The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-20
DISCONTINUED CRETE.
The Christians Want Emancipation from
Ottoman Rule.


A Constantinope letter says: The re-
cords of the Island OF Crete show that
they have escaped the admiXture OF Sara
Genie, Venetian, and Turkish blood which
naturally followed the conquest OF the
island and its occupation for long periods
by those nations, and as they were in the
days OF Homer. so they are in many re-
spects at the present time. Never thor
oughy subdued, they have maintained q
rude sort OF independence through all the
successive waves OF conquest that have
swept over this gem of the Mediterra-
mean, paying taxes neither to emir, podes-
tan, or pacha. The ruling Powers have
been well content at all times 10 let them
alone on account OF the difficulty in reach
ing them, provided they disturbed not the
Iowland districts by their incursions.
Want, however, drove them down from
time to time to carry off the goods Of their
nelgbbors, with the aid OF the sword, and
thus the fighting instinct Is strongly de-
veloped among them, and they form a
powerful instrument with which to start a
revolution.
WHAT THE CHRISTIANS WANT.
What the Christian population want is
complete emancipation from Ottoman rule.
They wish it to be rs dead Is it is in East
ern Roumelia or the Lebanon. 1t is not
that they would jump at annexation To
Greece. My own observation and that ol
others whose opinions are worth having
is that they do not care so much for such
union, fearing TO see their island become
the hunting-ground for the place
seeking politicians OF Athens. They are
now far from being so heavily taxed as the
subjects OF King George. but once Crete
becomes part OF the Hellenic Kingdom
Its people Will have, rs they know well, tC
snare in all the burdens Of the nation as
have done the Ionian islanders. Greece
of course, looks upon the island as its
own-a ripe pear for which it has only to
omen its anneXng mouth for 1t to fall in
without giving the trouble to pluck it.
A cry has been raised in the Island Of
Crete for the Cretans, or rather for the Gre
tan Turks. and the majority OF the people
would prefer autonomy under the Turkish
flag or protectorate of a European Power
TO incorporation with Greece. Indeed
there Is no uncomfortable section OF the
local politicians who would like TO see the
island under the British flag. The mag
nificent harbor OF Suda bay, with its an
chorage spacious enough 10 accommodate
the fleets Of the world, would make an adj
mirable naval station, and it forms one Of
the links in the chain Of direct commune
cation between Gibraltar and Egypt.
PASSIVE RESISTANCE.
AS to any instruction at the present
time in Crete, unless the Porte should acl
with the greatest imprudence, there Is III
tie fear OF anything beyond passive resist
ance, as Greece does not wish an out
break to occur just now, and withholds
the means. The principal Cream chief:
are now at Athens, kept there by the
Government, and without their presence
In the island no great movement could TAKE
place. At tue same time the mood and
temper OF the people Is clearly shown by
the recent kilograms that have arrived here
from Canea, dispatches sent directly TO the
Sultan and the foreign embassies, inform
inc ali those whom il concerned that tho
establishment OF an Ottoman Governor or
the island would be resisted by force. Ii
face OF such an outspoken resolve The
Porte has had to think twice OF Tho
appointment OF Hall Rifaat Pacha, and
the EXPLANATION now given OF his re-
por.ed nomination to the Goyernorship o.
Crete is that he had merely made an officia
applicntion for the post, which the Port
had naturally to take into consideration.
cnrious circumstance In connection will
this affair Is that the embassy dispatches
above referred to were detained three day
at the telegraph-office in order to afford tn
Sultan's Government time 10 shuttle out o
the position created by this attempt to re
place Photiadis Pacha by Mussulman
Ministerial councils were held from satur
day last until Monday, and not until IL hat
been finally decided TO renew Photiadi
Pacba's powers were the said delayed tele
grams allowed 10 reach their destination.