The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-12
Elk Minister TO Greece-Professor of
Greek at the University.

Minister TO Greece-ProfesSOr of
Greek at the University.
ping the reading now and then to throw
light upon the subject by happy Incl
dent or historical fact. There wasn't a
dull lfne 1t 1t from the Beginning 1t was
"a well of English, undefiled." There
was but a passing reference to his ser
vice as Minister in a period of epoch
making, showing at once a delicacy and
a modesty most unusual in a returned
diplomat.
He discussed, all in less than an hour,
the history, the habits of the Hellenes,
their climate, agriculture, government,
art and civilization with q charm that
made every person in the audience re-
greet when the speaker had finished.
1t would please all our readers to have
the entire lecture. We give only space
for the close.
Referring to the recent war between
Greece and Turkey, DIR. Alexander said;
II wish that / felt free to speak to you
of the recent war between, Greece and
Turkey, and the causes which led to it.
But, if | should make public its inside
history, my successor at Athens, as
well as the Department of State, might
in some way be embarrassed, and
should run the risk of violating the
confidence Of the King and certain mem
bers of his cabinet, and my colleagues,
the representatives in Athens of the
Six Powers, all of whom talked freely
about it. But l may say that some
day, when all the facts are known, the
sympathy of the world will be with the
tireeks. even more than now. The war
was forced up0n Overwhelmingly
artfully, heartlessIy. They have been
made to snffer, merely in order that
certain of the Six Powers might adj
vance their own interests. So long as
affairs in the East are undisturbed.
there is little opportunity for doing that
but I'M time of disturbance. opportuni-
ties may easily be found. OF THE Six
Powers, three had something 10 gain
directly: another acted with them.
chiefly because she could not helm her.
self: the other two thought it the best
policy to remain in and act in unison
with the European concert, and thus
far, they have succeeded, by the wisest
diplomacy, in averting what, to one of
them at least, would be Il grave calam-
ity just at this moment the scene OF
action seems to have been transferred to
the farthest East: but the trouble be-
tween Greece and Turkey is no more
settled to-day than it was twenty five
years ago. The Cretan question, which
lies at the bottom of the whole matter
is still open. Apparently, it is not III
tended that it shall be closed until thu
object for which it has been open al
these years shall have been reached
The European powers have no love fol
each other. Each of them is watching
all the rest with jealous hatred. Thai
however, does not prevent them from
actlng together, and from going to any
extreme in doing it-even, as happened
on the 9th of February. 1897. to the
Smelling OF Christian church by their
united fleet, Mt Cannae in Crete.
How long the time of trouble fol
Greece is to last, lis uncertain. What
is to become of their country is uncer-
tain. The people are quick TO recover
but the wreck seems now to no almost
complete. AT best, their sufferings. al.
ready intense, must increase. And there
were in the country some months ago
2OO,OO refugees perhaps a fourth OF
these have now been sent back TO thei,
homes) from Crete, Thessaly. and
Epirus. fed chiefly by the government
which has little left to give them.
Greece can never. in the nature al
things. be great nation again; her time
Of greatness came thousands of wears
ago: her work for the world was donf
then-Eves yet. The country has. from
the beginning OF its new life, proved it