| Show I Websters Webster's e s er s Statue II A statue of Daniel Webster is to b be I unveiled before the capitol in Athens Athenson on the Fourth o of July as a part of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary anniversary anniversary anni anni- I of the Independence of ot Greece The date was chosen in compliment to the United States and the statue is to be a memorial to the Greek nation from rom American friends The story of Websters Webster's part in the winning of the independence of ot Greece Is quickly told It was on January 19 1824 1829 that he spoke on the revolution in Greece before the house of representatives representatives representatives in Washington The vIsitors vIsitors' visitors visitors' tors' tors gallery the press gallery and ande the e floor loor itself were crowded with men and women eager to hear a flood of oratory aj on a subject which had tou touched hed the u heart and the Imagination of the American people Webster said several years later that he felt that he disappointed them but he added that he was more fond of this child than of any in his family It was a great fP speech ch and had its great effect al although although al- al though though that was not to gain tho the Immediate immediate Im Im- mediate passage of th the resolution which he had laid before the house hose na namely sly That provision ought t to be made by law taw for defraying the expense incident to the appOIntment of an agent or commissioner commissioner com com- missioner to Greece whenever er the president shall deem It expedient to make such appointment This resolution moved by Webster on December ce beIL 8 8 together Aether r w wi with th a brief mention in President Monroes Monroe's annual message of f 1828 1823 1823 were the fIrst KB official expressions of any ny S gOvernment favorable favorable favor favor- able t to the independence of Greece Although w Websters Webster's K the measure was not passed passed words were spread to the hearths of ever every liberty lIb loving P people ople In Jn the world It is not too much to that th they y brought say sav Hav consternation to o hi hr councils ot of th the h hOly ly alliance More M than this th they nh y art nd Greece t to make mako the sUI superb erb effort necessary II C for tOl II I I throwing off oft the shackles of Turl ii oppression fl The initiative for the memorial come from the town of Webster but Mass but the honorary committees include governors goV gov- g goVernors v- v and other men in public lif J 1 all an parts of the United States Among them are many whose parents Joi or or grandparents came from Greece t America in the last century At headquarters headquarters headquarters head head- quarters the chamber of commerce Webster it is reported that the f fund fum nd needed is estimated to be It Itis is hoped that the campaign will willbe bi be completed by June 1 1 The Tho committee appeals to the youngest of the gr grea great at nations of earth in the name of of the oldest It calls caUs to memory the n ne v worlds world's debt to Homer Socrates am and Phidias It should not overlook Plato Plate who dreamed of a great republic or Aristotle who is still the master 01 those those- who l know now Yet these are not the things wh cb Webster marshaled forth as argument to In his plea What he had to say o Jo Greece regards her not as she exist in history triumphant over time am and d tyranny and ignorance but as she shi now Is contending against fearful odds odd dd for being and for the common leges of ot human nature He Ho showed that Greece in her fight for far freedom freedon was not getting the support from Russia R Rus Russia s- s sia which she had a right to expect from past encouragement to rebellion The cause for this change in the part of the Czar he traced to th declaration made to the world by sia Prussia and Austria as member rs of the holy alliance amance at the of in 1821 They announced announce at that time that they held it the their right to interfere when any r attempting to overthrow a government gave an example of ft their own subjects This doc door n I Webster denounced as s an effort on on Jh he e part of the most autocratic rulers of the world to maintain absolute mon monarchy monarchy archy against the rising tide of of He pointed out its challenge to the United States and called upon upon the house of representatives to sh show sho K Kits I 1 its abhorrence of such tyranny tranny tj ranny by expressing good will win toward towar the republican armies of Greece His peroration gives an I of the eloquence of his entire speech The Greeks address the civilized civilize world with a pathos no not easy t be e resisted They inv e cr r favor favo J by more moving consi cons consul rs s than can canwell cai well belong long to the r nd ion of an other people They stretch out their thel Ir arms to the Christian the earth beseeching them by a g generous gen nerous n erous recollection of their ancestors by the consideration of their desolated and ruined cities and villages by t thel their lr wives and children sold into an lac E cursed slavery by the common faith and In the name which units all an Christians that they would ext extent extend n nto to them at least some token of compassIonate compassionate compassionate com com- passionate regard The regard The Christian Christ Science Monitor |
