– Sami Frashëri –
Thoughts on the salvation of the Homeland from the dangers that have surrounded it
Publisher’s Note
This edition of Albania: What It Was, What It Is and What Will Become of It? is translated into English from the first time from the original published in Bucharest 1899.
“Through Sami Frashëri’s work Albania: What It Was, What It Is and What Will Become of It?, there runs a continuous line of political thought and revolutionary action, always developing and rising, with the objective of achieving the freedom of the Homeland, its full and unbroken territorial independence. The figures of our Renaissance were revolutionary, optimistic, realistic people with fiery hearts, who closely linked words with deeds — a wonderful characteristic of our people in every time and circumstance.”
COMRADE ENVER HOXHA
CHAPTER ONE:
WHAT ALBANIA WAS
I. The Pelasgians
Albania refers to the entire land where the Albanians live. The Albanians are the oldest people in Europe. It seems that they were the first to come from Central Asia to Europe, bringing with them the knowledge of building houses with walls, as well as the skills of ploughing, planting and harvesting. The people who were there before them in Europe were wild, living in forests and caves, feeding on wild fruits and hunted meat. Therefore, our ancient ancestors were called Arbënes, a word that we Tosks, due to our habit of turning “n” into “r,” transformed into Arbër, which we still use today. This ancient people were referred to as Arbër, meaning those who worked the land, who sowed and reaped. The Romans transformed this word into Alban, calling their land Albania, as Europeans still do today. Later, the Greeks called us Arvanites, again turning “n” into “r”; and from this word, the Turks made the word Arnaut, which is still how they refer to us today. However, we ourselves have restricted the word Arbër to only a certain branch of our people, whom we now call Laps; and the entire nation has taken on the name Shqiptar (Albanian) and our land Shqipëri (Albania), words derived from the eagle, the blessed bird of god, to whom our ancient ancestors prayed and whose image we even had on our flag. However, this word does not seem to be very old and was not commonly used at first, because our brothers who live outside Albania, in Italy, Greece and elsewhere do not know it and still call themselves Arbër.
Our ancient ancestors were called Pelasgians, a word passed down from later ancestors, who called their earliest ancestors Plaks or Pleqs (Elders). Whatever the case, this ancient and revered people in history were numerous, strong and widespread throughout Eastern Europe. All of the Balkans, parts of Anatolia, Hungary, Croatia and even Greece were once lands of the Pelasgians, the ancient Albanians. Some of these Pelasgians crossed the Adriatic into Italy; the Etruscans, Latins and other Italian peoples are of Pelasgian descent. Later, a smaller people called the Hellenes or Greeks settled in Greece along the shores of the Aegean Sea, displacing or mixing with the Pelasgians there. However, these Hellenes, like the Albanians, Germans, Celts and other peoples who came from Asia, were part of the broader Aryan race, which also includes Persians, Indians and other Asian peoples. The Latins are the closest to us Albanians, which is why our language resembles Latin and the languages that derived from it, such as Italian, French, etc.
The Pelasgians had a beautiful and poetic religion. They worshipped all the signs of nature and celestial bodies; they prayed to the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, the clouds, the wind, the sea and other elements. Lightning, thunder and all natural phenomena were sacred to them. Fire was highly revered, and in some places, it was never extinguished. Neither in their governance nor in their religion did they believe in a single individual who controlled everything, but they valued councils and assemblies. This faith, which the Greeks and Romans further elaborated and beautified, is still present in Europe and throughout the civilized world as the mythology of poets, who find in it the beauty and charm they need. This mythology is the religion of our earliest ancestors, the Pelasgians.
The Pelasgians, depending on the lands they lived in, were divided into many tribes and clans, of which the most prominent and well-known were the Illyrians or Lirians (the Free), the Macedonians, the Thracians and the Phrygians, among others. The Illyrians lived in Albania and northern regions, which today include Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Dalmatia and beyond the Sava River. The Macedonians and Thracians lived in Macedonia and Thrace, and the Phrygians lived in Asia, from the coast to the Alis River, now known as the Kizilirmak. It is said that the Illyrians were very close to the Macedonians and Thracians, and the Phrygians as well; but they all formed one people and could understand each other’s languages.
