New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-09
THE CRETAY REFUGEES ar ATHENS

| 1t is an encouraging circumstance that. upon the
reassembing Of the Conference to receive the report
of their envoy who conveyed the protocol to Athens
| for signature, the members united in q declaration
that Greece having consented to the demands of the
Great Powers, in the interests of Peace they re-
served to themselves the right to protect The Christians
noe under Turkish ruIe 1t appears that the protests
and appeals of the United States in the cause of JUS
tice and humanity have not been without salutary
| and seasonable influence.
1t is Justly said by The Liberal Christian of last
week, that the acquiescence OF the King OF Greece
and his Ministers in the decision of the Paris Con-
ference leaves the claims of the Cretans in the pure
light of benevoence, and does away with anyEpolit-
cal objections TO their cause. The Committee of the
New-Yorz Cretan Relief Fund, several weeks ago
applied for definite information TO the actual con-
diton and immediate needs of the Refugees at
Athens The following letters just received by the
Committee give the latest facts in the case, and
hope their publication will promote the success of
their accredited agent now soliciting subscriptions:
ATHENS Jan. Is, 1869
REV. Dr. BELLOWS, President Of the Ctedn Relief Com
DBAR sun Think the actual condition OF the Cretan
refugees In Greece can he better described by one who Is
actively engaged I'm the work Of relief than by any
member OF the American Relief Committee here to put
writing such facts have within his personal OBJ
The suffering, rs you viii perceive, Is by no means con
fined T. Athens ana its vicinity. The refugees are
scattered oyer the kugomiu the islands well as in
Connenn Greece ana every prefecture mas 0ee taxed
for their support The pressure upon this weak treasury
has been too great aud the Government resources are
exhausted These years OF charitable appeal have
discouraged many who have until recently opened wide
complain that the fountain has become dry. Yet by
every Of this condition Of affairs, the suffering Is
wndowes novels and S on the bare ground%in some
inst noes without blanket 10 cover them and with no
tu ay "A q
coarse bread, and occasionally little soup
IS hard to ask Tor clothing ana Tor money when our
1t ia harder to see as dc almost daily these REFUGEES
aud homeless without being able TO contribute to their
II tho writer Of the inclosed note is not personally
known TO any ~ your committee beg leave To add that
no better than he comprehends the OF the
unosten; auously devotes himself to IT,
Trusting that ms appeal may not be 10 vam aud that
whatever Is done viii he done quickly remain, yours
truly CHNs. X. TUCREIAiAS.
TO he Hon: CHts X TCCEERMAN, Minister Resident ofhe
DEAR srR: Having heard that the people Of EewYork
were uufavOTabiy Influenced by intelligence adverse 10
the Crotan cause hasten beg yOn TO exert every In
anence AM behalf of the refugee women and children
there was greater need FOR generous actions
In thsh behalf than Ut present
cannot believe that the interest Of the American PEG
pie depended more on the success ton on the nature OF
the Crctan The boon which they have crayed,
and for which they made every sacrifice and endureda all
that human nature could possibly suffer - preogaNe
vouchsafed Nv the Creator 10 every human being.
National liberty just glorious, when people fail 10
obtain g. rs ever n shines with greater luser IN
case of failure But no! would not be betrayed to
trcpue FREEDOM To discuss tho state OF the Cretan
cause hear Just now. too many and too heavy groans,
A woman hns lust lcft me- crying and beating herself
nom She was the daughter OF gentleman, and
possessed ~ many comforts. Oh. my Lord sue erred
Pco last called gon you my two children gSye
on. else too shall die, and ner tears rolled thlck ana
hot Hcartreuung this may appear, it was not tho
voninI away empty The last mattress has been given
aud the last cent In the treasury OF the American Com.
on has been spent Since last Summer We have not
frcti we'd crut from the Statea The husband OF this
woman stil ut Crete fighting, while she fed 10 Greece
for refuge Yet It seems mat all she had saYed rom
The Turks has been snaChcd from her by worse enemy
than Mosem sword. This Is not al exceptional case
Teu weeks ago witnessed cases OF distress among the
refugees WHICH l would not under any consider
ing his latt lying ON The rer1 door OF the room
nakrdDess. u would have hled your heart with pride
aud made YOU ever rejoice IN tears had you heard the
blessings invoked upon America, as only Oriental Wo
men could when opened the sacks, and clothed not
only ne diving men but also al the living Many would
weep uuco frouby when the garments sent from tho
States foI mothers and children were handed to them
Over tlJ sou clothed there similar scenes witnessed
at Nanii whore have been able 20 supply more than
l20O souls Many bad walked eight miles win their
children. The most of them expressed their gratitude
not IA eords but In ttdrs.
At present We have oh mana appeals IRON many PiaSos
beside what dalls gee around rs at Athens we hnu
but small fund. yet by p,rsona eXeruons made 10 go
beyond even our expectations. ohy urOp III tue
year ago there were IN operation two ladies' Com.
al home aud abroad. from foreigners aud Greeks.
Al present tho American committee the only one tat
acts The Government Committee, which was supplying
the refugees with food by paying seven cents per woman
cioAing Is now exhausted. and for two whole months
The creatures have not received single cent Not
We have gwen thous lds OF mattresses well other
garments and 80 the case Of some was tempered ior
Fsnds from abroad have ceased coming while tho
people at home greatly impoverished by the Ctetan
strggie and can do but ittlehence will look 20 the
stas tho only source whence ala mny come 10 serve
Ibes poor Victims from wckodness and death.
W. 40 appeal for the poor Of Greece, but for tho
n rfHnate refugee who has become impoverished for tho
sake Of freedom Crete Is fertile island aud the people,
nofs on esS ere all provided for Many OF the
had brought their Jewels with them but even these one
after another have disappeared. ana poor ana fch are
now re the state OF wrechcduess ana want
We appeal to America. not 80 much because she s the
pd OF the poor. but because she has declared herse
the protector Of tbs oppressed We plead not 80 muoh Tor
M appeai To- America because she is the only nation
thai has actually recognized her obligation TO me and
Of Greece, aud for the sake OIL Tue V sue IN ,yn ho
poo but by aiding the unfortunate rendered such III h
holest struggle for freedoms cause
know yet II the refugees be c0mpcleI .o 70
this Island under the Turkish yoke, they WOud eou more
thea ever the ndUf the free aud every generous action
toward them VIII appear noblor ana Sodller, -, ,o,
ton Their protectors are either killed or disabled their
hon,es demolished their orchards and vineyards burned
tier churches pillaged, their hOcks destroyed anu
above all they viii be under rulers who would tako
eyey pains 70 make them feel tho ''c posi-
Let America again to the and she wiilhaVo
her reward - -, A..
ren the uamo OF fragrant among All classes
OF eope they felt pleasure ana pride IN serving
an and less out of regard 10 our own Feelings that we
pIed that America should finish the WORK sue mas Desun
ft not fall behind Boston la It's Efforts Tor tho
ro.Teos We feel "a confidence IN tho resources Oh the
people OF NewYOrk, and the good VIII oVlaeu 'eS Nv
made TO realize the necessily for sueh ~
truly. "N'' N
AHtns ian. IA. 1869.
APOLLO HALL.
IA nd Ioafc