The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-27
TURKEY.
Political, Social and Financial Affairs In the
Ottoman Rmpire.


Political, Social and Financial Affairs In the
Ottoman Rnpire.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, April q, 1871.
nush OF spring weather would appear to have
rendered the Levant world too languid 10 develop
important events and to this venture to attribute
the barrenness OF the weeks history and the pre-
ponderance OF gossip over news in the present mis-
sive.
The passage OF the Greek steamer Byzantls through
the B0sphorus on her way to Odessa where she is
to receive the remains OF the Greek patriarch Gre
gorius has created some little sensation less on &C
count Of the intrinsic Importance Of the incident
than because Of o certain political significance at
achng to 1t through the fact that the idea of trans
ferring the ashes OF the prelate in question from
Russian to Hellenic soil was due to the suggestions
Of Russian diplomacy. 1t Will be remembered that
OF al the
TRAGIC EPISODES OF TIE GREEK WAR OF INDE.
PENDENCE,
nonc-except, possibly, the massacre OF ChiOs-
created stronger feeling of evaporation In the
minds OF the Greeks than the execution Of their
Patriarch. His body dragged about the streets,
treated with every indignity, and finally thrown into
the Bosphorus, whence, as the legend goes, 1t was
recovered by the captain Of sailing craft, who took
1t to odessa There, after being identified. 1t was
buried with great ho6ofs and there it has remained
since the year 1921. Respecting the trusworthiness
Of the Identification II Is impossible not 10 feel some
doubts for the treatment 10 which the unfortunate
priests body was submitted was such to render 1t
very difficult, one would suppose to recognize even
the most striking features Of the living man. But
Still II the Greeks satisfied OF the authenticity Of
their relic we have nothing to say know that
II very much signifies whether they be the genuine
bones OF the Patriarch n0t for after ALL the gst Of
the whole thing lies In the sentiment OF 1t. and II
this Is genuine, 1t matters little whether the dust
the symbol round which the sentiment crystalIzes-
was yieloed by the corpse OF one murdered Greek
or another. Tie oddness OF
THE PRESENT MOVEMENT
Is Its tardiness and Its synchronlsm with the Black
sea question and the new treaty. For just half a
century the remains, be they whose they may have
lain uncared for at ODESSA and that the descendants
Of the patriarch should all at have been seized
with an Unsuitable desire to get them back 10 Greece
Is curious but the phenomenon Is easily explained
by the diplomatic fuss that has been made about the
matter, and IN which it Is not difficult to trace the
hand OF Russia. The object OF Russian diplomacy
was to revive old grievances, and make healed
wounds bleed airesh and thus what, If 1t had been
with the descendants oil the prelaics, would have
been carried out privately, was blown up into
state question. -
THE RUSSIAN FONT
But Russia mad yet another point to make VIZ,
to establish precedent for the passage OF ships OF
war through The BQsphorQs for other objects than
the maintenance OF the faint shadow OF the treaty Of
1866 which the recent treaty Of London has .,.Ilost
obhterated; or, iaing that, to Tender tue sOver.
eighty Ql lc sultan over Ine straits as odi0us to
Other governments as possible and, therefore, in.
stigaed by Russia the Athens government requested
TO he allowed TO send Their iron-clad through the
Bospnorus to receive the relics OF the Patriarch
The Porte refused: and then with that good taste
which characterlzes the Greek government, they
askel to be allowed TO send The EnOpis-tnat famous
blockade runner by which and her cOnsort the
Arcadi, the Hellenic invasion OF Crete was mainly
supported. However, the Porte cut matters short
The Greeks were told that II they chose they might
passed at night on its return voyage So as TO avoid
any demonstration such as the Porte well knew
every endeat OF would be made to get up. Tins
THE LITTLE SCHEME
or reminding extinct resentment on the part of the
Greeks against the Turks has broken down. although
very much doubt whether, even II the Russians
RGu MAD their own way, am great degree OF enthu.
But In the provinces the story would have BEEN and
even now Will be, diligently told in the churches
with such colornx as the ubiquitous agents OF Rus.
sla may choose to give it, only 1t will have lost Its
chief point which q STIR among the GeeeKs of the
capital would have gwen TO IL.
TIE CREDIT GENERAL OTTOMAN
mas declared dividend OF 162 piastres per share,
equivalent TO nearly sixteen per cent on the business
or the first fourteen months OF Its existence aud
which has necessarily much restricted owing To
the war IN France. The report OF the Societ Gene.
rale Will be Issued next month, and ] learn from
good authority that the dividend be In excess or
that declared b. the Credit General, and thai q con-
lubd Inc sociefe Generate Is company OF several
Years standing.