Until the Roman era, all these Pelasgian peoples were thriving and united. The Macedonians had a powerful kingdom which, under Philip, grew significantly; and his son, Alexander the Great, conquered most of the known world at the time — Greece, Thrace, Asia Minor, Persia, India, Egypt, etc. — but not Illyria and Epirus, today’s Albania. After Alexander’s death, the Macedonians established several kingdoms in Asia, Egypt and Europe. However, because they were not united, being divided into many factions and fighting among themselves, they could not last long; after a while, they were subdued by the Romans, who emerged as a great power and conquered the Macedonian lands, including Macedonia itself.
The Romans put an end to the Phrygians and Thracians, who disappeared and were absorbed into other tribes that settled among them. In Macedonia, they held on for a time but became heavily mixed. In the sixth century AD, the Bulgars (a Tatar people) and the Serbs and Croats (Slavic peoples) invaded the Balkans in great numbers, covering much of Macedonia, pushing the Pelasgians out and mixing with them. This is how the Macedonians, Thracians, Phrygians and other Pelasgian tribes disappeared, except for the Illyrians, who are our direct ancestors.
II. The Illyrians and the Epirotes
Ancient Illyria did not encompass all of Albania, as it did not extend southward beyond the Vjosa River. However, to the north, it was much larger, as we have mentioned, stretching as far as the Sava River and to the end of the Adriatic Sea, also covering Bosnia and other regions. From the Vjosa River to the Gulf of Ambracia (now Arta), the southern part of today’s Toskeria was known as Epirus (Ipër, Hipër or Sipër — meaning “upper” in Albanian), a term used by the coastal inhabitants. The Greeks, who engaged in trade there, adopted this name after hearing it from the locals. The kingdom of Illyria was separate, as was the kingdom of Epirus. However, the Illyrians and Epirotes were not entirely subjugated or unified under these kingdoms; they were divided into many tribes or clans, each governed by its own council of elders and leaders. These councils were known as Plakoni or Pleqësi (Council of Elders).
From these two kingdoms, which history tells us were quite civilized, emerged several powerful and illustrious kings, such as Pyrrhus or Burris, king of Epirus, who defeated the Romans and took Greece, and Teuta, the queen of Illyria, and her son Gentius, who bravely resisted the Romans for a long time.
According to the writings of ancient Greek authors, the Illyrians, as well as the Epirotes, who were not significantly different from them, lived and behaved similarly to today’s Albanians without any major distinctions; they even spoke the same language that we speak today.
III. Albanians under the Romans
The Illyrians and Epirotes resisted the Romans for a long time, but in the end, the overwhelming force and numbers of the Romans defeated them, as they had done with many other nations. At that time, Epirus was united with Macedonia, and after they had resisted for a long time and inflicted heavy losses on Paul Emilius, the Roman military commander, this ruthless and cold-hearted man destroyed eighty cities in Toskeria and took thousands of slaves to Rome!
Thus, the freedom of the Illyrians and Epirotes was lost, and these lands, meaning Albania, came under Roman rule. However, despite being defeated and many being killed, the Albanians were not completely subjugated or enslaved. They remained, as always, masters of their own land and the Romans had only nominal control. To establish some power in Albania, the Romans brought several colonies of Roman settlers and placed them in fortified areas of Albania. The descendants of these colonies are the Vlachs or Aromanians, who still live in our country today. Even the long road they had constructed from Durrës to Salonika to move armies and for trade, known as Via Egnatia (derived from the Albanian word “e gjatë” meaning “long”), was barely maintained. In place of the former kingdoms of Illyria and Epirus, there was now Roman rule, but the Albanians still governed themselves through their local councils and elders, as they always had.
