The New York herald., 1869-01-09
THE CRETANS.
Great Meeting in Aid Of the Crctan
Patriots at Cooper Institute.
Speeches by Mayor Hall, William Cullen
Bryant, ReV. DR.. Bellows and Rev.
Henry Ward Bcechef.


committee appointed some time ago to take into
consideration the proprety Of adopting active pub.
lie measures for contributing substantial relief and
material aid to the patriot Cretans In their noble
efforts for emancipation from Moslein rule. nota-
be array of public speakers were announced AZ
having pledged themselves to be present on the
cason to advocate the claims OF the Cretans to the
recognition and sympathy Of the American people.
Tie attendance large and the greatest interest
was paid to the speakers, and the warmest express
sions Of approval followed every appeal behalf OF
the cause OF Crete.
Among the gentlemen on the platform were the
Mayor, A. Oakley Hail. Peter Cooper, William G.
Bryant Joseph NJ. Choate, Henry Ward Beecher,
Rev. Mr.. Crosby, Rev. Dr.. Bellows, ex-Lieutenant
Governor oodford and others.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hall,
vino presented himself and addressed the audience.
g en REMARKS BY THE MAYOR.
Mr.. HALL, on coming forward, was very warmly
received. He said
have been invited to call this meeting to order, un
d0ubedly because In this vast constituency OF the
faiths, creeds and nationaities-t must be so-that
there is not one in his constituency who does not
be- M
tonight at least claim that entirely and heartily
,Ss tne esres 81 s
oppression Of this century there were two great
poets who hymn hymned praises IN favor Of Grecian lib
there are two living poets with us tonight, and
an sure that we VIII all agree that it ought to be
long before one should write their thanatopsiS-(ap-
plause)-whose harps have ever scorned oppression
and are always ready to strike hymns in praise Of
sent them to you tonight as the ofilcers Of this
meeting by the selection OF the officers Of tn COM
mate as chairman the political economist and phan-
thropist as well as poet, William Cullen Bryant-ap-
Strong verse Henry T. Tuckermanm m(appausel@those
IN favor Of those gentlemen officers OF this meeting
will say aye Applause apd cries OF "Aye.'D From the
number OF eyes turned upon me and them 1t would
be entirely absurd 10 put the negative; therefore
declare them as Ulcers OF this meeting. Appause.)
REMARKS by WILLIAM c. BRYANT.
wnIIAN CULLEN BRYANT then came forward,
amid the greetings Of the meeting, and spoke as
fol0ws:-
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-We are assembled, my
friends, for a mercifu purpose. You will hear the
claims Of the Cretans to your sympathy aud aid
more ably presented this evening than could pre-
sent them. Crete, you know, is one OF the finest
Islands in the Leyant twice as large at least as our
the earliest dawn Of European civilization e' Crete
republic, acknowledging the sovereignty Of the peo-
the great lawgiver Of Sparta was framing code for
his people he went TO Crete as learner and copied
thought have doubt, arises In your mind that the
people OF thar island, they to whom God gave IL
70 saw Dnasr what they i've For
two hundred years-two hundred this very year
ey nave oee1 so tSe erce qes
from the Venetians after q war Of twenty-five
years. The Turkish power was then irresistible;
have everywhere multiplied, the Turks have diniin
ished in number and lost their original energy In
sSe fruit Of their fsse social system The crstsn:
have followed the advice Of Cowper TO the en-
Wait for the dawnins Of brighter day,
And snap ths chain the moment that You may
(Applause.) They have risen to break the letters
the attempt. When we threw on the British yoke
wy Se shs
deserve Il now BY 2 & tsnfold title II has been wen
n E.op Ty e ces on
over the have true % Of
unwilling tribute. know that reports have come
us rom Constantnope that the Cretan warriors have
believe it. They have not sent their sixty thousand
women and children to Athens with design 70 sur
away that they might be safe from tie brutaiities
OF the Turks, while for themselves they prolonged
the struggle till their liberties should be acknow-
iedged BY their These reports are but the
repetition OF tale which has more than once proved
Thousand famlshed women and children at Athens
whom we must succor; even were they true,
% % ns WITH n ~ vt HsD
and misery. Even II they were true there is con-
ference OF the European Powers soon to assemble
and these Powers must be made to understand
that the voice Of the civilized world demands that
signed Crete to is Mussulman masters, they
outrage committed on the rights Of humanity The
time TO intervene has arrived and the Powers
science -s Of the civilized world by giving. Yet
what the Greek population, wherever 1t exists,
western andfEn Eaiop cd as
leave them to drive out race whom they still
regard Is invaders and usurpers. Meantime 4 well
ropean civilization, TO stretch forth a friendly hand
70 the eldest, now IN her utmost need. Applause.l
It becomes republic which IN ts infancy broke the
ihlze with a people engaged in throwing
Of . semi-barbarous tribe, alien TO them in
origin, In language, In religion practising detested
inferior and accursed race. (Applausc.j What we
may do for the Cretans will be received with lack
American name IN the pages Of history % Which are are
yet TO speak Of the deliverance OF Crete When
Ss svea IN Atnees hundred 5 Sr
tan children, with their teachers, came under
the balcony of his hotel and sang hymn Of
gratitude lie had been the secretary OF public
meeting held q little more than two years ago in
this city for the benefit or the Cretans and the sym
pathy then shown and the aid aforded had relieved
their suffering families and encouraged the heroic
asserters OF Crctan liberty. tApplause) regret
20 announce that an earnest sympathizer with the
cause OF the patriot Cretans who was to have been
here tonight, Is unavoidatsy absent. The committee
has received the following telegram from General
Shanks:--
wAsHINGroN, Jan. g. 1850
To N. RoDoMocHI-I cannot leave; heart with
Godspeed. JOHN T.. q. sIiANkS.
Mr.. BRYANT have also to announce that this
very evening the committee has received despatch
from Washington-from The Cretau provisional gov.
ernment-whch will give you some idea Of the Kind
Of reports we receive from Constantinople with
gard to the struggle going In Crete Rev. MIR.
Crosby Will read the despatch.
Rev. Mr.. CROSBY then read the following
pyspArcH PROM THE cRrrAN rnovIsroNAL GOVERN
MINT ATHENe.
with great sasfscton that hear that public opinion
In the Uned States still expresses itself strongly favor Of
The struggling Cretans and that there hope OF
speedy OF Crete independent State This
generous the part OF such q nation will have
kreatinauencc the political regeneration OF island.
ness in the operatons Of the war: But notwithstand
ing their immense difficulties the Cretans have and
will not fighting for their liberty One Of greatest
arawbncks n the want Of provisions and munitions Of