New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
sWAYED BY SECRET FORCES.
THE POLITICAL POWER OF THE OLD
WORLD SOCIETIES
KING GEORGE OF GREECE AT THE MERCY Or
THE HETAlRIA-NAPoLEoN AND The IAN
BoNARI-THE NIRILIsTs IN RUSSIA

BONARI-THE NIH1l.lSIS IN RISSia
OF all the factors in Old World politics there
are none that are more potent ana '"Po''a'
than the secret societies by which Europe As,"
and Africa are honeycombed. Relatively, niue
is known concerning them. but the solution OF
the present crisis in the Levant may pe sa'o
to depend entirely upon the wishes OF the uh
known leaders Of one OF these ORGANIZATIONS
who alone can determine whether King George
will remain on his tottering throne or oe''''.e
an exile from the land over which he has re'gheo'
but hardly ruled, for the last four-aho-'h''s
years For monarch Cabinet Assembly ana
army of Greece are all subject to the despo''S"'
OF the Ethnike Hetalria, the chief OF wh'eh -
generally believed TO reside at A1xandr'a' Wh.'e
some If its principal leaders have been es'ao'
lished for years here in the United states
1t is this society that has cCmpeIleo Nihs
Georsc 70 invade Turkish territory III Cre'e
without any previous declaration OF war asa',s.
the Sublime Porte. en- act which, from the po'''
n, view, Of international, law Is fully as I'M
justinable as the much decred TransVaa' 'ai"'
and It is the same association that precipitated
the trouble In the northern frontier OF "reeee'
when every nerve was being strained not Only
by The Great Powers but also by the Sultan ana
by King George himself TO avert hostlilties anu
10 bring about pacific settlement OF the Touoie'
the Crown Prince or "Dadokus. is manly que
"a the reluctance which lie manifested in ope!'hs
tho hchests Of the society 10 assume the o1eh-
.,r. and hasten TIE attack upon the FORCES uhuei
E6herl PaChe-a reluctance rhich was III ho
wise attributable 10 cowardce, as mas peeh as
serted but solely to the pressing remons'rahceS
on the par. OF his foreign relatives 10 aHo"
thor, time "a secure comprc misc in every re-
spcct honorable and satisfactory TO Greece
THE Army AND THE HETAIRIA.
Not only the major portion of the rank ana
file. hat lkewis, the create: part o. the corps
Of officers Of the Greet; Army are ahloted 70 Inc
uetalria and knowing the wishes and COM
nands of the society. they naturally reoeHeo
agairs; being KEEP. lack by the Crown frlnce'
and vented their anse" by charging nm VIII"
lacking couroge, an imp"t"uon when 'heE
communicated TO the foreign newspaper corre-
sponde-ts or tire spot. Discipline is not the
strong poin. Of the Greeks who are the most
nossiono,e. unruly. and above al. democratic
peoplc of Europe ard tho officers and men o.
,he regular army ended by joining in large num-
bers the gueril,as Who on their own account
were making raids into TURKISH territory Th!s
was Of course, more than the sultan couo
stand. lie prepared TO abstain from treat
ing acts Of ovcrhostility on the part OF the IT
regulars as a casus belli. and 10 look upon thelr
for.ys across his frontier as mere pieces OF
briganaage by irresponsible banditti. But the
moment that officers and soldiers OF the regular
Greek Army in full uniform took part IN the
raids, the latter assumed quite different as
pect. and Edhcm Pacha received orders from
Constantnople to assume the OFFENSIVE anu "
march upon the Crown Prince
II Is clear that, as soon as the moving spirits
of the Hetairla realized that the Greek Army
would be able TO make no definite stand against
the Turkish invaders. they decided TO withdraw
from the game. and to await more propitious
opportunity for attaining the aims winch they
had in view. being particularly disappointed AZ
the failure Of their undertaking to preclpltate
a general European war from which they had
expected to reap golden results This IS EVIL
dent from their neglect to play number OF vaiu-
able cards which they held in their hands. ana
which they would certainly have placed on the
table had they seen any chance or winning the
game. Thus. the European provinces Of Turkey.
as we'll as Servia, Bulgaria and even Rumana,
literally swarm with Greeks nearly all affiliated
10 the Hetairia and ready TO rise at mo-
ment's notice on receiving the word. This Wora
was never given, nor was any endeavoc made
by the Hetaira 20 avail itself OF the services OF
the several hundred thousand OF its members
who live at Constantinople and who are scat
tered throughout the various cities and seaports
of Asia Minor. At Vienna. Paris, Frankfort
and London some Of the leading flnanciers are
Greeks belonging to the Hetairia who. had they
been commanded might have worked wonders.
not only by means Of their local influence, but
also with their purses Yet not sign was given
10 them that their assistance was required In
the opinion of the Hetairia, it would have been a
useless waste Of excellent material which might
be found far more serviceable on another occa-
SION 1t being held necessary to secure some
one to bear the brunt Of the failure OF the enter
prise and Of the popular odium that followed
from the reverses sustained around Larissa' the
Hetairia pitched upon the Crown Prince and
branded him a coward for not having assumed
the offensive frors the very outset. and like
wise abused the King for intrusting the army
70 INADEQUATE leadership Whether the society
in question decides to keep the present dynasty
on the throne or TO overturn 1t. remains to be
seen. 1t Will doubtless depend. to a great extent
upon the state Of public feeling. and be deter
mined by the question as 10 whether the people
stand IN need Of q scapegoat for the entire az
fair
KING GEORGES VAST WEALTH.
II would be useless to waste any undue SYM
oathy on King George II the Hetairia decides
10 turn him out For he has never really con-
sidered himself anything else than bird OF pas
sage at Athens regarding Copenhagen as his
real home. and 1t is there that he has built a
magnificent palace. where all his art treasures
and domestic belongings have been stored
Moreover, he has managed while at Athens TO
win an enormous fortune. He went there thirty
four years ago with ccarcely a cent in his pocket
his family being so poor that his sisters-the
present Dowager Empress Of Russia, the Prin
cess Of Wales and the Duchess Of Cumberland
were forced. through motives Of economy. to
hats nd
admit .dly one Of the wealthiest sovereigns OF
Europe; and inasmuch as his fortune has GER
tainly not been saved out Of his civil list. which
is so small that during the first twenty years OF
his reign the great Powers were induced In
sheer spirit OF commiseration to contribute