This was the state of Albania and how the Albanians lived under Roman rule. When the Roman Empire was divided into two, Albania became part of the Eastern Empire, based in Constantinople. Even under the emperors of Constantinople, the Albanians were almost entirely free and continued to govern themselves. They were masters of their own land and not slaves. During this period, Christianity entered Albania, and in a short time, all Albanians became Christians, though without changing their ancient customs and traditions.
As the power of the Byzantine Empire weakened, the strength and freedom of the Albanians increased. However, in the 7th century AD, hordes of Slavs and Bulgars invaded from the north and east, entering Byzantine lands by force. The Serbs filled the northern parts of Illyria, meaning Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia, Montenegro and Serbia, while the Bulgars, mixed with Slavs, took over Macedonia. The Albanians of Macedonia withdrew to the northern and western parts, into the mountains of Albania. Those in upper Illyria did not flee their lands but were mixed with so many Slavs that they lost their language and began to speak Serbian. Therefore, we can say that the Bosnians, Herzegovinians, Dalmatians and Montenegrins are more Albanian than Slav, as they have much Albanian blood in their veins. Their stature, appearance, customs, songs, dances and everything about them are closer to the Albanians than to other Slavs, who do not have the same stature or appearance.
However, because they speak Serbian today, they are considered Slavs and not Albanians; for language is the primary marker that distinguishes nations.
Thus, half of Illyria and half of Macedonia were separated from Albania and became part of Slavic lands. What remained of Albania was a small territory, consisting of the southern half of Illyria, the northern and western parts of Macedonia, and all of Epirus.
During Roman and Byzantine times, the names Illyria, Macedonia, Epirus and even Albania began to fade away. The remaining land, as we said, came to be called Albania, derived from the Albanian word Arbër. From that time onward, Albania’s borders have remained mostly unchanged, except for a few areas given to Serbia and Montenegro after the Congress of Berlin, such as Vranja, Leskoc, Kurshumlia, Ulqin, etc. Many Albanians from these regions made the grave mistake of abandoning their lands, leaving them to the Slavs. However, Ulqin has always been and remains Albanian, and it is certain that one day it will return and reunite with Albania.
IV. The Small Kingdoms of Albania
In the final days of the Byzantine Empire, when they had been expelled and no longer had the strength to govern the lands or defend against enemies, small kingdoms emerged in Albania, as they did in many other places. Many coastal areas of Albania had also fallen under the dominion of Venice. Among the small kingships that arose in Albania at that time, some were purely Albanian, while others were foreigners who had become Albanianized. Among the first group were the descendants of the Kastrioti family, from which the great Skanderbeg emerged in Kruja, as well as the Topia family in Arta, among others. Among the second group were the Dukagjini family in the highlands of Shkodra, the Muzaka family in Myzeqe and others.
Thus, Albania was divided into many fragments, and we cannot count all the small kingdoms; the larger ones could be considered principalities, while the smaller ones were lordships and fiefdoms that, due to the weakening of the central authority, had remained independent and without external governance. Amid these fragments, internal divisions, conflicts and wars were constant.
When the Turks crossed from Asia into Europe, gradually conquering the lands of the Balkan Peninsula one after the other, Albania was divided and fragmented in this manner. The Turks began to defeat the Albanian rulers one by one, driving some completely out of their lands and subjugating others. One of those who was subdued was Gjon Kastrioti, the father of Skanderbeg, who was forced to give Sultan Murat his four beloved sons as hostages, the youngest of whom was Gjergj Kastrioti, later known as Skanderbeg.
V. Albania in the Time of Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg, whom history reveals as having no equal or example in bravery, military strategy, strength, wisdom, righteous thinking, dealing with people, kindness of heart and greatness of spirit — Skanderbeg, who gave and will forever bring honour to Albania — this unparalleled man was still a child when he fell into the hands of the Turks and was raised in the Sultan’s palace. Even before he had grown a beard, he showed bravery and performed remarkable feats in the Ottoman army, astounding the entire world. Wherever he went, he was victorious and no one could stand against him.
