The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-25
An Ex-M!nlster to Greece Describes Tur.
keys Reign Of Terror In that Country.
A TERRIBLE RECORD OF BL00DSHED
Centuries Of Untold Rarbarities Cry
Aloud For Vengeance ON the I'm.
spenknbio THrk-CNl. A. Snow<tcu
ElOqBcntly Pictures the Condition
ofGreecc nj Turkeys Feet.


the Pennsylvania Legislature an ad-
dress on Turkey and Greece. that was
listened to by Il large audience besides
the assembled legislators. 1t is one Of
the most valuable contributions to the
literature dealing with the Eastern
question that we have seen. Colonel
Snowden said:
The Eastern question is not new one;
1t dates long anterior TO the Christian
era The invasion OF Greece by the
Persians and the subsequent invasion
and conquest Of Persia and Asia by
alexander the Great. and the Invading
Turk. who overthrow the Byzantum
Empire, In 1853. were all the logical out
come OF the never-ending contest be-
tween the two civilizations and reli-
gions Of the East and West. Since the
failure of the Turk to plant his victor
1ouS banners on the battlements of
Vienna, where he confronted the as
Semtled armies OF Europe, the tide of
Moslemlsm has gradually ebbed ana
ecDed. one province aid country after
another being released from Its yoke
until to-day European Turkey embra ces
but email portion Of valuable ter
rltory In Southeastern Europe, and from
tn Is she could be expelled into Asia Dy
concerted movement of the powers
without, perhaps, the firing or Z; single
gun. Thus we see the tide of conquest
from Asia to Europe and from Europe
to Asia. and its return to Europe, Gull
mlnat:ng in the fail Of Cons ,antinope
Dy the influx Of the hOrdeS Of the East
will be settled shortly by the triumph
OF Western civilization and Western
Ideas. 1t is in these last throes OF the
Ottoman Empire In Europe that the in
terest OF the world centres. Each Gov
eminent sees in It's pros pcctive over
throw an opportunity, II not for advan-
taGe to itself. an opportunity to pre-
vent advantage being derived by any
Of the other powers, Of which each and
all are jealous.
ALL EYES ON THE ORIENT.
All eyes are now especially turned to-
ward the East, and honest humanity
everywhere manifeStS sympathy with
the downtrndden Christians Of Armenia
and Crete and approval OF the heroic
stand taken by Greece In behalf OF their
brethren in blood and rclIs! on. When
we consider the accumulated wrongs
that have been inflicted Ior centuries by
the Mussulman upon the Christian
population within her jurisdiction we
are lost In amazement that they could
have been SO long tolerated by the great
civilized governments of Europe. Our
wonder Increases in these latter times,
When we contemplate the fact that with
In recent years the united action Of these
nations could have suppressed Armenian
persecution ana liberated Crete from
Turkish domination and permitted her
people TO unite themselves to their Hell
lenic brethren.
That this has not been done long ago
is due to the utter selfishness that has
controlled Europe for years and dictated
Its policy on the Eastern question. It
Is not the influence of Christian civli-
cation that mouldS this policy but lie al.
ous.y. fear and the greed OF power.
When the chron:cler of the future comes
TO write this dark chapter In the wrold's
History, If he hcsitatcs TO give the whole
truth. his ingenuity will be severely
taxed to ind an excuse for The rulers OF
the SIX great powers who have not only
failed to give supper, TO the suffering
Christian population Of Turkey, but in
this century has practically, by their
tmorous and time-serv!ng policy, en-
couraged the Sultan to permit if not in
stigate brutalitieS and wholesale muir
ders that have appalled, humanity, and
that stand unrvaled among the crimes
that darSen the pages OF history.
NERO'S ENCESSES RECALLED.
When as 4 lad I read the story Of
Nero's crimes and prosecutions Of the
helpless Christians--of the bloody con
flicts in the Coliseum. where gladiators
continue to the death; where noble
Christian men. including apostles,
fought with, and Christian women and
children were slaughtered by, wild
beasts. TO grace q Roman holy day, and
to crafty the lust for Blood Of men
more debased than the beasts in the
Illuminating single saturnala by
torches made of one thousand Christian
men and women, bound to stakes, COW
cred with oil and set on fire al his word
as read the pages Of Gibbon and other
historians recount.ng the atrocious
crimes against unoffending humanity,
marveled that there was not 4 single
man in court or camp or among that
vast throng Of suffering human beings
with courage enough to avengc earth
and heaven In the death OF the monster
whose lust for blood spared neither age
nor sex, nor mother, wife, nor brother.
The horror Of that reign of brutality
and blood has come with q shuddcr
down the ages. even to our time, and
will continue through all time In our
enlightened civilization, we were foolish
enough to believe that the age for the
persecution Of men. women and children
for Christ's sake had passed forever.
Alas for our time and our boosted civil
Zation, this Is not the case For. Willie
the crimes committed by Nero may ex-
ceed In barbaric atrocity, they do not
exceed In the number Of victims, those
who have suffered torture and death in
European Turkey within 4 Single year
tn this enlightened nineteenth century.
SOMD APPALLING FIGURES.
Tho evidence Of this fact Is clear and