and stories of these gods and goddesses have become household words to us.
Mount Olympus, as we have said, was supposed to be the dwelling-place of the gods. It was there that the great Jupiter was supposed to hold his court and rule the destinies of men.
To every one who has studied mythology, as the history of the heathen gods and goddesses is called, Mount Olympus is an object of the greatest interest; and if this is the case with foreigners, how much more must this mountain be venerated by the people whose whole history is connected with its rocky masses.
The Greeks love Mount Olympus. They feel that it is their very own property, and much of their discontent against the Turks is that it is no longer on Greek soil, no longer a part of Greece, but belongs to the hated Turk.
It is curious that the two mountains most sacred to the Greeks should be on Turkish soil. Mount Ida, the birthplace of Jupiter, is in Crete.
It must have been a proud moment for the Greeks when they saw their beloved flag waving over Mount Olympus.
The Turks are, of course, extremely indignant over these various raids, and insist that they were made by regular soldiers of the Greek army.
This King George denies, and be reminds the Turks of the warning he has given them.
The Turks refuse to believe him. They insist that the invaders were led by Greek soldiers, and declare very positively that they know for a fact that the "brigands" were trying to arouse the people of Macedonia, and that if they succeeded, the Greek army would join in and help; and that if, on the other hand, the "brigands" were defeated and obliged to flee, the Greek army was to support them and save them from being put to flight.
They say also that this is really declaring war on them.
The Powers, highly indignant at this new state of affairs, are once more threatening a blockade of Greece, and have said that they will not allow either to keep any lands gained by the sword. This announcement has been a check to both countries, for they can see no use in fighting, and losing men and money, if they are to gain nothing by it in the end.
In the mean while, the fighting continues on the frontier between the Turks and the "brigands," and every moment it is expected that war will be declared, and all its horrors will overshadow Europe.
The Greek Ambassador has taken formal leave of the Turkish officials, and is waiting orders to return to his own country. The Sultan, on his side, has sent the necessary orders to the various ministers and consuls in Greece to return to Turkey.
This, as we have before explained, means the end of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The situation in Cuba is not very much changed.
There have been two important Cuban victories in Pinar del Rio, the province Weyler declared to be entirely pacified.
In the first the Cubans routed the Spanish forces, and captured some ammunition, of which they were badly in need.
In the second they conquered the town of Bahia Honda, a seaport about sixty miles from Havana, and after taking possession of all that was valuable in it, set it on fire and completely destroyed it.
Two important filibustering parties have been landed, and the Cubans are stronger than ever in numbers and arms, and more hopeful of success.
But the war still lingers on. What advantages are gained are of very small importance, and the rest of the world is looking on while lives are being thrown away in a struggle that seems as if it would linger on until the once beautiful island of Cuba becomes a desolate waste of ruined towns and barren fields.
It seems as if some friend ought to step between the two warring countries, and try to bring about an understanding between them.
There seems to be a chance that the United States may be that friend.
It has been felt that our rulers were too friendly to Spain, and that in preventing the filibustering expeditions from leaving our shores, they were in truth doing police duty for Spain, and helping her, contrary to the wishes of the country, which is in sympathy with Cuba.
In the case of General Rivera this can no longer be said.
When it was learned that the General was not to be treated as an honorable soldier and held as a prisoner of war, but was to be tried by a drumhead court-martial and shot as a rebel, the Senate immediately took action in his behalf.
A drumhead court-martial is a hurried trial held in camp. It is used in the case of spies or deserters, or for soldiers who have committed some disgraceful act which is best disposed of at once.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, offered a resolution, declaring it the duty of the President to protest to the Spanish Government against such a violation of the rules of civilized warfare.
The resolution was passed, and much to every one's satisfaction, twenty-four hours after, Senator Sherman, the Secretary of State, had the pleasure of announcing that the Spaniards had decided not to hold any drumhead court-martial, but to keep General Rivera as a prisoner of war.
This means that he will not be shot, but will be held by the Spaniards until the end of the war, or until they want to exchange him for a Spaniard of equal rank, who may happen to fall into the hands of the Cubans.
This prompt deference to the wishes of the Senate looks as if the Spaniards were ready to look at Cuban matters more fairly and calmly.
An offer from President McKinley to bring about an understanding between the two countries has been courteously received by the Spaniards, and though it has not been accepted as yet, it is a great step in the right direction that Spain is willing to receive the offer amicably.
In the mean while, there is a joint resolution before the Senate, offered by Senator Morgan, of Alabama. It is "that a state of war exists in Cuba, and that the United States shall accord belligerent rights in its ports and lands to both parties engaged in the struggle."
Senator Morgan has laid a great mass of evidence before the House, which shows that the Cubans have a government which is in thorough working order, making laws, administering justice, carrying on a postal service, and maintaining a fine and well-organized army.
Under these circumstances, he claims that Cuba is not engaged in mere rioting and disturbance, but in an earnest warfare, a struggle for liberty, in which she should have the sympathy of other free nations, and be given by them the privileges of a nation at war.
If this resolution is passed, Cuba will be free to fit out a navy to help her in the struggle, and to buy in this country and ship all the arms she needs to carry on the war.
As we have said before, the Cubans believe that the passage of such a resolution would almost put an end to the war, for they could then land arms and men enough to crush the Spaniards without any difficulty.
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