When Skanderbeg returned from Syria, where he had been fighting for the Turks, he heard directly from the Sultan that his father had died. However, according to the agreement and the bond that his father had made with the Sultan, one of the sons was supposed to go to Kruja to assume his father’s place on the throne. Along with the news of his father’s death, Skanderbeg also learned of the death of his three brothers, who could not have died all at once by the hand of god. The brave Albanian was not so naive as to not understand what had happened to his unfortunate brothers and that the same fate awaited him.
Indeed, from that day, his master began to send him into difficult and dangerous battles in hopes of getting him killed, as killing him openly would have risked angering the Ottoman soldiers, who greatly admired Skanderbeg for his bravery and his kindness.
Therefore, Skanderbeg waited for an opportunity to escape and return to Albania, both to save himself and his Homeland, for which his heart burned with passion. The opportunity he sought soon presented itself and he went to Kruja, drove the Turks out and assumed his father’s throne. The lords and leaders of Albania gathered in Kruja, made an agreement and pledged to fight and die for the salvation of the Homeland, all recognizing Skanderbeg as their leader and king.
Thus, for the first time, Albania was united into one kingdom under a brave and capable king like Skanderbeg. The Turks immediately sent large armies to reclaim Albania, but Skanderbeg, along with the Albanians, stood against them with courage. With only a small band of men, he would swoop down like an eagle upon thousands of Turks, destroying entire armies of Sultan Murat and Mehmet, instilling fear and terror in the hearts of the Ottomans.
For over forty years, Skanderbeg and the Albanians fought, defeating and fending off their enemies, keeping Albania unconquered and unbowed. All the powers of Europe at the time placed their hopes in Skanderbeg, expecting the salvation of Europe to come from the Albanians. However, they did not have warriors and men like Skanderbeg, nor did they have the loyalty of the Albanians. Many times, the Hungarians (Magyars) and the Pope would involve Skanderbeg in battles, only to withdraw and leave him alone, watching from afar. Despite this, Skanderbeg stood firm and endured, and during his lifetime, Albania preserved its freedom and honour. But with Skanderbeg’s death, Albania fell into the hands of the Turks.
VI. Albania under the Turks
After Skanderbeg and his era which, although it was entirely marked by wars and bloodshed, remains the most beautiful and blessed of all times for our country — because it was then that the entire nation was united under a free government and Albania’s name was honoured throughout the world for standing firm against the Turks, whom even the great empires of that time could not withstand — Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire.
The Albanians, being brave and war-like people, had always had a strong desire for battle, seeing war as a personal pursuit and gain. They would go all over Europe, weapons in hand, helping whichever side they took. Following this ancient tradition, they crossed into Asia and entered the service of the Turks, assisting them with weapons and bravery. One such notable figure was Bajazid Pasha, a brave and loyal man who rescued Çelebi Sultan Mehmet from the midst of Tamerlane’s (Timur’s) army, saving him from numerous dangers by risking his own life, often carrying him in his arms and pleading for him. Bajazid Pasha, who saved the life of that Sultan, without whom the Ottoman Empire and the dynasty of Osman would have been extinguished, was an Albanian, as were many other important pashas and leaders who showed great bravery and rendered significant service in the Ottoman armies long before Albania was conquered by the Turks.
Thus, the Albanians began to embrace the Ottoman faith and convert to Islam even before Albania fell into Ottoman hands. But once the Ottomans became the rulers of Albania, the conversion to Islam increased significantly, and throughout Albania, people began to adopt the Ottoman religion, saying, “Where the sword is, there is the faith!” Albanians have the characteristic of quickly adopting a new faith and always seeking change. When they saw that the Turks did not honour those who were not of their faith, they did not hesitate to convert. Even those who remained Christian were not subjugated as other nations were; they retained their arms and honour, and they too would join their Muslim brothers in battle against the enemies of the Ottomans.
