The Krushevo Manifesto was written by Nikola Karev during the Krushevo Uprising. After the rebels took control of the town, Karev was named President of the new Krushevo Republic and issued this statement calling on all people to unite behind the rebel forces for the sake of Macedonian freedom.
The Krushevo Manifesto – an appeal from Nikola Karev to the people.
Fellow countrymen and dear neighbors!
We, your eternal neighbors, friends and acquaintances from beautiful Krushevo and its pretty villages, regardless of faith, nationality, sex or conviction, not being able to endure any more the tyranny of bloodthirsty renegades who hunger for human flesh, who would like to lead both you and us to slaughter, to reduce both you and us to poverty, and to turn our dear and wealthy land of Macedonia into a wasteland, we have today raised our heads and decided to defend ourselves with rifles in our hands from our and your enemies, and obtain freedom.
You know very well that we are not evil and you understand that it is trouble that made us risk our lives, so that we might begin living like human beings or die like heroes! And because since the times of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers we have lived together like brothers on this land, we consider you as our own, and would like it to remain so forever. We have not raised our rifles against you – it would be shameful for us to do so; we have not raised our rifles against the peaceful, diligent and honest Turkish people who, like ourselves, earn their living through sweat and blood – they are our brothers with whom we have always lived and would like to live again; we have not risen to slaughter and plunder, to set fire and steal – we have had enough of countless feudal lords pillaging and plundering our poor and blood-stained Macedonia; we have not risen to convert you to Christianity and disgrace your mothers and sisters, wives and daughters; you should know that your property, your lives, your faith and your honor are as dear to us as our own. Alas, we have taken up arms only to protect our property, our lives, our faith and our honor.
We are not traitors against our own land that has given birth to us, we are not robbers and plunderers, but revolutionaries sworn to die for justice and freedom; we rebel against tyranny and against slavery; we are fighting and will fight against traitors, against robbers, against oppressors and plunderers, against besmirchers of our honor and our faith, and against those who benefit from our sweat and exploit our labor.
Do not be afraid of us and of our villages – we shall not harm anyone. Not only do we consider you our brothers, but we also feel sorry for you as our brothers, since we understand that you are slaves like us, slaves of the Sultan and of his lords, masters and governors, slaves of the rich and powerful, slaves of tyrants and oppressors, who have set fire to the empire from all four sides and have made us rise up for justice, for freedom and for human life.
We invite you, too, to join us in our struggle for justice, freedom and human life! Come, Muslim brothers, let us together oppose your and our enemies!
Come under the banner of “Autonomous Macedonia”!
Macedonia is the mother of us all and she calls on us for help. Let us break the chains of slavery, free ourselves from suffering and pain, and dry the rivers of blood and tears! Join us, brothers, let us fuse our souls and hearts and save ourselves, so that we and our children and our children’s children might live in peace, work calmly and make progress!
Dear neighbors! We understand that you as Turks, Albanians and Muslims might think that the empire is yours and that you are not slaves, since there is no cross on the imperial flag but a star and a crescent. You will soon see and understand that this is not so and that you are wrong.
Nevertheless, if you honor does not allow you to join us and declare yourselves against the Sultan’s tyranny, we, your brothers in suffering and of the same homeland, shall do you no harm and shall not hate you. We will fight alone both for you and us, and if necessary, we will fight to the last man under the banner for our and your freedom, for our and your justice.
“Freedom or Death” is written on our foreheads and on our blood-stained banner. We have already raised that banner and there is no turning back. If you consider us as your brothers, too, if you wish us well, if you intend to live with us again as you have lived up to now, and if you are faithful and worthy sons of our mother Macedonia, you could help us in one way at least – and it would be a great help indeed – do not make partners of the enemy, do not raise guns against us and do not oppress the Christian villages!
May God bless our holy struggle for justice and freedom!
Long live the freedom fighters and all honest and good Macedonian sons!
Hurrah! For an autonomous Macedonia!
