New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-21
POLITICS IN GREECE.
DELIYANNIs AND HIS WEAK IMITATION
OF TRICOUPIS.
COUNTRY WITHOUT A sTATEsMAN-THE GREEK
METHOD OF voT1NG-THE OLYMPIC GAMES
IN THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AT CORINTH

tho varous archaeological discoveries, the agita-
ton Of the Eastern question, the new polltlcai
situation occasioned bv the death OF Trlcoupis
and. most recent Of ALL the Cretan insurrecuon
have combined TO offer one who has had the good
fortune to be here the most varied and ncessaht
supply Of what are ordinarily called topics OF
interest.
With the death Of Tricoups. Greek statesman
shin lost Its one strong man. He was eminently
a strong man. During his different office-hoid-
ing periods ne ruled Greece with an Iron hand
and during the interim periods 1t was his policy
as variously modified by his opponents that ap-
sorbed the chief political interest and dom-
mated the political thought Of the country. Del
iyannis the present Prime Minister. his leading
opponent has never shown himself capable OF
constructive political thought. AS Greek said
to me clevery the other day, the platforms Oh
the Deliyannis party have always been those
of Tricoupis with msprints. An Athenian comic
paper recently published article. accompanied
by cartoons. entitled. "Deliyannis's Dream IN
which the somnolent reflections of the Prime Min
lister were represented as running on alter thls
wise:
II have always done what Trcoupis has done;
he favored improvements. favored improve
ments; he opposed jlngoism. | became an anu
| 1lngolst etc. etc: now he has died, must die
Deliyannis has an overwhelming majority In
the Chamber and his lease Of power has the OUT
ward anpearance OF durability, but 1t 10 gen.
orally received opinion. find, among the we'll
informed that his Government could not last
month If any great issue or emergency shouiu
arise requiring determined and Intelligent treat
| ment The reason would be that the people nave
| LITTLE confidence in Deliyanniss ability to out
| line and enforce any definite policy. He Is a
| noliticiap pure and simple. He is embarrassed
by no principles and by scarcely any views on
any subject. He Is kindly, courteous ola gem
! tleman. and people generally Ike MIN. lie prom
,ses freely and with little sense Of responsibility
| about fulhlment Trcoupis was severe ana
comparatively unapproachable. in temperament
notably un-Greek Many people prefer Deiyan-
Mss method Of decevng them courteously. lie
! has many friends, and devoted ones, and by
| cIeverly framing and necessarily readjustng
| combnations OF self-interest he creates his ma
jority.
Politics in Greece are entirely on personal
basis Parties are purely personal. mere combi-
nations in support OF a certain leader. 1t mas
| therefore, been peculiarly interesting to see what
would become OF Tricoups's party after his
death AS. II has no distinctive programme
which Il could formulate, It would seem to have
lost all raison detre For the present. 1t Is held
together by loyalty to the memory OF the
great statesman. Forty-seven men, leading
members Of the party have recently signed
| an agreement TO act together until the IAN
| alect,ons for the Chamber are over. in the
| expectation that the course or events may
then select a leader. Many believe. how
ever that so soon as leader IS agreed upon.
djssension will ensue. This is likely to be the
case No one OF sufficient personality has yet
onneared within the party - assert natural
leadership
An election for the filing of a vacancy in the
Chamber was held in Attika week since and the
Tricoupis syndicate presented a candidate in the
person Of Mr.. Dragoums, one OF the foremost
citizens Of Athens. or the four candidates. he
rec.,v.d the second largest vote being beaten by
the Government candidate. Kalephronas. only
by about 800 votes in a poll of 34'Ooo Aside
from personal interest in the candidate the vote
was chiefly a direct tribute to the memory or
Tricoupis
The evsten, Of voting compels each voter to
express opinion separately on each candidate
He casts his VOTE small pebble like boys
marble In the box of each candidate. to the left
If he votes no. to the right II he votes yes. He
may vote yes on all or no on all. II he likes. In
the recent election there were about 5000 voters
and ~ 600 affirmative votes Therefore, as
! rule each voter voted for two of the candidates
| II seems to be a not uncommon method 10 vote
against one by voting yes" on all the others.
AT present there are three important parties or
personal factions in Greek politics, the Dehyan-
mis- party, the Tricoupis party and the Rails
marry Rails Is a leader OF ability. but lacks
tho renose OF temperament and the GOODNESS OF
head essential to successful leadership. NO one
but Deliyannis is, therefore. at present promi-
| nently in the lists In the absence OF great lead
ers and especially OF principles. the Kingship
ctr n :
He can overturn any Ministry. His influence
upon legislation Is very strong. He mas acquired
this influence by patiently awaiting his oppor-
unity. and by doing what he does through quiet
nersonal influence rather than publicly and Of
NcialIv The people and the press are continually
calling upon the King. strange to say, to inter-
| vene more actively In Governmental aNairs.
They do not know how much he does II they
did. they would probably not tolerate IT, Inc
King IS a plain. shrewd man. who understands
the Greek people and the peculiarities OF hiS
| position very we'll. He knows that he is under
| appointment here, or, as the Germans wouio say
"an1.stelt" as King, and he under takes to fuliil
the duties OF his office. He knows he is at the
head of the most democratic people OF Europe,
~ not OF the world and he is careful not TO mag
nifty his Office He has occasion to. His only
sollcitude must be that in the popular distrust
of the politicians his power may grow more
rapidly than is safe for him.
The absence OF parties based upon principles
tends to strengthen the throne Personal parties
are almost sure to dissolve with the death or their
leaders: the Royal family lives on. Definite
| principles supported by great parties tend by In
terpretation and extension Of the Constitution to
create entertainments upon the Royal power. 1t
Is not surprising therefore. that the Royal
family prefers the personal party to the platform
| party The triumph Of a platform party involves
a change Of policy and legislative reforms. Some
| thing must be done. The triumph OF personal
| IL, hr.in in q hndV OF ministers