Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-10
THE CASE OF GREECE.

the Grecian difficulty is one that it Is
not difficult to understand, even at this
distance. Greece is an independent power,
and there is no nation to which she owes
tribute. Robbed by the Turk of some OF
her fairest territory and most thrifty pop
ulation, she has for a half century been
struggling to regain her own So right
eous are her claims that two distinct con-
ferences Of European powers awarded her
the return Of great portion of the alb
stracted territory, by establishing a new
frontier line. But the conferences unfor-
tunateiy left the award in such position
that unless Turkey consented to the new
boundary the Judgment would fail for want
of due execution. OF course Turkey de.
clined in both cases to accede A thirc
conference was thereupon called ard fxet
another frontier line, but which made sucl
meager restitution to Greece that she re
fused, while Turkey accepted For the
establishment of the earlier award mad,
by the Berlin conference QS7S) Greece
now makes the threat of war France ha,
from the outset stood by the justice of this
claim, and would if she dared, give Greece
active assistance in preferring it, but she
has reason, from fear of both Italy and
Germany, to refrain from doing more than
expressing her. sympathy. England and
the German States oppose any armed con.
fiict between Greece and Turkey, because
1t would open the door for general strip.
ping of Turkey of the possessions she has
wrongfullv and forcibly taken, and posi-.
bly, might drive the Turk out of Europe
wholly, in which event the Germans and
English would suffer serious poeket-loss
and Russia would advance her front south
ward to the utmost limit, and thus flank
Germany in the reconstruction of the Eu.
ropean map. Russia secretly promotes the
belilgerency of Greece, and nothing lust
now pleases that great power so much a:
30 see the Hellenic State massing he,
FORCES along the line OF the contested terri
tory. Several of the smaller states under
tribute to the Porte are solicitous for the
opportunity to strike for freedom from
the rule of the Turk. In this situation
Greece has no hope Of success in the field
since Turkey can overwhelm any force she
can array, but to do so will so weaken her
1hat She viii be liable to be preyed upon
by Russia on the north. On this, and on
the disposition of Slavic states to seize the
opportunity to disrupt Turkish power
"reeee depends. The Turkish reliance is
IN the Intervention of Germany and Eng.
land. Austria will probably be found co.
operating with the latter, under species
OF coercion. At heart she would be pleased
with the threatened breaking up of the
Turk, believing herself strong enough to
hold the territories she has wrenched from
tie Turkish grasp 1t NAV be readily
understood, therefore, how much was
m amt by the recently expressed fear that
the attitude of Greece might set all Eu-
rope by the ears. Greece, it is not prob.
able, expects active hostilities to begin
The dispatches of to-day say that her Gov
ernment disavows intention to fall upon
the Turkish line massed upon the frontier
1t is claimed that She is pushing forces to
the front simply to assume defensive at
THU lie. What she really hopes for is a
fourth conference that will restore her a
gooily part of the disputed territory, and
couple the award with notice to Turkey
that she must accept it. The former
awards amounted to little more than apo-
lite advice as they made the acceptance
OF 1t wholly dependent upon the pleasure
OF the Turk. Most people on this side of
the Atlantic will want to see Greece win
We over here are very likely to favor the
under dog" and when we believe rs
Americans mostly do, that Greece is right
In her claim, and is preferring a cause that
reflects our own ideas of government, we
cannot restrain the open expression of q
desire for the success of the smaller and
weaker OF the parties to the present con-
tr)yersy.