This suited the Ottoman Empire well. The constant wars, horse riding, raids, battles and all such things, which the Turks enjoyed, were also dear to the Albanians. The Turks found in the Albanians strong and loyal companions in battle, and the Albanians found in the Turks a master who opened a vast and unrestricted field for them to do whatever they desired.
During Ottoman rule, Albania became wealthier and more prosperous than ever before. The Albanians, fighting alongside the Turks in various parts of the world, would return loaded with gold and silver, valuable weapons and beautiful horses from Arabia, Egypt, Kurdistan, Hungary and other places. Being braver and more capable than the Turks, they rose to positions of great honour and respect, even surpassing the Turks themselves. Around 25 Grand Viziers (prime ministers) were Albanian, and some of the most notable and respected leaders who held this position were Albanians.
Furthermore, no foreigner ever governed Albania. All those who ruled Albania, whether small or great, were always Albanians. We can say that Albania governed itself, by Albanians and according to its own customs. It was never truly subjugated under the Turks, nor did it pay anything except the blood it shed in battle, which was highly valued and generously compensated.
This explains the bond that the Albanians had with the Turks. The Albanians found in the Turks what they wanted: wealth, honour, weapons, horses, raids as much as they liked and as much freedom as they needed. Meanwhile, the Turks found in the Albanians what they desired: bravery, loyalty and bloodshed without hesitation.
This was the situation until the time of the Tanzimat reforms; we will see below how things changed from that time onward.
VII. The Nation and Language of the Albanians
The Albanians speak one of the oldest and most beautiful languages on Earth. Languages that were once the sisters and companions of Albanian have disappeared thousands of years ago and are no longer spoken anywhere in the world; only their descendants remain in use. Albanian is a sister language to ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit (the language of ancient India), Zend (the language of ancient Persia), Celtic, Teutonic and others. But these languages, some of which were younger sisters to Albanian and much less significant, have not been spoken for thousands of years and survive only on the pages of ancient books. They are considered “dead languages,” while Albanian, our language, which is older than them, is still alive and spoken today, just as it was in the time of the Pelasgians.
Undoubtedly, the Pelasgians are the oldest Aryan people in Europe. We have many signs and much evidence that show that those Pelasgians, who seem almost mythical due to their extreme antiquity, spoke this very language that we speak today. The names of the gods worshipped by the Pelasgians, from whom Greek and Roman mythology borrowed, and many other words preserved in history, place names, etc., clearly show that they are purely Albanian words, indicating that the Pelasgians spoke this language thousands of years ago, almost without change. If a Pelasgian were to appear today, we could speak with them just as a Gheg speaks with a Tosk, or a Cham with a Gorani.
The structure of the Albanian language, the diversity of its word forms, its intricacies, the richness of its pronouns and other features unmatched by any modern language, and which even ancient languages did not possess to such an extent, all point to the fact that Albanian is a very ancient language, preserved since the most ancient and mythical times, unchanged and uncorrupted.
Language is the mark of a nation; every nation is defined by its language. People who forget or abandon their language and speak another eventually become part of the nation whose language they adopt, losing their own nationality. So many nations have disappeared, not because they all died or were killed, but because they intermingled with other peoples, adopted their language and became part of them without even realizing it.
This is how the Macedonians, Thracians, Phrygians, upper Illyrians and many others, who were once Pelasgians, meaning Albanians like us, disappeared. Today they no longer exist because they lost their language and with it their identity. But the Albanians in the regions known today as Albania have preserved their language very well, and thus the ancient language of the Pelasgians is still spoken today in that part of the world.
