New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-08
"A NATIONAL THERMOPYLE"'
Serbia Does Not Ask Pity Her Struggle for Freedomer Sacrifice
the Flower of National Ideaisn Looking to the Union
Of the Southern Slavs

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: have only now read your article or
the great struggle Of Serbia, "A National
Thermopyla" having just come 70 America
as member Of the Southern Slsv (Serbo-
Croato-Slovene) Central Commission, in or
der 20 get into touch with our compatriots
upward of million) who have emigrated
to the United States, and | feel myself i'm
PEELED, as member OF that race whose
tragic situation you have summed up with
such remarkable insight, and presented so
admirably to the American people, to write
to you now.
You describe the death struggle OF our
race in terms OF shattering truthfulness, but
you made no lament for it-and that was
very right-very just. No, this race needs
no crocodile tears II does not even need any
sentimental pity, for it seeks none. 1t Is
dying victorious, struggling for freedom and
justice, it is working out its own salvation,
and that of others greater than itself. 1t is
making history, living through new epoch,
founding new legends, inaugurating a new
religion Of heroism, sanctifying itself and hu-
manity for ever. Its members are dying,
dying in masses, but the race itself lives on,
and will live, as an example. a moral
power, an idea, or a symbol 1t will
not die out; indeed, 1t cannot lie out.
It is a noble, healthy breed Of pure descent,
vital and fruitful; and were but two or three
of these people to survive, the race would re-
cover itself, to fight on to victory.
Indeed, it will be victorious, and am even
convinced that victory will come now, in this
war, and that il will be not only moral but
practical victory. Serbia and Montenegro
will not only secure their own freedom, but
they will liberste and unite their brethren,
all those eight million Southern Slavs
(Croats Serbs and Slovenes) who now, I'M
der the Teuto-Magyar yoke, are crashing
their teeth in the Austrian ranks I'd
awaiting the victors Of their own race; who
are signing in dungeons, and who even on the
gallows will not give up their faith. They
will-secure respect, consideration and bet
ter standing for the million and a half Of
their own people who as emigrants from
Austria are now living in North America, in
South America and in British colonies. All
these people belong to the same race, speak
the same tongue. cherish the same ideals:
Freedom and unity.
am convinced lnat THIS great historical
achievement will be accomplished on the
present Thermopyle, because | am confident
that the great struggle Of the Allies in de-
fence Of civilization must in the end bring
victory. believe in victory on many
grounds, and largely because the history Of
mankind is governed by certain laws Of God
and nature, the laws Of a higher world mo
rality. At the beginning Of the Middle Ages.
nf II fotl L.
slack and degenerate Roman world, but
neither to Attila himself nor to the Huns
remained lasting victory. The degeneracy
of the modern world. against which another
Attila has been sent, is by no means as
great that of the ancient world; and the
new Attila can at the most be spur to the
somewhat too self-satsfed. too easy-going
nations Of Europe. He cannot become an all
destroying elemental power.
| believe in the final victory OF the Allied
nations. because otherwise | should be forced
70 believe that the victory Of the Huns in
Europe would produce victory of the Huns
IN America. They who have trodden under
foot all treaties, all considerations, would
not, after conquering Europe and large part
OF Asia and Africa, cry halt before the Mon
roe Doctrine or the Statue OF Liberty in
New York, because such conquerors as they
would never endure another strong, indus
trially even stronger, world power at their
side. And il is not possible that one single
organization Of brute force should dominate
the world
The victory OF right. the victory OF the
nations. even though now Serbia be beaten
down, must not only restore her freedom
for that is too little; not only save her honor
for that she has done for herself;
not only give her compensation, for