The record-union., 1898-09-14
THE CRETAN PUZZLE.

In forming Judgment concerning the
it is essential to recall the conditions
under which the troubles have broken
out afresh. In the first place, it must
be borne in mind that the issue is
mainly racial-it is the old, old strug-
gle between races wholly impossible of
harmonious living together under one
form of government. Largely it is a
religious difficulty, the bitterness of
contest which is ever on between the
followers of the Crescent and the Cross.
This animosity in Crete is Of five nun
dred years standing. Less than two
years ago it resulted in an insurrection
in which Greece sought to intervene
with the intent of dispossessing the
Mohammedans, who are in the minority
of the population. The outcome of
that attempt was the war between
Greece and Turkey, in which the for
mer suffered swift and ignominious de-
feat, and the great Powers assumed
control Of Crete jointly, with the de-
clared intention of pacifying the island
and of instituting reforms satisfactory
to the mass Of the Cretans.
But no permanent ruler has as get
been selected The Government has
ever since been provisional. The act
ing Governors have been chosen from
among the native Cretans and from
Turks The present one is a cruel and
relentless Turkish General. Under
them the local officials have been part
ly Christians, but always men weak
enough to be the serviceable tools of
Turkey. At the same time the latter
has been permitted to maintain large
army in the island, and for that force
the Turk selected the worst elements
Of his armed men, Bashi-Bazouks'
Tartar cavalry and hill men, who think
no more of Sitting Christian throat
than Of sticking a pig. They have no
special regard either for the Turk,
though largely they are Mussuln.ans,
but in name only, their religious con-
victions being infinitesimal.
Under these conditions it Is easy to
understand that the native Cretans, In
whose veins the fires of independence
burn as they have for centuries, have
quite as strong hatred of the Powers
as they have for the Turkish mercena-
ries in their midst. The troops os the
Powers kept in Crete, and the aoets
Of these nations maintained in Cretan
waters, are looked upon as oppresso,s
and all men related to them are hated
accordingly, Notwithstanding the fact
that these are all Christians in the gem
eral sense.
The troops of the Powers have all
this time compelled the forces of the
Sultan TO herd in cities, forbidding them
to go into the country places at all.
This restriction has caused great bit
terness of feeling among the Mussul-
mans They insist that it is viola
ton of the pledge Of the Powers, and,
consequently, the agents Of the latter
find themselves as cordially hated by
the Turks as by the Cretans. The lat
ter despise them as oppressors, the
former hate them for the restraint put
upon them, claiming that while they
are restrained within the city walls
Cretans have been butchering people
of their faith in the country precincts,
which is true enough.
AS a result, anarchy prevails. To
the American the way out or sucn
trouble would seem easy and swift. The
American plan would be to expel the
Turks. who are not native to the soil,
permit the native Cretans TO establish
their independence and set up just
forms of government, with guaran-
tees to such Cretans as are followers
of the Prophet, and there are some
$4,000 of these of fair representation
and perfect immunity from persecu-
ton and wrong.
But the Powers hold themselves
bound to preserve the peace Of Europe
and keep the scales of the balance Of
power even, and to do this 1t is conceived
that the Turk must be surrounded by
the guards of each OF the great States.
that no one of them may make a meal
Of him. Hence his claims, those of
the mere freebooter upon Crete, must
be considered and conserved.