No. 186.
Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Athens, December 2,
1871. (Received December 30.)
No. 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to furnish a translation,
with Inclosure of the original text, of an article from a prominent
Greek newspaper published here, the Defense, of November 24, instant, in
which it will be seen an intelligent and a just view is taken of the
working of our free institutions as illustrated by the results of the
recent election in the State of New
[Page 226]
York. I may say, in this connection, that the
article corresponds with the expressions I have heard from many Greek
citizens here, who, next to the regard they have for the affairs of
their own country, seem to take the deepest interest in those of the
United States. One of their leading statesmen, and a member of the
present Greek cabinet, remarked to me that “Free institutions on a grand
scale are achieving in your country their sublime victories.”
I am, &c,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 13.]
The New York State election.
[Translation from the Defense, an Athenian
Greek journal, of November 24, 1871.]
When the appalling outrages of the New York officials in the United
States of America were revealed to the eyes of the world, the
enemies of free institutions could not conceal their satanic joy,
and false friends shed some crocodile tears. The exposure could not
but fill the true champions of democratic institutions with alarm
and despondency. We at once pointed out the real cause and source of
this mischief. We said at once that this mischief did not belong
necessarily to the American system of government, but that its
origin was to be found in monarchical Europe, from which a restless
current of immigration was constantly discharging its filth and off
scouring into the broad bosom of the American democracy. Receiving
these worthless and wretched creatures, who had been born, nurtured,
impoverished, and corrupted in the old monarchies of Europe, America
gave them citizenship, and warmed them in her motherly arms as if
they were her own offspring. Such creatures are numbered by tens of
thousands in New York especially. It followed
that a corrupt party, composed largely of those who would have no
right of suffrage in Europe, voted in New York for corrupt measures.
But in a free country this evil was not allowed to go uncured. The
true friends of free institutions rejoice to-day with exceeding joy
in learning that the guilty authors of those crimes are to be
punished, and that some of them have given bail for a million of
dollars to appear for trial before the peopled tribunal. They
rejoice yet more in learning that, at the recent elections in New
York, a most decisive triumph was won by men not belonging to the
infamous thieves of the Tammany ring, but to the opposing party
which, in previous elections, had found itself in a minority of
thirty or forty thousand votes. Behold the blessings of a free
government! In a country where the people are supreme, and where
they have nothing to hope for from guardians and protectors,
criminal outrages are not covered up as they would be in an absolute
monarchy. Official crimes are speedily brought to light, and the
criminals are punished with exemplary severity.
