New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-07
TEXAS AND GREECE.

We believe that Il has never yet been settled
which Stare In the American Union excels IN
oratorv. though many have laid claim 10 the
honor. But our valued contemporary, The
Galveston News" shows by indubitable proofs
that in the person Of Colonel H. c. Stevenson
the great State Of Texas possesses an orator
who can beat the band His recent address
70 the Greeks in Texas has stunned even Texans
with wonder; and any man who can do that 49,
indeed phenomenon. For, as THE News" re-
mind. US. orators in Texas are as thick as the
famous leaves Of vallombrosa. Not to mention
such truly National characters as Dr. W. VI.
Yander and Cyclone" Davis, there are Reese
Calhoun De Graffenreld. the Black Eagle OF
the Piney Woods" Of East Texas; Bob Henry.
the metaphor King OF the Rio Brazos Valley;
I. Tray. Dashiell the "Spellbinder Of the Shades
Of Leon" and Pericies y Harris. tho Poly
syllable Wonder % the Mexican Gulf" each one
Of whom can say such things and do such things
with the Queens English as Patrick Henry and
Daniel Webs,ar never dreamed Of
But we must not neglect Colonel Stevenson
and his remarkable address 10 the Greeks Of
Texas who numbered Just fory-three when last
counted, and most Of whom are humble but
honest vendors of the succulent 'peanutt,
the nutritious 'bGnan" and the finely chiseled
plaster-of-parls image. Addressing them as
descendants Of Miltiades. Leonidas. Them!s
tocles. Aristldes and Marco Bozzaris." and
children OF Marathon and Thermopylae," be
urges them 70 throw down the gage of battle
against the unspeakable Turks who are devils
incarnate" confident that the children Of the
Alamo and San Jacnto" will not fail 10 assist
them. Whether or not this means that the gal
liant Colonel and those for whom he speaks will
put up the money for the transportation Of the
forty-three Texan Greeks 70 the scene Of hOstili-
ties we cannot say. But that is mere detail,
which has place in truly great Oratory. The
forty-three Greeks Of Texas may or may not 90
10 Greece: but ar any rate Colonel Stevenson
reminds them that they can hold up the hands
OF the King by joining league. The Achacan
League was a potent factor in the history Of
Greece. Why may not Texan league. famed
into being by the warm eloquence Of the Colo
mel. be equally potent? Why not, indeed:
THE News" insinuaies that the Greeks to
whom the Colonel addresses himself are too mild
and gentle 10 be affected by his fervid appeal TO
arms but it takes a superficial view of the case.
How can they fail 10 be reused by the fact that
Homer, Socrates. Plato and Pluiarch are rs
familiar TO our scholars as the most prominent
men Of the American Republic': And does any
one believe that they will retain their interest
in such things as bananas and plaster images
when they read the following:
The Turk has no history save that written in
| human blood-nO history save that printed In
blazing cities; no history save that heard in the
wall for mercy from hundreds of thousands %
Christians whom he has put 10 the sword dur
ing the last 800 years Devils incarnate,
They have ever shut the gates Of mercy on.
mankpd," and now painting for another
saturnalia Of blood from the followers OF the
Saviour Of the world. No calamity could be-
fall your country equal 10 that of being con
Quered by the Turks. Better the Deluge better
all the earthquakes and tidal waves that ever
happened. than the yoke and government Of the
Turk.
We believe that !he Turkish vote in Texas IS
somewhat small; but we are sure that Colonel
Stevenson never thought OF that when he penncd
this sublime ouburSt. If the Greeks don't call
for arms when they read this description Of their
ancient foe they arc not the men we take them
for. We are sure TINT even Professor Wheeler
/ Of Yale. who declared the other night that the
| Christians butcher The Mussumans whenever
I they get a chance would take il all bacl; if he
were 10 read Colonel StcvcnsOns remarkable
! a1J