New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-07
THE OUTLOOK IN CRETE.

News from Crete Is more sensational than
hopeful Indeed, Il contains little that Is hope
full, unless 1t be. the hope that Is born OF de-
spaIr Within fortnight there have been hal1
a dozen attempts at settlement Of the troubles,
not one Of which holds out the slightest prom
Use of success The latest Is OF all, perhaps, the
most OmnOus of further trouble Some little
time ago the Porte offered amnesty to all the
insurgents who would lay down their arms. "A
similar offer was made still longer ago by Cen
eraI Weyler in Cuba but we are not aware that
a single rebel took advantage OF 1t. III any ola,
they were probably murdered forthwith, ana
so have not since been heard OF. There Is no
reason to expect that the Cretans Will accept
the offer with any more alacrity. There Il no
reason why they should. A Turkish promise
is worth little moyc than a Spanish PROMISE
and the Greeks Of Crete are far too shrewd 10
receive II for one whit more than It's face value
Moreover however sincere the Porte might be
I'm promising safety. it would be unable to fulfil
its hedges 1t could not control It's own savage
soldiery Its garrisOns In Crete are now sum-
cient only to hold their ground against the
Greeks But once the latter were dlsarmed, the
troops would he like wolves in sheepfold, and
we should hear Of massacres comparable with
those of bulgaria and Armenia and the Ten
Years War In Cuba
Evidently the Porte Is seriously concerned
II has apponted a new Christian Governor
over the island. and has summoned n meeting
OF the Legislature. Whether the latter body
can be induced to come together at such bid
ding is doubtful That It Will, II 1t does meet
pursuc the policy the Turkish Government
would like is not for moment to be expected
MI
to disregard all overturcs made by the Gov
ernment even those made by their new Chris
tIan Governor, unless the reforms offered were
fully guaranteed by the Great Powers. Even
then they would probably commit themselves
with caution 10 any acceptance or TURKISH
offers. They have seen in Armenia what con
ccrts and guarantees Of the Great Powers are
worth. The latest report is that they have gone
SO far as to form a Provisional Government
and to declare annexation TO Greece That
would be logical disposition to make Of the
island. Geographically. historically and ethno-
graphically Crete belongs to Greece But there
Is slirht reason to suppose the Great Powers
will permit any such arrangement. They Will
be ten times more ready to interfere to prevent
il than they have been to remedy Turkish mis-
government That Russia will agree to 1t for
moment IL lnrOucPlNiDP, anu even huStid' I'LL
many respects the most benevolent Of them all.
has already indicated that such annexation
would be dispensing TO her
The one ray Of hope IS In the fact that the
Turkish Empire is more and more falling into
rrcmediable decay. There is no cOncealng
that. The Porte fouted all Europe last winter
I'm the case Of Armenia. But ii did so with the
desperation Of a dying man. II Is bolstered up
I'm its infamies by its no less brutal suzeran
Russia. Such support. however, will not be
permanent Russia is the champion and pro-
tector Of Turkey. not through any love for Tur
key. but for purely selfish reasons. When 1t
serves her purpose to make an end OF Turkish
rule she will do co. ruthless and unhesltatngly
Perhaps that will be little gain for humanity
The rule of the Holy Synod may be no more
humane than that Of the Porte But. at any
rate. II will be change. and even In mere
change from one form Of niquity to another
there Is sometimes some relief.