Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-28
GREECE.
Her National Life IeOpardized BY The Late
Assassinatiens.


The recent exhibition Of imbecility
on the part of the Hellenic govern
ment has caused the Great Powers Sc
riously to question the propriety Of
allowing it 10 continue in existence.
Greece, the land Of history, poetry
and philosophy, in a certain sense
belongs to all civilized nations.
Travellers from all civilized quarters
of the globe claim the right to visit
that classic land in safety, and if the
existing government Is unable or un-
willing to afford them protection, it
should be superseded.
For nearly four hundred years had
modern Greece pined and decayed
under Turkish dominion, when, in
1921, broke forth the seven years war
for independence. Bloody and terri
BILE was the contest, but finally the
battle of NavarinO, in which the COM
bined fleets of Great Britain, France
and Russia gained a signal victory
over the Turkish feet, decided the
contest, and brought the Sultan to
terms.
Alter considerable political trouble,
Prince OthO, of Bavaria, was estab-
lished upon the throne under the
auspices of the Great Powers. The
boundaries of the kingdom were ami
cably determined, and during ten
wears the affairs of the country pro-
ceeded with a tOlerable degree Of
peace and prosperity, until, at the
demand Of the people, the King yield
ed to a constitutional government,
and the revolution triumphed with
. LIZ fnNa IL
shed. Personal equality in law, nom
existence Of slavery, education at
DubIic charge, freedom of the press,
trial by jury, and independence Of the
judiciary, were among the wholesome
provisions Of the new form of govern
nent.
King Ohio, however, proved an in
competent and miserable ruler, and
had as his queen woman tentOld
more oppressive and unworthy than
himself After an unfortunate and
disgraceful reign of about thirty
wears, he was obliged to abdicate, and
Prince William, the second son Of
Christian TX, the present King Of
Denmark, succeeded 70 the throne In
March. 1868. under the title Of George
i About this time the constitution
underwent certain notifications,
making suffrage universal and re-
ducing the age Of electors from tVen-
ty-five to twenty years. Also, at the
commencement Of the new reign the
Ionian Islands were united to the
Grecian Kingdom.
In 1866 arose the insurrectiOn in the
peighbOring island Of Crete against
the Turkish Government, and the
Government and people of Greece
took a profound interest In this event,
and in fayOr Of the Cretans. Money and
arms were literally supplied, while
volunteers by thousands rushed TO the
aid Of the insurrectiOnists. Such was
the indiscreet zeal Of the Greeks in
in their interference in this unhappy
contest. that prison doors were thrown
omen. and criminals, some Of them
under sentence Of death, We're iber-
ated in large numbers, to add to the
host of volunteers for the aid of the
Cretans. OF course, as the Cretan
cause became desperate, these released
criminals, with Others, fastened TO
make good their escape, and returned
"a refugees to Greece, to curse the
land. and TO re-enact v = greater zeal
LAdu ever llc tIliAI0o y hASu AAe@+ BAS
yiously brought them to imprison-
lnent, and some of them within
sight of the gallows. Brigandage
has for a long time infested
the Greeian territory, and these
quondam jail-birds and criminals
were Just the material for enlarg-
ing frightiully the ranks Of these out
laws. and thus, by their diabOlical rob
berries and murders Of travellers and
Others, bringing a blight and curse
upon the whole country. The late
massacre OF several distinguished
English gentlemen by these brigands,
and the worse than insane conduct of
the military, which was the immedi-
ate cause of the catastrophe, have
aroused British indignation TO the ut
most, anu if will not be strange if the
imbecility and folly Of the Grecian
Government should lead TO a serious
reckoning by the Allied Powers under
whose auspices il was established.
When a pretended nation Of people
come to such pass as to be subjected,
together with foreigners who visit
their country, to q hOrrid system OF
brigandage and black-mailing, the
sooner such a nation is wiped out
from the list Of civilized governments
the better for mankind.