Stamatis Stamatiou

“ We want a republic. Democracy and friendship with Bulgaria? Not only with Bulgaria, but with anyone who helps us to become free. Do you want to unite with Bulgaria? No! No! And the committee is teaching you so? Yes. Then, why doesn't this Committee, that cares so much for your independence, seek protection from Greece, which has more duties to liberate you, but rather seeks refuge to the barbarians? I will answer at once: we are like a man who fell into the sea and is in danger to get drowned any moment now. ”

“ Nothing else, but continue fighting. Yes, but don’t you know that fighting with daggers is a fight unbecoming to men and without honour? This is irrelevant, as long as we succeed in our goal. Do you approve murders? When they happen for the sake of a people. You are right, or, as they say in Greece, according to Mastroianni, Bulgaria and his lads. ”

“ Besides, we do not attend to what Bulgaria thinks, we only pay attention to the following “is our aim being fulfilled?” do we gain our freedom? Only this, we don’t care if Greece or Bulgaria liberates us, the only benefit that each has to gain is our gratitude. Fine, and if you liberate yourselves, what do you want to become, autonomy [=an autonomous province] ? Yes, as in Switzerland, in which three difference races [sic] live in full concord and love. Yes, but do you know that in this way the interests of the Panslavistic Society, of which the committee is a chapter, are being served? ”