Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-24
THAT ckETAN INsuRREcrIoN.

The dispatches almost daily contain
some announcement regarding the insur.
rection in Crete, and an epitomizing Of
the facts mayinterest some of THE MINER
readers.
The little island of Crete, lying south
of the Egean sea, apparently is prepar-
ing to make history again. Though its
population Is hess than 100000 people,
there is not In the whole Mediterranean
another island richer in historic treas
ure, Sicily, possibly, excepted. The Gre
tans OF antiquity, who were a mixed peo-
pie Of Greek origin, claimed that their
island was the birthplace of Zeus and all
other deities considered of any account.
They established a well-earned reputa-
ton as law makers, politicians, sea farers
and pirates. Minos, the wisest of ancient
rulers, was a King of Crete, and as navi-
gators and traders, the Cretans at an
early age were the only powerful compe-
titors of the Ph0enicians.
Passing successfully through the hands
OF the Romans, the Saracens, the Greeks
and Venetians, the island was finally ab-
sorbed by the Turkish empire after the
fall Of Constantinople. The Turks have
since held possession, but the Cretans,
who have maintained their national
traits through the shifting vicissitudes
OF centuries, have caused their masters
no end Of trouble.
They long to be united. politically,
with the Greeks, and have engaged in
numberless revolts to attain this end.
The most. serious in recent years oc-
CURED in 1856, after the suppression of
which the Porte found it prudent to
make such concessions that Crete is prac-
ticallya self-governed country in every
thing but the name. The head of the
executive department is a governor, ap-
pointed by the Sultan, but his power is
limited, and generally exercised accord
ing to the will of the majority.
The object of the present revolt, re-
marks the Minneapolis Tribune" is an
nexation to Greece; but the immediate
cause Of the trouble can be traced to a
wrangie about "spoils" attendant upon
the victory of the Liberals at the cleo
tion which occurred a few months ago.
The disturbances have assumed such
threatening proportions that the indo-
lent Turkish government has had to re-
sort to extraordinary measures. A COM
mission consisting Of two Mohammedans,
two Christians and two Insurgents, has
been appointed to settle the troubles,
and several battalions of Turkish troops
have been sent to the island.
In the meantime the European powers
are closely watching the evolution of the
Cretan troubles. England, France, Italy,
Russia and Greece have dispatched war
ships to Crete to protect their respective
interests. Greece of course would as
lief annex this ancient seat of Greek
but under present circum-
has concluded to discourage in
surrection, ostensibly at least, as the
safer and more prudent policy.
Turkey has its hands full of trouble
now. The Albanians are restless
and on the verge ~Of-fevolt, Crete is in ,
open insurrection, and on the borders of ;
Armenia Russia has massed a large army
threatening ErzeranA 1t is reported ,
hat $1,000 Turkish reserves have been !
,alled out Ostensibly for the purpose of !
,eing sent to Greece. 1t took $4,000 .
Turkish troops to suppress the insurrec- t
Ion in Crete in 1866 when the popula- !
ion was much smaller than it is now. r
The calling under arms of SO large a 8
Orce indicates either that the insurrec- .
ion in Crete has become general through O
ut the island, or that it is considered t
robable that troops are needed for ac- q
lon In Albania or Armenia. n
In any event, the calling under arms r.
| 80 large a force of the reserves sug- 81
ests that something serious is the mat il
II with the sick man" beyond the ira u :
Ltional consumption Of apathy and 81
ldolence. d