Ή ΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΣΥΝΟΡΑ Ή ΕΙΣ ΤΑΣ ΑΘΗΝΑΣ Ο «ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΛΟΓΟΣ» ΤΗ ΔΕΚΑΕΤΙΑ ΤΟΥ 1870 ΣΤΗΝ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΕΥΒΟΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΑΡΕΤΟΥ

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the '’nationalist talking’’, as it appeared in the articles of a provincial newspaper, “Evia”, during the latest part of the 1870 decade. Although the newspaper was a provi ncial one, meaning it had little impact, the young publisher George Fila retos would follow an important career in Greek politics during the forthcoming decades, with a very important speech and impact. The edi tion of the newspaper from 1876 to 1881, coincided with the natio nalist rising in the Balkan and the War among Russians and Turks in 1877. Filaretos would progressively support that for Greece was an oppo rtu nity to take part in a war against the Ottoman Empire so that to fulfill the irredentist policy. The hesitation of the Greek government in this subject would give the editor the opportunity to attack not only the country’s entire political leaders but also King George. Αt the same time, the irredentist environment which existed in Greece, people pro war demonstrations and the activities of various national organizations, such as the “Adelfotis”(:«Brotherhood”), would provoke uprisings in parts of the Ottoman Empire where Hellenes lived. An unprepared in a military sense and diplomatically isolated Greece had entered into a dange rous national adventure. Filaretos ­being a volunteer himself in a failed military adventure in Thessaly­ besides the “invalid” political leaders and the throne would also accuse the English and Russian policy towards his position on the issues of the Balkans.    By studying “Evia” the reader finds that national issues dominate the political scene. The newspaper’s nationalist talking, sometimes sharp, sometimes laudatory usually denunciatory, is consistent with the do mi nant spirit of a romantic irredentism that aroused nationwide dur ing the last quarter of the 19th century. Through its short­lived circulation someone can see Filaretos’ political shifts, mainly a result of national developments, while notices how his antiroyalist notions were established, which made him one of the most prominent opponents of the Greek dynasty during the following decades.