New-York tribune., 1908-05-25
THE CRETAN PATRIOTS
Charles Sprague Smith Tells Of
Their Interest an United States.

Their Interest an Cnated States.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The withdrawal OF the troops and powers
from Crete brings vivdly to mind an experiences
of some two years ago. I my way to Crete
for the purpose of inspecting the ruins Of the
old palaces at Knossos and elsewhere, palaces
that are believed to antedate those at NIycenss
and Tiryns- The last Cretan revolution had Just
come to end. and amnesty had been declared
The little Greek boat left The Piraus late ons
evening. and did not meet my fellow passengers
until after breakfast the following morning. Thers
about twenty to thirty all told in first and
ond class, and found them composed almost
-clusively of Cretans who had taken part in tho
insurrecton. escaped after the collapse OF the
movement to Greece, and, with the declared
nesty were returning to their native land. I had
supposed that the instructions which recurrent
Intervals had disturbed the peace of Crete for
indefinite period due chiefly to men OF revo-
1utionary character, who would be inclined to dis
order matter where they found themselves. To
nv surprise I found these Cretans young ard
DID, without exception were Of the highest
type college bred business men, OF lofty ideals
and complete conservation to their fatherland. 7
would gladly have transported the whole COM
pany to America, because II seemed 70 me there
was in them fine stuff for efficient and PATRIOTIC
American citizenship
Before we reached Crete had become good
comrades Anchoring for short time IN the har-
Dor of the capital Canea, went on shore TO
met Venzelos the leader In the insurrection Just
ended I had been Informed by my acquaintances
that he man OF unusual culture, speaking
a number of languages, one of the best instructed
and useful men that had served in public life
| In Crete in a long time and inteIgently devoted
in every way 10 the interests, especially OF the
plain people
A little later 1 taken by my friends TO
club and found there Venizelos surrounded by
| considerable body Of his admirers and comrades
he Wa 10
| leave that night for Athens in order 10 lay the
cause OF the Cretans before the ministry. Seating
me bv his side he afforded me the unique oppor-
tunfty of learning first hand the purpose and
spirit Of the Cretan revolutionists and also giving
to them explanation of situation and message
of cheer and courage from the greet democracy OF
| the West I learned that the entire population,
some three or four hundred thousand, was COM
posed Of Greek Christians. all united IN the pur-
nose Of bringing Crete into organic connection
| with the Greek state. small minority.
/ few tens OF thousands. were nominaly Turks and
| Mussulmans. In reality. however. they were large
| " descendants Of renegades and ignorant OF the
| Turkish language. Only the presence Of the gar
risons of the powers prevented tne attainment OK
| the wishes OF the inhabitants
PUT objected the garrisons are here, and
| whenever an fnsurrcction is begun you know well
beforehand that IL going 10 cost the lives OF
| certain number Of your most promising youth
| and that # is doomed Inevitably 70 failure. II
| seems 10 me terrible price to pay. as you are
| doing repeatedly from generation To generation.
with defeat as the inevitable outcome
Yes" was venfzelos's remark and that Of the
others we are perfectly well aware Of this; We
know that we shall have pay the blood price
and that We shall be defeated cur fathers paid It
| before u.s. and grandfathers. but only IN THIS
fashion shall we ever realize our purpose II We
remain with folded hands those IN power will con-
| slider that we are content The last insurrec-
ton preceding this brought about the removal OF
! the Turkish Governor and the placing OF Crete IN
der the authority OF the powers, with Prince George
| as regent This fnsurrection will not be without
| its results. will bring the goal step nearer and
90 ve shall continue at intervals until that which
must will be and Crete is united TO the mother
| land"
! some Of them expressed ii in religious terms
| and with deep fervOr that fr was CIods VIII and
| could not be thwartsd.
| But l was not the only one to ask questions
| The Cretans keenly interrogated me with regard
| 10 conditions IN America Some Of them on ship
| board had said that the part little Greece played
| IN the earlier civilization. leading the world In
that which was highest at the time. philosophy
| and science America did could represent IN the
modern world IN It's highest expression, democracy
| How will your country solve the problem or the
| domination of wealth." What do you think OF
| President Roosevelt and his policies? Is there
\ good promise Of the realization Of true dernoc-
| racy~' Supplementng these questions were state
| nents TO the effect that Crete felt itself oouno
| up as all the rest OF the world was In the sue
cess or failure OF the democratic experiment vs.
/ were working out OF course. my message TO them
/ IN reply was one of full confidence and faith IN
our institutions. Ny work IN America entitIed me-
| believed 10 bring direct message rom tns
| democracy Of the New World 70 the patrlouo
/ youth and manhood OF Crete; so that through
| question and answer we came gradually Illo an
| intimacy Of fraternaI relation and sympathy
| VenizeIos their leader. I found man OF oroao
1 European culture. MY brief residence IN Athens
| had not given me full command OF Greek so 'ldC
| once and again a word or phrase was lacking anu
/ 1 would turn him. giving It in French ana to
ceiving it's Greek equivalent
4 Thereafter / spent a week or more m Cre'e'
/ made the acquaintance. among Others OF a EoUli.
| Turk and learned from him that the assertion OF
my Cretan friends as the ignorance on tne par'
\ OF the so-caleG Turks of their own language "aS
/ correct OF the Cretan Turks only the most euU
| Gated can read Turkish. and these even 90 nO'
| use II vernacular-
| All who admire patriotism. love or country e
secrated effort for the attainment OF worthy siL'
| can but wish TO the brave Cretans the speedy d'
| tainnent of their purpose and rejoice Win 'ln- -
| that the withdrawal of the troops or the pow"
/ has brought that goal Of union with Greece o
| sta,. nsars- CHARLES sPRAGUE SMITH
| New York. May q. 1898