Turkey; the Awakening of Turkey; the Turkish Revolution of 1908Knight, E. F. (Edward Frederick)
History
Turkey; the Awakening of Turkey; the Turkish Revolution of 1908
Knight, E. F. (Edward Frederick)
Eastern question (Balkan); Turkey -- History -- 1878-1909; Turkey -- Politics and government -- 1878-1909
You know that the intervention of Europe
in our internal affairs was brought about by the complaints of the
Christians, who suffered less than did we Moslems under the Despotism,
and that the Government has opened a road for this intervention by
its despicableness and cowardice, making Turkey a by-word among the
nations for all that is bad. Now, in this revolution we have to
make manifest to the world in a practical fashion that we love the
Christians, as being our brethren under the same fatherland, that we
hold them equal to ourselves, that we recognise the security of their
honour as our honour, of their lives as our lives, of their property as
our property. This revolt is not against individuals, but against the
system of government, which has not only stirred up strife between the
different creeds and races, but has also made us Moslems the enemies
of each other. This is a revolt in the name of liberty, equality,
and brotherhood. To bring justice to the people we will traverse the
mountains until we have sacrificed our lives. I am sending to Monastir
my wife (Niazi had been married but nine months and was very attached
to his wife), and my sister with her fatherless children, for they have
none but me to take care of them; and there my relatives wall protect
them. I will bid an everlasting farewell to these dear ones, and I will
shut up my house. Are there any among you who will follow me heart and
soul?”
Then all those present with one voice replied: “We look to dying with
you in honour and felicity. We are all ready.” The following Friday
was fixed upon as the date of the rising of the people of Resna, and
it was agreed that on that day, at the hour of morning prayer, the
band of two hundred patriots should assemble near the barracks. Jemal
Effendi was sent to Monastir to apprise the central Committee in that
town of Niazi’s plan and to obtain permission to carry it out. Then the
brethren, having embraced one another, with tears of joy and pride in
their eyes, broke up the meeting, departing in twos and threes so as
not to attract the notice of the spies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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