Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-14
Constantine of Greece

i1CiNE worse men In the world and
there have been worse rulers than Con-
stantine of Greece. If he has misinternreted
tendencies and events and sought to sweep
pack the waves Of democracy's sea, these
were errors of the head rather than of the
heart. There is not much doubt that he
tried to do what was best, or what he thought
was best for the people to whom he had
been hero and an idol.
His course and policy were comprehensive,
even to those who thought that course and
that policy mschievous as well as mistaken
Ills early training had been largely under
Germanic influence. He had been educated
by tutors sent from the University of Leipsic.
He had married sister o. the Kaiser and
been frequent visitor at Potsdam and Berlin.
AT many maneuvers Of the German army he
had fmbibed Prussian military preiudices and
acquired just respect for Prussian military
prowess and preparedness
He had served with distinction in both
Balkan wars and had seen the territory of
Greece moro than doubled as a result of
these conflicts. He had seen also. however.
the death of 10000 Greek soldiers, the
wounding Of many thousands of others. some
or whom were permanently disabled and
the expenditure for war purposes, by coun-
try naturally poor, OF hundreds of millions
Of dollars
Greece had not had time to absorb her
conquests and pacify her new and in some
war broke on the world. Constantine al
ways insisted that the treaty of alliance with
Serbia bound Greece to go to her defense
only in the event that Serbia was attacked
by one of the Balkan states, and the treaty
is capable of this construction. Held back
by his German wife. throtted in judgment
by prepossessions acquired in youth, and re-
memberng the poverty and recent sacrifices
or his people, Constantine declined to rush
into the fray, unless the allies would assure
him territorial compensations in the Aegean
and in Asia Minor. While Turkey hesitated
tho allies could not. or would not, give these
assurances. and after Turkey had cast her
lot with the central powers, the interests of
Italy had still to be considered In the
Aegean and along the southern and eastern
coast of the Mediterranean these Italian in
terests conflcted with Grecian ambitions, and
again Constantine was denied the price he
asked for the abandonment of neutrality
Surely there Is something to be said for
him. He had the fate of Serbia and of Bel
GUM before his eyes, and he could salye
his conscience with determination to avoid
repetition OF that fate for his own people.
But there were higher issues at stake than
tho Immediate welfare of Greece. The hap
piness, tho safety and the liberty of man
kind were involved. Democracy fought for
its own vndication and it's own existence.
The great brain OF Venizelos one of the
aDlest OF modern statesmen, perceived these
essential Verltles and grasped Greece's COM
polling duty. 1t was not time for sauab-
bling over differences or for haggling over
compensations. That human liberty which
had its nativity in the Greece of antiquity
called aloud TO the Greece of to-day, and
with Constantine in power the call was in
vain Nenizclos and IL people, 1t has be-
come evident, did not fail to hear.
Constantine was out OF touch with his
SUBJECTS not only, but out OF touch with his
time. Tho inhexibe logic Of necessity de-
manded his abdication. With another ruler
on tho throne and purpose In the
government. it is not too much to expect
such change in the situation on the Mace
DOMAIN front as will WELD important in
fuence on the whole conduct and issue of
| the war.