The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-03
THE CRISIS NEARING.

people going to do about it?
THE CRISIS NEARING.
Each days events point more clearly
to the inevitable crisis now maturing
in the far East. One wonders at the
persistence with which European pow
ers cling to their out-worn theory
when he sees how clearly the policy
which they have adopted leads, not to
the consummation, but to the destruc-
ton Of their hope Of peace. Turkey
is the ugly ulcer on the body Of Eu-
rope, which can be treated successful
ly, not with the poultices and ONT
ments Of diplomatic agreements, but
with the sharp knife Of excelsior. At
every step Of the advance Of affairs
recently in Armenia. and in Greece it
has been apparent that the concert OF
the powers must lead to further out
breaks and a more momentous dis
turbance Of the peace. It was irnpos-
s1ble that the outrages Of the Turk
upon the Christian should be toler-
ated and he not be encouraged t.
repeat them. It was impossible that
the warships Of the Christian nations
should fire upon a Christian popuIa--
ton, and plant the emblem of the Mos
lem upon the heights on which the flag
Of Greece had been shot away, without
stirring men to a fierce resistance
Of which they would not otherwise have
been capable. In one word, the I'M
holy alliance Of Europe in defense of
the accused rule Of Constantinople
has aggravated every symptom and
every danger that it was made to
cure. 1t has made the Turk believe
that he dare dream even Of an extern
sion of his power, and prepare him
self to add the whole Of Greece to his
dOminions. Remembering how these
people despise the 'fnfideI dog" and the
horrible deeds they have done with
immunity, it would be strange indeel
did they not feel sure by this time
that any conquering advance which
they might choose to make would b.,
unresisted by the rest Of Europe
The people of Greece, on the other
hand, are as sure Of the sympathy
of the other nations as they are Of the
opposition Of emperors and diplomats
They are confident that the Turk will
not be permitted to exterminate them
and are ready for a formal declara-
ton of war the moment the blockade
Of Crete is extended to the main land
Thus Greece and Turkey are ready
to fly at each others threats upon a
moments warning. Each day the
probability of a death grapple grows
greater, and each is stimulated to long
for 1T by firm belief that the strength
Of Europe is upon its side. In such
situation, with the agreement of the
powers the superficial and hating
thing that we know 1t to be. q crisis
must surely come. The mere proba-
btlity of real war, of a struggle be-
tween Turkey and Greece that must
involve the greater part of Europe
Is due to the hideous policy of non
Intervention. Europe has sought
cOwardly and bloody peace and finds
that her weak tolerance Of crime. for
the sake of safety, makes an open
way to the very event that she has
so dreaded and sought to Illustrate.
There seems now no way possible
to clear away the clouds that hang
over the Orient and to restore pacific
conditions but by that explosion which
has been awaited so long and with
such apprehension by the powers. 1t
cannot come too soon. The crisis that
is to blot Turkey from the map Of
Europe has been already too long de-
layed. The event will be worth all
that it costs. And men everywhere
who have not lost the instincts Of hu-
mainly will watch and pray for the
CONFUSION that brings freedom to the
victims Of centuries Of oppressors' lust.
knowing that whatever price the peace
Of Europe must pay for it has been
earned by the frightful cruelty and
criminal timidity Of the nations of Eu-
rope, who could have put an
end to the Eastern question
at any moment when they
were ready to place envy and jealousy
and the greed of power and the bond
holders hankering for gain behind