Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-13

for the oppressed and the poor. The
actual good works too of your country
rebound In the Greek war of freedom
against the Turks the sympathy Of the
American Congress and people were
made unmistaka bly, known. Ship loads
OF provisions too were sent them IN THEN
time of greatest stress: and these things
after the lapse of many years are stii
remembered. To Americans. at least
the Greeks in the games were generou
opponents If they couldn't win, the.
hoped that We would. The stars an,
stripes were known and honored. on
was proud to wear them when the.
could be seen.
One came to learn too that the moder
history of Greece has been highly credi
t ole. For nearly four centuries Greco
was held by the Turks and subjected L,
their tyrannous and oppressive rule. Tn
spirit of the Greeks, however, was neNe
submissive and it was not crushed. Des
pising the religion Of their couquerors
conscious of their own intellectual su
perioTity. believing still in worthy an.
Independents future for their race the.
made resistance which knew no end
Chieftains in TIE mountains wage
ceaseless war. AT every opportunity tn
whole race sprang 10 arms in organize
re belion. In 1921 the last successfU
and resource for nine years war WIS
waged in heroic style on sea ana lanG
AT last the sympathy of civilized Europ
found expression. a Turkish fleet wa
sunk by the ships of England. Franc.
and Russia, and the Turk was told +
language he could not mistake that hi
barbarous and oppressive rule must enc
Modern Greece has been POLITICAL!
steader and more united than ancient
Modern Greeks have fought as hard ant
in as good cause as did their ances
tors of 1900 years ago
But what attracted most was their "a
tional spirit and aspiration. Greece i
really n Democratic country as Tecen>
ever>s SHOW. They have moreover
strong sense of race unity and nationa
pride. They glory in the past history .
the land. and cherish the ancient work
and monuments. They believe too II
themselves and in their own future
They expect once more to he a powerful
nation. They hope that one day Athen
will again be the intellectual centre
the world. To that end they give theh
effort and wealth. Wealthy Greeks hav
time and again devoted their means tt
the adornment of the city. to the foun
dation of institutions which shall rails,
the national life. SO was built the acad
envy of science ard art which in thei
enthusiasm and faith the Greeks NEAR
shall one day stand on equal terms witt
the French academy. By the free con
tributions of all classes a university wa
founded in 1899 which now contains 1850
students.
And note how this past action of tn,
Greeks fits in with the news which W,
have lately heard. The war spirit ha.
taken hold upon all classes. The peopli
have sprung to arms. The horses of ricf
and poor have been freely given for tn,
army From our own land Greeks arr
returning to fight for their native coun
try. The wealthy ones are paying tn
passage of those who have nothing witt
which to go.
Nowhere. however. did the Greek ma.
tional spirit come out stronger than il
those games. Competing like boys them.
selves. with no notion of the strenuous
preparation of the foreign athletes tn.
Greeks in most events were easily de.
feated by the highly trained men, Race
after race was lost, yet defeat was tax
en- in good part. Even the national Sport
OF throwing the discus was won by az
American. who never till that day ha6
taken a discus into his hands
The Greeks. however, had fixed their
hearts on the run from Marathon
twenty-five miles up hill and down.
Greek once had run the distance WITT
glorious news, and this modern race
the crowning event of the week they
OF the cid religious feeling seemed to
possess them Priest and prince got hole
OF their most trusted contestant and TOLD
him that he must not, could NOT fail to
win.
And yet for a long time. IL seemed as
II No would lose. Half way of the race
q hlcyclist spurred ahead. and when he
entered the station. gloom came over
the great crowd as they learned thar
their man was far back of the van Bu,
so 1t could not end. F'renchman. an
Australian and an American in success
sion led the running until they dropped
Inc Greek had saved himself and their