The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-03-27

habitants, the fact remains that its de-
iiauce Of Turkey and of MussuIman
fanaticIsm called to the attention of
the world the pusiIlanimity of the
great powers" which for years have
stood idly by while the suItan's min
ions massacred tens of thousands of
Christian men, women and children in
Armenia, Macedonia and other prov
inces. The invasion of Crete by the
soldiers of Greece has done more TO
impress upon Sultan Abdul IIamid the
uncertainty of his position than all the
collective notes" which have been left
at his palace by the ambassadors of the
powers. 1t has cowed the unspeakable
Turk TO such an extent that he is glad
TO have the marines Of Russia, Great
britain, Italy, France, Austria and Ger
many act as his police officers and medi-
ators-a proceeding which he would
have spurned few years ago Whether
Greece Is to receive any immediate ben
eft from its heroic and humanitarian
enterprise or not, the people Of Crete
win hereafter enjoy a measure Of free
dom equal to that granted few years
ago to their brethren in Bulgaria. And
eventually, it may be taken for grant
ed, the island will become an int"
gral part of the Hellenic kingdom.
The island of Crete, in which public
interest is centered just now, has an
area of about $500 square miles and a
population Of 27O,OOO Of whom 100000
Gre Christians. 1t has been essentially
Greek for $500 years, AS early as 1000
b. c. the Dorilns founded a number of
independent republics on the island,
which were not conquered by the Ro-
mans until Ct b. c. In the partition of
the empire Crete fell to the east. 1t
was conquered by the Saracens in A.
D. S23, and reconqucred in 96l. When
Constantinople was captured by the
Crusaders the island was given to Bon
face, marquis of Montferrat, who, in
1904, sold it to the Nenetans who held |
II against the Turks until 1869, when all
but the mountaineers became subjects !
Of Turkey. instructions since then |
nave been frequent, and in 1880 the is !
land was ceded TO Egypt, but was re-
stored to Turkey in 1911. A general in
surrection broke out in 1855 and in 1866 |
he entire Christian population joined |
II an effort to throw off the Turkish .
yo>e. In 1865 the powers interviewed TO |
secure reforms and compelled the sui
an 10 grant new constitution, whose
however, were constantly
guored by the Turkish officials. An
,ther attempt to secure freedom and
to Greece was made in 1878,
,ut again frustrated by the iuterven-
ION of the powers. A clause was in-
erted in the treaty of Berlin promising
xtension Of the guarantees Of 1868
rhe Turkish representatives, prom
sed faithfully to carry out the re-
orms demanded, but the promises
we're only made TO be broken, and ever
ince 1880 the Cretans have struggled
or liberty,
1t is not generally understood that,
] measure, the warfare in Crete has
cen fratricidal struggle. The Turks
ever had much influence in the island
lcept perhaps 10 a few coast towns.
lost Of the fighting has been done by
le "Othomanoi," who are renegade
hristians. Three-fourths of the ma
We Cretans are communicates of the
reek church, the other fourth has en-
raced Mohammedanism. Historians
i've time and again pointed out the 5
onderful "adhesiveness" and fanati-
SIN of Moslemism, and to these must
attributed the success of the minori-
=. Religious reneEades are fierce and
tolerant, aud when these misguided
-etans were encouraged by their
Iiritual advisers to strike blows for
e prophet and their holy religion they
came tends who looked upon the
siruetion Of their brethren as work ei
saslDg p lie eyes ard uostrils Of q