New-York tribune., 1868-04-24
CRETE.

Steinway Hall was well filed last evening,
occasion being meeting In aid Of the Masonic School
and Asylum Fund. Gratulla's seventh Regiment Band
Crete aud the Creaus" The following il the lecture In
Chief among the islands OF the Mediterranean oldest
IN history. richest n legendary lore and proudcst In
patotisn Crete more lifts the against the
crescent and challenges the judgment OF Chrstendom
upou her struggle Within this fcre island far back IN
tic dim days Of mythology the auccus taught the arts OF
poesy and peace Passing from mythology, history names
ihc island from It's irst King. Cres Homer sings oft as
rich and fertile. washed by stormy seas
and possessing hundred cities Plato praised the
republic. Strabo said " Frugality, moderation, and
eauaity OF condition distinguish this people who ac-
c6riIng 10 the same authority, believed that Liberty
alone can secure property O the people oi any state
And thus ten golden centuries passed by. The slahd
tSc waters Of the then known world But with lcrcas
ing wealth had declined, and the greed OF gain had
capped the strength Of Cretan manhood ever thus
When sampson fingers in Delaifs lap, his locks are
shorn his sinewy arms grow weak ana he strong man
Is In training for captivity Rome IN hcl lul tor uNt
sal empire had long desired Crete, and Crete became
tributary 20 that power in the year ~ D. IN the year
Of the Christian era s2i. the rowing hordeS Oh ne
Saracens were attracted by the ferulty ahd wealth.
Of the island These sturdy , nioorlSn non, pirates ,a
took 10 Themselves wives OF the people whon they
had overcome. built the strong city khander and gave
us name TO The entire lslah rom nm " , tis
name the modern one OF Gambia Is derived Inc Moors
kept control Of the island for about l3O years In 9l A.
ID, Nkephorus Phocas bGean possessed 9l the Island
maincd true TO the cr0ss After the Byantines Baldwin,
the great crusader was for Dcf Time ruler of Crete
Then followed the Genocsc aud The Count OF Montteir
who l. said TO have sold the entire Island TO the Venetian
Republic marks In gold This occurred in l2oi
4. ID. In 1880 Crete was ceded 10y the allies 10
Egypt, and In 1910 returned by Egypt TO Turkey.
But his honor be It said that Lord Palmerston then
the leader the English Opposition party IN Parliament
strove most eloquenty Int alas fruitessy against the
proposed act During the years 1865 ana Co. they actually
paid In taxes more than The whole gross amount O le
Incomes for year But not even then ana they break
into insurrecton and make prompt appeal TO the sword
After the custom OF thirty centuries they called
together assembly, OF the people THIS assembly
framed and forwarded 10 the Sultan respectful and
able petition, rehearsng the wrongs 10 WHEN they had
been subjected. severe and threatening answer was
returned The Cretans assured that their Govern
inent already LIBERAL wise, ana benehcen ana were
threatened with Imprisonment and the sword II they per-
sisted their demands. The assembly In reply prepared
second appeal aud forwarded IL 10 lslnal Pssha the
GOyernorGencral OF the island He refused to receive
or transmit H. Issued his proclamation FOR tho assembly
10 spcrse at once and sent troops 20 surprise and arrest
Tho mcmbers Fortunately the assembly succeeded In
escaping 10 the hills. The sword was dhWn the scan
hard flung aside aud the Mosem athirst for blood
The Committee then constituted itself the National AS
semby made an earnest aud manly appeal 20 tne M
powers Europe iorprotecton and then summoned the
islanders TO the defense OF their hoarthstOnes ana affairs
A one man. Christian Crete sprang to arms genera
ton had passed since the struggle and victory OF 1871 10
sos Bu the sons OF brave sres had learned the dream
which their fathers died, and Ia whose iath they
tain fastnesscs and able 10 maintain but RuerrA stie
the sphaiotes remain unconqnered Ihese uhkhown M
heroes point battle fields worthy OF kuship IN song
aud story with the fields of ThermOpyae ana MlsSo-
longhi. -, ,-.,. -,
m length with an OF 5000 square miles IL thus
covers twice the territory Of Long Island IN our
own state. IL lies IN the Hgean sea, close 10 he southern
extremity OF Greece, its mountains being but the con
tinnaton OF the rocky ranges Of that Kingdom. The
ports are all Oh the northern side OF the Island aodnH
easy ugress to the blockaderunners The climate Is
mild and delightful The soil Is wOndrousy fertle yeld
ing large return to slight labor and fruits aOuhdah' oo0h
IN kind and quantity. -, A., III 4.
I'm August 1906 within few days after the call 10
arms nearly 10000 Christian Cretans were III the heid
many Turks stood opposed TO them. Inc atter were
in concentrated masses, while the insurgents Were
divided into dozen different bands occupying the
mountain regions In the center and west oil the Island
At first the Turks seemed everywhere successful But
doubts he cast upon their boasts OF speedy VIC
torV when their army OF 5000 men laid siege 10 the town
Lrna and after heroic defense OF two days by its
f garrison OF Cretans were repused with severe
ioss This rocky nest among the Sphakian mountains
received the name of "Zurba, the impregnaDe' ana
ousned its gates at once safe retreat for the wives
and children Of the patriots
The lecturer then gave vivid picture OF the uprising
of the Cretan their gallant defense OF home ana fresdc
and concluded with this touching appeal;
OH men, who fought at Gettysburg ana Five forksi
horrors OF Belle Isle and Andersonve have you po sym
nstbv with your In this battle for feedom
Whcye Is the strong right hand Of the nation that sn
throw oIen the barred and boed gates that s smut III
ths Creian struggle for independencei Oh oyai neaS
who gave Your all for the union OF bertyOving peOPc
and offered IL gladly breathe your Inspiration on the
cros as t battles against the crescent Give OF your
that the sOrrowing rejoice and the stricken
ve send forth your GOdspeed 10 those far rocky Na
hcrc Crecian civilization Graded and Greclan lid
erv Ionees fingered that these fanng hearts may look
mn and take fIesh courage Halfclsillzcd ehustamty
viii think less harshly of our more perfect tutl wirh
has thus far left all unaded ~ struggle on against lhc
Turk.