sympathy made to the Ameri-
can public, one would suppose that the
interest manifested in the cause of the
Cretans was determined more by politi-
cal sympathy with the revolt than by
humane pity for the misery attending it,
and wish to see accomplished the pur-
pose of the insurrection.
There is no doubt that the partisan
feeling in favor of Cretans against
Turks, having its origin primarily, with
many persons, in confused prejudice,
is continued by want of consideration
of the subject in all its bearings. There
are some grave political questions in
volved in these troubles in the East
which have not been considered as fully
2 as their merits demand. The Sultan
has an ambitious neighbor, who for
years, through secret emissaries has en-
couraged revolt and famed discomfort
among the Christian subjects of the
Porte, not because their independent ma
tionality would be desirable to the COW
etous and aggressive power of the North,
but for the reason that it is a studied
policy, to gradually weaken and ex-
haust, if possible, the financial strength
of the Government of Turkey by fo-
menting rebellions and instructions
within her borders, compelling the main
tenance of an expensive military estab-
lishment, and the large expenditures al
ways attending the suppression of rebel
lion, and incident to enforcing quiet, and
maintaining peaceful state Of society.
Are not we, in America, painfully sensi
BILE of the cost of suppressing rebellion
and maintaining peace, and "recon-
structing" society after the reign of law
less disorder which a state of war en-
genders2 And thus it is hoped that by
internal discord Turkey may eventually
be reduced to such condition as to give
some assurance of success to all invasion
of conquest from the North, which, 9th
erwise, the history of the past proves,
would be disastrous.
" There has been created an undue
sympathy for the Cretans, by poetic en-
thusiasts, who do not, or s0M not COM
prehend the political situation in the
East, and who, by presenting the ques.
tion in false light, and appealing to re-
ligious prejudice against the Sultan,
have induced many persons to believe
that the Cretans have been unjustly and
severely treated, and that the Govern
ment of Turkey is unbearably oppres-
sive, and even barbarous Turkey has
been continually, and, in many instances,
willfully misrepresented by persons who
are influenced by religious intolerance
and fanaticism, and it cannot be denied
that the largest ingredients of sympathy
for the Cretans in their present revolt
mainly proceeds from feeling of religi-
GUS prejudice against the Turks.
No one could object to expressions of
sympathy for the suffering which the
folly and blindness of the Cretans have
brought upon themselves. or to humane
efforts to relieve it, if such efforts were
confined to and had in view this charity
alone. It is the characteristic of our
people to have sympathizing pity for
distress, and willing and earnest desire
to alleviate it. Other nations have had
frequent cause to bear the debt of graft
tude toward America for generous and
prompt relief in the hour of need, when
war, or famine, or pestilence have
brought misery and want.
But the efforts in behalf of the Gre
tans seem either to go beyond or to fall
short of that large hearted sympathy
which would include Turks, as we'll as
Greeks, in its bounties, and appear to be
determined more by political sympathy
with the revolt than by pity for the mis-
cries which it occasions. Calls for
money are made, not alone for food, or
clothing, or medicines, but to advance
materially a rebellion against tempo
rate and lenient Government, which is
largely Inexperienced in America
The opinions of many persons have been
easily influenced through poetic senti-
ment-which exists especially in the
generous period of youth-for dead
past; aud the warmth of Imagination
might prompt an intellectual crusade
against Ottomans IN the name of the
gods of Greece. Chateaubriand and
Byron, filled with admiration of ancient
Hellenic civilization, illustrated in her
intellectual remains and recorded in her
monuments, wrote, with the warmth of
poets, false things of Greeks, and fall
ser things of Turks. Poetic enthusiasm
never reasons, and is generally unjust.
Let us not be deceived by the glitter
ing nothings of poetry, still less by an
tipathies of religion, in considering a
question, purely political, and which
merits Judgment uninhuenced by feel
ing or prejudice.
Russia made a pretext for war upon
Turkey of an idle question of Church {
decorations and keys, mistaking the /
folly of France in first agi-
tating question, the serious discussion &
Of which would seem prepos.
ferrous in this age, and masking
her real designs under hypocritical {
monkish diplomacy supposed Christian {
Europe would countenance the unjust I
and arrogant demands made upon Tur-
key; but the real design of Russia, to
extend her dominions over Turkish ter t
ritory, was too apparent for the success t
Of this game of pious fraud. With I
great heroism Turkey opposed this new /
aggression; France, comprehending the |
situation, supported the Sultan in the g
of his rights; and England t
armed in defense of justice and the true v
of all Europe. u
The dismemberment of the Turkish a
empire would be the most disastrous evil s
which could happen Europe. Ottoman |