New-York tribune., 1910-03-07
TROERLEU GREECE.

Genius for government does not ap-
pear 10 he a characteristic of the Greek
race. In spite of Lycurgus and Solon
and Plato. and in spite of all the glory
that was Greece" il must be confessed
tEat liz classic days the peninsula was
generally scene of more or less politi-
cal turbulence. Surprising all contem-
poraries, if not also all predecessors and
successors. in philosophy. literature and
arl. and exhibiting a potency Of achieve
nent in peace and in war. in defence and
II aggression, in construction and in CON
| quest and destruction, Sucn as never has
been surpassed in comparable circum-
stances. ii fell far short of several other
nations of antiquity in the practical art
Ct government. To that weakness we
may. indeed. largely attribute the fall of
l1ellas; ii was the chief cause of By-
rOn's Encouragement in the cause to
which he gave his life. and as il was
mischievously conspicuous in King Otto's
stormy reign. SO still it persists in all its
ominouS force in the reign of King
George.
We are told that Mr. Dragoumis. tie
Prime Minister. has at last secured the
calling of a national assembly for the
revision of the constitution. and that it
will meet on September Il next We may
hope-though we cannot confidently eX-
pect-that this will give pause "a if it
does not entirely end the dangerous agi-
tdtion which has prevailed for the last
seven months, or since the coup d'ttat Of
the Military League on August - last. In
this time there have been four different
governments, and more than once A royal
abdiCatiOn has seemed imminent The
country has become thoroughly demor.
allied, economically as we'll as politically
and il is probably best, if not indeed i'm
perative, that a constitutional convention
shall be ca<ied. which will be empowered
to make any changes, even the most
revolutionary, in the form of govern
ment and in the fundamental law Of the
land. Yet the very traits and practices
which have made the assembly neces-
aary forbid us too confidently to expect
il 10 have the needed good results.
1t is now fOrty-eight wears since
Greece had national assembly. that of
1862 having been brought together to
frame the present constitution Of the
kingdom. That former assembly in
cluded delegates from Greek communi-
ties in France, England and other lands.
In this years, however, it is wisely de
cided 10 have-if p0ssible-nO such mem
bers, the reason for their exclusion being
that if the Greeks of Constantinople
London, Marseilles and New York were
permitted 10 send delegates. il would be
illogical and practically impossible 10
prevent tho in Crete from doing the
same: and Turkey has made il known
that the reception or Cretan delegates,in
the Greek Assembly would be reck0ned
cause for war. Whether it will be nossi.
bic for the assembly 10 enforce tnjs wise
rule is. however somewhat doubtful. for
The foremost moving spirit for the hold.
ing of the assembly is Mr. NeneZelos. the
iifc-eating tretan patriot and leader of
the Military League There is no doubt
that he has worked for The calling of the
assembly chiefly for the purpose of hay.
in. Crc1am delegates sent thither and
with tbo intention of compelling the re
tePtion aud seating Of them His nlsp
Is 10 exert the full power of the Military
League 90 thai end and to arouse 4
timult of patriotic for1or which will
force the assembly 10 receive the