The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-02
DARK DISASTERS
THREATEN GREECE

ATHENS, October 22.-How much
have recent events changed the face
of Greece? In the spring of 1896
was present at the first revival of
the Olympian games. Then there was
much talking-and the modern Greek
is good at talking-of the "regenera-
ton" of their tiny kingdom The next
year came the war with Turkey, cul-
minating in few brief weeks in the
cowardly rout of Domoko.
The situation was only saved by
the Intervention of the powers. But
the war cost Crown Prince Constan-
tine his rank as commander in chief
Then came the appointment of the
athletic Prince George as Harmost or
Crete and ideas of approaching union
with that island But the obligations
of Europe to Turkey were somehow
overlooked, as were the aspirations
of the Cretans toward independence.
In few brief months the sailor
Prince, once so popular, was forced to
abdicate this office. Following this
setback came the revolt in the army
and navy, led by the Ethinke, or Off
GERS League, and this all but cost the
King his crown. After forty years OF
struggle he is tolerated rather than
loved by this peculiar people. And now
comes the black cloud-as yet no big
ger than a mans hand-of a second
and far greater struggle with Turkey
and Roumania in alliance.
Bloodshed in Macedonia, revolt in
Crete, outbreak in Samos, discomfort
in Cyprus and mutinies in the services
then the threatened Armageddon!
Small wonder the nation is uneasy,
filled with discomfort and intrigue and
dominated by "rousphetia," the Turk
ish for graft" Little cause is there
in the city of the violet crown for re-
joicing now.
There are but two solutions to the
problem of regeneration, reform, re-
naissance, what you will, at the pres
ent time, and both must be applied if
Greece is not to be torn apart. The
first comes from without, and this only
the King, by his powerful connections
in Russia and England, can effect. The
second lies in the hands of M. Zaimis,
'the ancient fisherman of Aegina,"
with his small following of Moderates.
Truly the fate of this ancient state
rests on the knees of the gods.
Unfortunately for Greece, the recent
declaration of a constitution in Turkey
has been far from bringing a general
pacification and industrial incentive to
her people. The Young Turks appeared
to have thought it quite as easy to
build up a new government as to over
throw the old one. Both Greece and
Servia demonstrate that constitutional
government in the hands of a weak
monarch is altogether a meager reed
to lean upon. Roumania and Bulgaria
on the other hand, show that with a
strong sovereign constitutional gov.
facts necessary to showthat he is a
eminent may be the best form of con-
troll for the Balkan states. In all four
countries, however, the population is
practically homogeneous, while in Tur-
key there are many races, speaking
different languages, of divergent aims,
and two great and distinct religious
creeds. And the tyranny of the Sultan,
with its vast ramifications of espion-
age, is as rampant as ever under the
committee. Freedom of the press,
after a few days, has become non-ex-
istent, and the elections are a mock
cry.
Kiamil Pasha, the grand old man"
of Turkey, was not the ideal and en-
lightened statesman the foreign news
papers described him to be. Indeed,
while Vail of Smyrna, he was tainted
by every form of peculation and was
ever under the harmful domination of
his senegade son. Shefket Pasha has
immense influence, which, up to re-
Gently, was exerted toward peace. But
even he has at last tired of the Cretan
fquestion and lately has admitted that
it can only find its solution in the
sword Both Bulgaria and Roumania
would be pleased with war between
the Ottoman Empire and Greece. So
true is this that if the former state
had not formed a geographical buffer
between them and its southern neigh
Dor they would have been at each 9TH
er's ,throats long since. So isolated
is the Hellenic state that an offensive
alliance between the chief Balkan
states and Turkey would sign it's death
warrant In this lies the greatest dan.
ger. And such an alliance is on the
cards even now Also it is universal
ly believed that a secret offensive al
lance has been formed between the