New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
TIE STERN QUESTION.

Much space Is devoted in another part OF to-
DAVIS Tribune to detailed calculation OF what
is commonly and somewhat vaguely termed the
Eastern Question. A succinct but sufficiently
comprehensive history Of the Ottoman Power in
Europe Is given. together with an account OF It's
present International status and Of the relations
and designs Of the Great Powers toward 1t. The
reader will be reminded that for more than n
hundred years the partition OF European Turkey
has been contemplated. and that 1t has repeated
ly been attempted. while for more than fifty
years the Empire has been regarded as existing
only on sufferance Of the Powers and under
their tutelage. That their control has, on the
whole, been wise and benefcent does not ap-
pear. 1t has. on the contrary, been so marked
with blundcrs. if not worse, that upon those who
have exercd It must rest the blame for the last
half-century OF Turkish misrule Lord Sails
bury has confessed that Great Britain made n
mighty mistake in not agreeing to the Russian
Emperor's proposal for winding up the affairs
Of the Porte half century ago 1t is TO be
hoped no such bunder will be made by any
Power ut the present time.
Our columns also tell the story Of the origin,
nature and purpose CT the revolution in Crete.
1t had its rise through the conduct Of the Pow
ers, which forced the island back under the
Turkish yoke, and then repudlated their pledges
to insure It n reformed and decent admlnistra-
tlOn. 1t Is simply a revolt against ntoerabe
abuses, and its aim Is the securing Of good gov
eminent and the natural reunion Of the insular
with the peninsular Greek race. The simple
story is its own ample argument and applica-
ton. There Is not one single consideration that
Is worthy to have force that does not Justify the
demands Of the Cretans and the Greeks, and
make for the granting of them. Every general
argument that has ever been advanced for Home
Rule in Ireland, for the rescue Of Armenia, for
the liberation Of Cuba, Is equally potent for the
reunion Of Crete with Greece.
A third, and by no means least interesting.
division OF the matter Is given to Macedonia,
the "lumber-r room Of Europe" in which 1t may
be that the chief struggle will occur. That in
definite region Is depicted n vertable mo
mans land" to which. however, all men lay
claim. Serb and Bulgar, Russ and Greek, all
have their eyes upon 1t and are preparing to
struggle for possession Of It, while Turkey, of
course. still clings TO 1t and proposes TO make
1t the base OF operations in her last desperate
war, and Austria-lIungary stands by, silent but
thither and extend the borders Of Novi Bazaar
to the Gulf Of Salonica. 1t seems indeed the
spot upon which the crux of the whole situation
rests.
Recalling the recent confidential and some
what mysterious visit of the King OF the Hell
lenes TO the Austrian Kaiser M Vienna, and OBJ
serving the enigma cally non-committal atti-
tude of the Dual Realm at the present juncture
when every other Government Is speaking out
with emphasis, one cannot help wondering If
Australia Hungary Is secretly backing Greece and
Is preparing n grand stroke which will give her
Salonica and protect Greece from a Turkish in
vason of Thessaly. II Austria should take half
Of Macedonia, and bid Greece and Montenegro
partition Albania between them, who would OBJ
would be Joy unailoyed Not Great Britain. to
whom It would be far preferable to seizure Of
the whole land by Russia. Not France, whose
sympathies are with Greece. and whose lien
upon Syria would then be forcclosed Not in
deed, Russia herself, since she could then seize
Constantinoplc and all Of Thrace down to her
present holding ut Mount Athos. Germany alone
might be displeased. But Germany has too long
played the two-faced marplot for her feelings TO
be seriously regarded. Certainly she would not
go TO war against all the others to prevent such
a natural and generally satisfactory solution of
the perplexing Eastern Question.