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Star (Christchurch), Issue 6489, 16 May 1898, Page 3

In -LS2I the standard of a new the C'-'os-i? was raised in nation. Greet**"*, and the peasants flocked to the sacred banner Within a few weeks Morea was in revolt, and a great army of artisans and goat herds, of Klephts.of brigands and of pirates was ready to do batt ie for Hellas. A war of ten years left Un* country a scene o desolation. There is uo need to enter into .a description of thin war, one of the most bloody of mod'-m history, but there is one aspect that cm not be passed over lightly. It is to the everlasting discredit of European nations Unit, while most of them maintained a masterly inaction, two at least did not hesitate lo help the Turks in their barbarous uins.sai-res. The army of Turkey was well trainci and accustomed to fighting; it was to the miserable pea.sant iorce of Greece a 9 fifty to one in numbers, yet- the Greeks were bound to conquer. In Europe the "Holy Alliance" of Hns-ia, Prussia and Austria set its face a-,;ain_t revolution or rebellion, and poor >NreeL'e had the active force of three natious of Europe and the moral force of the others against her in her hour of trouble. Yet. in each country there was a small h uvl of men who could not stand by to see tin; country of Socrates of Leonidas, of Sappho, of Euripides, of Pindar — in v word, of the noblest band of singers and philosophers that ever a conntry could boa^t— trodden under foot by a race of barbarians*. It is to Canning, and to Canning alone, i I mt England owes her omission from the " Mack list " of nations. The part played by Myron was noble, in spite of the touch of melodrama, and his example was of greater use than his sword, but the credit of fhe European interference at this time was undoubtedly due to Canning. By 1860tlien Greece was once more conscious of herself as a nation, and she is even now preparing to stand alone as among the Great Ppjwers of Europe. The wisdom of her own rulers since 1830 has afforded a striking contrast to the blundering policy of tho Powers. The constitution set np by the natives was a model one ; it consisted of a limited monarchy ; it recognised freedom of citizenship, and . trial by jury; and it contained liberal provision for municipal government. The Powers, on v.- the other hand, set'- np as the first king a child of seventeen, to rule a conntry that needed the firmest of firm hands. The second attempt was not much better, and the most that can be said for either of the Georges is that they were "amiable." Moreover, the Powers, in " arranging" Greek finances, have kept Greece in a state of virtual bankruptcy. The rest of Greek history is too recent to need recital, but enough has been written to show that Greece has, in truth, suffered death and resurrection, and there remains now but to express the, hope .that her new life will be as glorious as .that of " Grsecia antiqua."