The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-23

even under the present constitution, the
means of reforming the hagrsut abuses which
prevail. Ministers and Deputies would not
object to consult the public welfare il they
found that they we're likely to be rewarded
by continuance in Office, for serving their
country. The Capitalization which exists is
both mischievous in itself and inconsistent
with national character and tradition. II the
Government of Athens employed itself in
protecting life and property, and in reduc-
ing taxation, as far possible, parishes
and districts would perhaps under
take the construction of roads and other ma
terial improvements. Although neither of
the two dynasties which Europe has bestowed
on Greece has hitherto conferred any con-
siderable benefits on the nation, there is no
reason to believe that anything would be
gained by the establishment of q republic.
A king at the worst either abstains from in
reference or commits political blunders.
His interests is identical with tho good of
the nation, and he can scarcely be open to q
bribe. The highest place in a Greek re-
public would be the object of more active
competition than the post of Royal Minis
ter, and perhaps it might, as in South
America, be sometimes the prize of civil war
1t is q redeeming feature in the modern his
tory of Greece that the candidates for power
have been Parliamentary intriguers and not
military adventurers. The Court oorrupdon
which was practised in the time of Ohio
would probably be revived by President.
The Chamber, if it retained its present power,
would require no additional facilities Of
benefceBt legislation; and experience shows
that representative systems flourish best in
combination with an hereditary Executive.
Happily the Greeks themselves have no fancy
for changes in the form of government.
Under certain provisions of the Greek Con-
stitution, which seem not to have becoms
h. .szLN -
power which has not generally been included
in modern political systems. His ministers,
though they require the support of Paria-
mentary ma ority, are also responsible to the
Crown; and the judicious exercise of the
prerogative would probably be approved by
public opinion. The present king had the
disadvantage of ascending the throne in his
boyhood when it was impossible that he
should possess any real power. His connec-
ton with the Imperial family of Russia may
also hamper his independent action; but he
is still young enough to vindicate the expe-
diency of an almost accidental selection. He
might bo pardoned for cherishing the
ambition Of aggrandizing his kingdom, if
only he understood the order and natural
succession of measures by which small
State becomes great. A domestic sdminis-
tration which should render Greece a model
or a contrast to surrounding States would de-
bct NO thc WntCu 10 nOW pEonh-
turely claimed. King Otho, like the ill judg-
ing knight in the story forgot that it was
necessary to draw the sword before he blew
the horn. Having done nothing to render
his kingdom worthy of an Imperial rank, he
weakly and rashly made himself the tool of
foreign power which was not even able to
protect him. If King George, now in
the early prime of life, were vigorous enough
to establish order and prosperity at home,
he might calculate on the full acknowledg-
ment of his public services both by the
Greeks and by foreigners. The Eastern ques-
tion would be best solved by the growth of
civilized and independent State which might
in due time naturally succeed to the supre-
macy which may sooner orlater pass from the
Ottoman Empire. The pretense that Greece
is lll-governed because its limits were not
originally extended to include Epirus or
Crete is transparently frivolous. The Ionisn
Islands, which were voluntarily annexed to
the kingdom by England only few years
ago, have from the time of the transfer
steadily declined in social and political con-
diton. The Turkish provinces on the main
land and in the islands which are coveted by
ambitious Greek politicians would not admit
of equal deterioration, but they would gain
1 nothing by change of allegiance. 1t is q
| significant fact that wealthy and intelligent
| Greeks prefer Constantinople as a place of
residence to Athens.