The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-28
THE GREEK QUESTION.
Excitement In Greece over the Proposed
Amendments Disputed Conn
try and It's Inhabitants.

A correspondent Of the PHILADELPHIA Press
writes from Athens, February l6: The Berlin
treaty gave the Greeks hopes Of a consider
able increase of territory on the north. Ac-
cording to its provisions Thessaly, from the
present boundary to the line of the river Sell
embria, and Epirus, to the line of the Gala
mas, were coded to Greece. Although this Is
but one-half of these two provinces 1t is the
richest and most populous. The annexation
would include the port OF Volo on the Egean
sea and Aria on the Ionian sea, both at the
head OF spacious CULTS and the commercial
entrepots of their respective provinces. The
total population of these districts is about
three hundred and fifty thousand. Larissa,
the capital of Thessaly. and Janina, the
capital OF Epirus, are within the
proposed annexation. The latter was
the residence OF Ali Pasha of
Tepalen, that IMAM Of war and woes" who
reigned supreme In these regions for several
years defying the power of the porte. Dur
political centre In European Turkey outside
of Constantinople. Had Ali not been arrested
in time Ia his career, he would have been as
troublesome to the Sultan as Mehemet Ali
that other Albanian, OF Cavalla-was when
he used his viceregal power In Egypt to drive
the Turks out OF Syria, and to menace NAH
moud at Constantinople. Since the fall of
Ali, Janina has lost Its political Importance,
but 1t has continued to be the chief city of
f hpas s e is ssautfu G0 st
uated on the banks OF a lake OF the same
name. Six miles long and three broad, at
easy distance from the Adriatic seaboard,
with which 1t communicates by three ports
It is principally through Janina that the wool,
hides tobacco, valonia, olive oils, grains and
fruits OF Epirus, find an outlet to the external
world Arta lies on river OF the same name
close to the Gulf OF Aria, famous for the bat
tie of Actium, where once was lost world
for woman" 1t occupies the site Of the an
Gent Ambracia, whose wallis yet encircle Its
limits. Though reduced to 3 population of q
few thousand Aria, under another regime
than the Turkish, would be place OF great
Importance. Larissa Is surrounded by some
of the richest plains Of Thessaly, fertile In
pasturage, In tobacco, wheat, corn and cot
ton. The town has considerable manufac
lures Of red morocco, OF cotton and silk stuf1s.
The population Is about ,Oo0. volo ls the
on the Egean coast. For naval and CONNER
cial purposes it outranks every other Turkish
port on the Adriatic or the Archipelago.
1t is not so much the loss OF territory as
the cession of such important towns that the
Porte objects to. Their surrender to Greece
will exert such q demoralizing influence that
sooner or later 1t will entail the abandonment
of all Thessaly and Epirus. The Turks are
intruders In these regions. they have never
been able, however, to dispossess the Greeks |
or to change the aspect OF the country. 1t re-
mains to this day as intensely Greek as ever. |
Owing to the overwhelming proportion OF
Greeks, the Turks have been more tolerant |
than elsewhere. Greek churches and schools |
have grown up side by side with Turkish |
mosques and medresses; Greek newspapers
are published, lyceums and libraries flourish, |
and there is a perfect passion for education.
The Greeks have gone ahead, whlle the Turks
I,
is In the hands of the former, as well as the
principal manufactures and trades. The
Turks are the otficeholding class. The SYM
pathies of the Greeks are with regenerated
Hellas. They desire release from the turkish
genius. There is no question but that the
annexation of these parts OF Epirus and
Thessaly to the kingdom OF Greece would
be highly beneficial to it. 1t would bring
within its confines o people OF the same race
and sympathies, Of like pursuits, enlarging
maritime facilities and agricultural resources
and raising the population to nearly two
millions. 1t is this the Porte fears most.
Judging from the rapid progress Greece has
made since 1t became independent, it is in
TERED that a similar spirit Of progress in
IhesSaly and EplrIlS would soon revolutiOniZe
the state of affairs there and eventually bring
ABOUT general instruction in European
turkey. There is no doubt that the Turks
reason well from their standpoint, and it is
equally true that the British congress had a
right understanding of the situation from its
point OF observation Greeks want to be under
wreck government. An advancing people.
.hey are eager to rid themselves of the letters
slat now manacle them and mar their pros
pg b 10 al the pursuits of life. Under Turk
t nar RUE they are as living being bound to
Sbo ettpss The Turks have no ambition for a ,
If cil nraer OF things and for higher order
ana SiN " and they despise modern arts
adont thaTn aeioh too intensely to initiate or !
on the anneTst,ng Tess did wisely in insisting
say ana Epirus to Greece. For nnar ~ h hn
ne4nary saeir people have been in state Of
naton. It has been n against Turkish dom
unnumoered woes. 1t has deStra'u.alGe .,
sense OF security Of life and prone,tG 1r All