New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
THE ORIENTAL QUESTION.
A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE GREEKS
AND THE TURKS POSITIONS
q q. W. BENJAMIN PROTESTS AGAINST UNJUST
FAVOR TO THE GREEKs-THE sITUA-

q q. ". BENJAMIN PROTESTS AGAINST UNJUST
FAVOR TO THE GREEKs-THE sITUA-
TON IN CRETE.
Lord Salisbury, on the 18th inst, administered
rebuke to the one hundred members Of the House
OF Commons who sent encouraging address to
Greece. This timely admoniton shines like CLEAN
OF common-sense through the clouds Of indiscrimi-
nate denunciation and reckless sympathy that have
Tor years obfuscated the people and the lawgivers
OF Christendom He says of the Commoners: They
are guilty OF the blood which has been shed In
consequence Of the false calculations generated In
the minds Of those they affected to support" Sym
pathy is noble quality when 1t is bestowed on
the deserving, is free of prejudice, is based on jus
tice. does not infringe existing rights and princi-
PIES and Is uncontaminated with Interior motives
OF selfinterest and gain. How far does the recent
sympathy exhibited toward the Cubans the Ar
merians and the Greeks possess this pure and ex-
allied character? Leaving for others to analyZe the
merits of the first. prepared TO assert that In
the two latter cases the sympathy Of the Christian
peoples has been sincere but blind, through igno-
of the facts. and because grossly prejudiced
by the msapplica ton of the fetch words Chris
tian' and Liberty" But. on the other hand, the
rulers and lawgivers of Europe and America can
not be wholly acquitted of being actuated by many
other motives besides an unprecedented and Christ
like love for the suffering for the spread or
freedom. When no worse reason can be alleged
often led to indiscreet action by the fear of or
pressure by their constituencies or lack Of wisdom
or Of knowledge of facts such MS should be justly
expected Of those who have superior means OF
knowing and greater responsibility for whatever
public action they initiate.
Take the case Of Crete. II is popularity assumed
that until the Turks appeared on the island II
was peaceful and free. What are the facts? Dur
ing their early independence the Cretans then-
selves preferred TO be divided into many smah
communities, almost constantly at war with e'9
other. Then the Romans seized Crete, two 'hou-
sand years ago, and from that day 10 this II mas
been subject to one power or another Inc Nehe-
+ians were for four hundred years terripie OPP
pressors of Crete although Christians IL was ho'
until 1863 that Turkey drove out the Neneuans' anu
their sway was a decided improvement on that OF
Christian Venice. From motives OF sef-interest'
r.,he- than persecution nearly half the population
embraced Islamism. AS result. the relations OF
the Turks and the Mahometan and tho Christlan
Cretans have been so intimate tina: 1t was Jokingly
said the Cretan Mahometans swore Christian oaths'
whence the local proverb: Are you TURK,
Mustapha? Yes. swear by the Holy Virgin that
am a Turk
THE TURKS LARGELY OUTNUMBERED.
AZ n-ese,t the Christians outnumber the Turks
and Cretan Mahometans probably six 10 one. The
Turks have never seriously oppressed the pros
pered Cretans and for years have allowed 'hein
Governor Of Greek origin and faith
During the Greek war for independence the Gre
tans naturally shared in the contest. Many heroic
deeds were shown both sides In one case AT
least the Turks exhibited magnanimity surprs-
ing to some who are prejudlced against them MUS
tafa Pacha, after a terrific battle OUTSIDE OF the
walls drove the Greeks into Franko Castello' ana
forced them to captulate. He not only agreed tha'
they should go off under parole, but restored to
them their arms and even their prisoners. ordered
tis men 10 assist the wounded TO the boats, ana
provided them with abundant provisions Tor their
voyage 10 Loutr6. To cap the Climax huhpe'
of his army placed themselves In the hands OF
the Greeks hostages Tor the lulIiiheH' Va '
terms of the surrender.
r,a Cretans at one time during that war had
A. IN their power TO secure their lhoepehu-
ence; they entrapped and surrounded tie
Turkish army in mountain Naley WIFI
on, water and provisions. The Turkish com
wander well aware Of the Cretan ohesoe'er, de-
y,sed 6 plan of escape worthy OF the great hai,Ni
hol tho shrevdest of generals. Calling council OF
war the Turk told his captains they must ei'her
surrender or abandon their baggage 20 Ireek GU
,,,ditv They decided on the latter Dazzieu ny 'ie
snou living loose before their eyes the Cretans
quietly allowed the enemy 10 escape for d IL"
miserable dollars apiece they sold the
,ho+ was IN their grasp. Such opportunities rarely
hennen twice in the lives Of men or the history Oh
nations After the Greek revolution the Cre'ahs
cool, 10 piracy being fierce as the Turks are re-
norted to be and more treacherous and preda-
tory If
- cre,an nrates OF old. and II took combined
rruronean feet TO put down these modern pirates
OF Crete ~
Since that event the turbulence OF the Cretans
has been stimulated by emissaries ana arms from
GREECE The pretext of the latter has been SYM
nathy with their oppressed Christian brethren
., C,re,e The real reason the desire OF
,he Greeks 10 hasten the union OF the va
r,ous branches Of the Greek race under one
pan-Hellenic Government, with Cohs'ah'hiope'
perhaps. for its ultimate capital. Such union
never existed in ancient times. nor is there
anv pressing necessity for 1t now In the
gradual ethnic evolution Of the ages such union
Is not unlikely to come, but during TINS eVo'u"o'i
neither the Greeks Christians al large are
justified in singing out the Turks for indlscrin-
mate abuse The Turks are not the only power
81 whom the Greeks have been subject, ana they
are far from being the worst
This Pan-Hellenic movement Is interesting, there
fore from philosophic point of view put the oe-
mand on the sympathy OF Christendofn IN coi'ec-
lion with X has been overdonc. There Is no es-
pecial call for the Cabinets. the Legislatures or
Tho nress OF Europe and America 10 go into fits
over the matter to pass hystercal or incehdiary
resolutions or TO place in Jeopardy the far more
tmportant peace Of Il world mat Is 100 oiteh ana
needlessly agtated. The temporary solution OF the
question by granting the autonomy OF Crete Will
y. o gr,evous disappontmcnt to the Greeks What
thew are really seeking is the enlargement OF the
boundaries of the Greek Kingdom The ruling pas
sion OF the Greeks is patriotism that WIN 100
many is mere national vanity combined with a
fanatic love for their creed. The two are prac-
tically synonymous in the Modern Greek Hihu'
This Identification o. Church and State Is an an
schronism in the mos, advanced civilization.
AN UNPREJUDICED OBSERVER
Az the son OF an American missionary and born
IN Greece and twenty-five years resident or
various parts Of Greece. Turkey and Persia AT
different intervals studying alternately with Greek
and Turkish masters, the writer has no prejudice
against any OF these people He Is equally ready