The Washington herald., 1910-10-16

ANONYMOUSLY routed, IN a manner -Shlcu-
/ lated 10 expose the Hellenic army 70 the
! derision OF the world. that Russia put
out her hand to stay the march OF the
victorious Ottoman troops on Athens,
and compelled ,the Porte 10 content itself
| with he extorti)n OF a war indemnity.
under which the Greek treasury is still
I staggering
If Greece's independence on that occa-
sion was preserved from snnihilation, #
was entirely due 10 the close ties OF re-
| lationship between her reigning house
and the other sovereign families OF
| Europe and likewise to popular sym
pathy abroad for King George, who had
| VIGOROUSLY been forced into the war with
| Turkey against his will Ia fact, be
would have abdcated at that time sooner
| than embark upon conflict for which his
| military and naval forces were in no
wise prepared. had II not been fOr the
pressure brought TO bear upon him by the
great powers to remain. convinced as
/ they were that his departure would be
| followed by anarchy at Athens.
Realized Nations Debt.
The more thoughtful people in Greece,
/ though there are not many OF them. real
! lied how much the nation owed him in
/ this connection. and urged him 10 take
/ advar tage of the situation, 10 suspend
the constitution. TO prorogue the Boule.
! or legislature. and. establishing himself
as a dictator 10 use his authority as
/ such 10 reorganize the army. the navy,
/ and 'he civil administration In a fash
! ion that legislative lntrigues and obstruc-
/ ton at Athens rendered impossible. For
/ The parliamentary nfe OF the country.
at any rate until year ago, was in the
hands Of corrupt political machines. who
! alteruated With one another IN office 10
/ plumber the treasury, and Of course the
! taxpayer. In fact, George was eurreat-
/ 81 10 adopt the same course as that OF
. the late Dom Carlos OF Portugal when
/ he ousted the two thieving political ma
chimes, the progressistas and the regen-
/ eradores and invested Jose France with
the powers OF dictator. 20 purge the ser
vice OF the state, and political life in
general, from the wholesale robbery that
was responsible for the economic ruin OF
his kingdom.
King George. however, declined 10 yield
| 10 this advice lie had sworn at the time
OF his election 20 the throne Of Greece TO
obey the constitution. and 10 rule IN ac-
cordsnce with its provisions. and he IN
tended 20 keep his pledge. Things went
on from bad 20 worse, until eighteen
months ago a number Of officers Of the
/ army organized a pronunciamento. and
seized the supreme power. establishing
IN office a cabinet OF their own compO-
sition. Their intentions at the outset eat
any rate, were good. Their object was
20 acsbmplish what the King. out of re-
spect for his pIghted word. had declined
20 do namely, 10 reform the entire adj
ministratioH and political system OF the
country. abOlishing abuses and cOrrup-
ton. Unfortunately they permitted per
sonal jealOusies and sentiments Of re-
venge for real or imagined sights to
bias their judgment; and among other
pieces Of high-handed desp0tism in which
they INDUCED was 20 force the cabinet
20 exact of the King the removal OF his
sons from their commands in the army
and in the navy.
Indeed the King was required % In
! sist that the crown prince and Prince
George should leave the country for a
time and reside abroad
Again King George who Is a man OF
large private fortune and no longer iu
the best Of health. wished 10 abdicate,
resenting bitterly the aftront placed upon
him by the military dictators And
again he yielded TO the urgent enreaties
OF the great powers that he would re-
main. English. French. and Russian men,
of-war lying almost permanently in the
harbor of Pireus in order 10 insure mis-
p safety. and that OF those of his family
who remained by his side
Military League Fails.
The Military League, devoid Of any
constructive power. failed 10 accomplish
any one of the many reforms which fl
had pledged itself 10 bring about, and in
course of time became an object of such
popular excavation. and so divided by IN
ternecine jealousies and selfish personal
ambitions that il came 10 grief When
IL saw itself doomed, il, however, had
the sense to realize that matters could
not remain as they were. or revert 70
what they had been. and accordingly en-
tered into an agreement with the prin-
clpal political leaders of the country 10
convoke a national or constituent as
sembly. for the revision OF a number OF
non-fundamental clauses Of the constitu-
ton, with the object OF rendering il more
workable This plan was agreed 10 by
the legislature, and the national assem-
bly, has been opened by the King and IS
now in session
Whether or not the assembly will be
permitted to accomplish its work de-
ponds upon the Turks, For if Greece is
once more a source Of profound concern
to all the great powers of Europe, il is
this time through no fault OF her own
The Young Turk party. which has been
in office since the overthrow Of Sultan
Abdul Hamid. confronted by growing
dissatisfaction in all parts of the en-
pire especially among the Moslem ele-
ment. has determined TO adopt the policy
10 which Bismarck had recourse when in
1870 he bound all the diSsident states OF
} the North German Confederation into
one solid and united empire by confront
ing them with a foreign foe. and by en-
barking them upon a war with France
OF all nations that the Porte could Sc
lect for AIN adversary. Greece is certain
ly the one that could offer the least re-
t, sstanCe. and that would afford the cas-
lest victory. Moreover. II the New Turk
party could manage 10 regain by force
OF arms some of the provinces formerly
subject to the Sublime Porte, and that
had been lost through the weakness OF
former Sultans. IL would have claim
. upon the good will OF all the Moslen
; population of the empire, which would "a
far to consolidate its tottering rule For
IL. IL