from Bulgarian and Serb. There remains, however, another It is
no use shutting our eyes to this Hellenic question. It Christian stock, not less oppressed than any Sclav community, exists, and it is certain to be aggravated to an intolerable de- not less deserving of our sympathy, not less fitted to profit by gree, if it be not disposed of on the same footing as the ques- the opportunities of civilisation, and in addition, especially tion of Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria. The misgovern- calculated to act as a counterpoise to the inevitable increase ment in Thessaly, Epirus, and Macedonia is quite as horrible of Sclav power and Russian influence in the East. We as anywhere else, and even the alleviation of the condition of mean the Greeks, as well in the provinces still subject the Sclavic provinces will only deepen the wretchedness of the to the Turk as in independent Greece, and the former sec- Hellenic ones, if they are not called to share the general reform. tion of the Hellenic nation still more than the latter. Often All accounts agree that the grant of substantial autonomy of as we have referred to this subject, we recur to its considera- any kind to the Bulgarians and Bosnians will be followed once tion to-day with increased earnestness, and with the increased more by a great exodus of the Mahommedan inhabitants from conviction that interests of the highest kind, both for humanity the detested rule of Christian equality. Whither will these and England, are at stake along with the fate of the Hellenes. intractable Moslems betake themselves ? Whither, but to the Since last we treated of the agitation among the Greeks of provinces in which it will still be lawful to spit upon the Giaour enslaved and independent Greece, that agitation has vastly The fighting-men, the ex-Bashi-Bazouks, the ex-officials and ex- augmented. It is growing to a greater height and developing tortioners of the emancipated provinces will precipitate them- a more poignant intensity every day. It is leaving room for no selves on the miserable Greek provinces, which will then have other consideration among all who share the sufferings and the to bear the tenfold curse of Turkish barbarity and oppression hopes of the Hellenic kindred. It is an element of the Eastern just in proportion to the relief afforded to the Sclavic Christ- erroneously asserted here, but, by granting it under conditions Question which must be attended to somehow or other ; and for its extension in the event of no peace being made which what we have particularly to insist on is that the mode in Russia has already refused. The Pashas themselves are the which the Greek unrest and misery are treated by Europe is
second parties to the contract, and they can of course make nego- of the very first importance, not only to the Hellenes them- tiation endless ; and their present demand is, therefore, the old selves, but to this world-wide British Empire, which depends one in another form. As to self-government, they make no conces- upon so many contingencies for its prosperity, and which can- sion, except, it is rumoured, as regards Bosnia and the Herze- not dispense with any efficient ally against innumerable govina, and they are from their point of view probably in the jealousies and rivalries.
right. They know that with Bulgaria free or Russian, European It is very probable that the Tory Press, whose treatment of Turkey is untenable ; that the Greek question must instantly foreign affairs was stigmatised by a Conservative like the come to the front ; that they cannot keep Thessaly, Epirus, or Marquis of Bath as " idiotic," may seek to represent the Crete without enormous massacres, and that Europe will not bear agitation in Greece as artificial. Nothing can be farther from them. Hobart Pasha's fleet is very strong, and Greece is assumed the truth. The " agitation," if it may be called by that here to be very weak ; but if one ironclad goes into the air inadequate name, began eighteen months ago, in the provinces over a torpedo, not a Turk will fight on board ship again. of European Turkey ravaged by the same brutality which has The great probability is that the Pashas will think the wrought such horrors in Bulgaria. It increased as the increase chances of war, on the whole, rather better than the chances of Moslem fanaticism and Turkish deficits incited the Ma- of such a peace ; and when they can amuse their enemies no hommedan authorities to sanction every crime which could longer, will either set their backs to the wall, or, throwing up break Christian spirit, and every exaction which could feed the the game, accept Russia as their direct and avowed master and famine in the exchequer. The importation of Circassian
protector. And of the two the former is the more probable, for immigrants intensified the wretchedness of the people, and the
many reasons, one of which, to do the Turks justice, is that it exasperation and despair extended themselves to the border will best preserve their self-respect. Their vices are the vices districts of independent Greece. So far from the politicians of tyrants, not of slaves ; and they have never skulked from of Athens encouraging the agitation, they persistently dis- fighting in defence of the only thing they really value,— couraged it till they had brought themselves very near the the ascendancy of their caste. People say, without thinking, verge of a revolution, in consequence of the popular dissatisfac- it is the ascendancy of their creed, but to that the modern tion at the laissez-faire strategy of the Ministry. Of course history of Arabia, a history of incessant revolt and repeated the Ministry at Athens were not really indifferent to the misery subjugation by the Ottoman, is a sufficient reply. We think, sub- of their compatriots under the Turkish yoke. They appear, ject always to the conceivable chance of a Turkish alliance with however, to have singularly over-estimated the value of certain Russia, that the Pashas will negotiate as long as anybody likes, assurances that Greece would have everything to gain, by not but will surrender no territory, and will make the very best fight following the example of those disorderly Sclays who had of it they can, trusting that if they lose, the terms they must been so wicked as to break the peace merely to put an end accept after defeat will scarcely be harder than the terms now somehow to unendurable tyranny. The long-suffering of the offered for their acceptance. It will be a relief to them to part Greeks, politicians as well as people, has had to give way to the with their polish for a while, and stand out as they are, energetic force of natural sympathy and indignation. The most peaceful barbarians, who do not care about death, who can rule wherever classes in the realm, merchants, traders, professors, clergymen, courage will give rule, and whose pleasure in sovereignty is not in peasant proprietors, have become unanimous in the demand
administration " in the English sense, but in the exercise of un- that Greece also shall draw the sword against the Turkish restricted volition. They want to do as they like, for good or ravisher and destroyer. The Cabinet could not keep up the for evil, not to enjoy, as Mr. Disraeli, who sympathises entirely game of masterly inactivity an hour after the opening of the with them, has admirably put it, " that closely watched slavery Chambers. By a unanimous impulse, it has been determined which in this country is mocked with the name of power." to call out 60,000 soldiers, to levy a war-tax, and float a war- They may yield, but, in our judgment, they are far more likely loan. It may take some time for the Greeks to have their to fight, and supply one more illustration of the truth that a army ready, as the number of disciplined men in the kingdom, dynasty always obeys the law of its being. They came with including the standing army and gendarmerie and rural guards of the sword, they have ruled with the sword, and they will all kinds, does not exceed 30,000 men. Thousands of Greeks are, innumerable Greek sailors furnish the materials for a powerful privateer force, and there is, besides, the numerous and GREEK GRIEVANCES AND ENGLISH POLICY. desperate Hellenic population in Turkey itself. When the deputa-
fans. The bare imagination of such a state of things is horrible to contemplate, but what will the reality be ? It is no use disguising facts. The Greek provinces must obtain the liber- ties accorded to the Belays ; and if they have not—as they have not—a protector in Russia, they must have a protector in the British Empire. To abandon the Greeks to the fearful fate in store for them from an exclusive emancipation of the ScLsys, would be to secure beyond all possibility of doubt the heritage of Constantine for the heirs of Peter the Great. To foster and develope Hellenic freedom is to secure a certain ally in the East,—an ally who possesses all those advantages in naval stations which experts are now declaring indispensable to Great Britain.
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