How did the Albanians manage to preserve their language, whole and unchanged, through such wild and turbulent times? How has the Albanian language remained intact, despite not having a written form or being taught in schools, while other written and carefully developed languages have changed so much that they are now considered different languages? The answer is simple: the Albanians preserved their language and identity not through writing, education or civilization, but through freedom — by always remaining independent, keeping to themselves, avoiding mixing with others and not allowing foreigners into their land. Their isolation from the world, from learning, civilization and commerce, in short, their way of life as if in the wild mountains, preserved and saved the Albanian language and nationality.
How is it that the Albanians never thought to write and read their language? This is a great mystery. We do not expect small tribes and scattered groups of ancient Pelasgians and Illyrians, who lived as wild people in the mountains, to see any need for this; it would never have occurred to them. But the Macedonians, who had a well-established kingdom, as well as the kingdoms of Pyrrhus in Epirus and Teuta in Illyria — how did they not see the need to write in their own language? Philip, who sought to expand Macedonia and conquer Greece, why did he not want to develop his own written language like Greek? Alexander may not have had time, but what about the Ptolemies, who embraced Greek learning and language in Alexandria — why did they never consider creating their own alphabet, given that they saw all the peoples of Asia and Egypt writing in their own languages? The Romans learned Greek and studied philosophy and all knowledge in that language, but they also developed their own Latin alphabet and wrote extensively in their own language.
Dr. Hahn, the great German philologist who wrote many truths about Albania, discovered in one part of Albania a stone inscribed in Albanian with letters that closely resemble Phoenician characters but are not exactly the same. However, these letters have not been found elsewhere, nor is it known that they were ever widely used in Albania. Some tombs and other stones with inscriptions in Greek characters found in Asia Minor near Ankara, as well as some in Etruria in Italy, where the language is neither Greek nor Latin, appear to have been written in Albanian by the ancient Phrygians and Etruscans, who were Pelasgians, meaning Albanians. But even these examples are rare and isolated.
It is understood that Albanians at some point wrote occasionally in their language with whatever script they knew, just as they later wrote in Arabic, Greek or Latin letters. However, these instances are few, and the Albanians never truly considered developing their own alphabet for writing their language. Thus, the Albanian language remained unwritten until our time.
VIII. Albanians — Always for the World and Never for Themselves
As we mentioned earlier, Albanians have always fought and shed their blood across the world, but it is others who have benefited from their sacrifices, while Albania has not seen any benefit. Many Albanians have distinguished themselves in knowledge and other fields, but others take pride in their achievements, not the Albanians or Albania.
The Greeks take pride in Pyrrhus and Alexander, claiming them as Greeks. The Macedonians, who with their bravery conquered the world in a short time, brought no benefit to Albania. Instead, the Greeks, who were their enemies, followed and surrounded them, and they gained from the blood that the Macedonians shed. For the Macedonians spread the Greek language and culture across the lands they conquered, not their own, which was Albanian. Even today, much of the world considers the Macedonians to be Greeks. Indeed, without the Macedonians, the Greek language and culture would never have gained the prominence they have today, and perhaps they would have been forgotten entirely. The school of Alexandria and the knowledge that flourished in Egypt during the Ptolemies spread Greek language and culture across the world. The Ptolemies, who were purely Albanians from Çamëria, and all the Macedonians abandoned their own language, Albanian, and adopted Greek, the language of Demosthenes, who had spoken so strongly against the Macedonians.
After the Greeks came the Romans, and they too gained much from the Albanians: Albanian bravery and intellect served to glorify the Romans, not the Albanians. Many brave and knowledgeable individuals emerged among the Albanians during this time, but the world knew them as Romans, not as Albanians.
Then came the Ottomans. Albanians, mixing with the Turks, took part in all their wars and victories against the world; the greatest acts of bravery and valour were performed by Albanians, yet it was the Turks who took the credit, and the world knew them as Turks, not Albanians. The greatest and most renowned Ottoman viziers were Albanians, such as Sinan Pasha, who conquered Yemen and carried the Ottoman flag as far as the Indian Ocean, and the Qyprilliu family, who saved the Ottoman Empire from great danger and strengthened it to the point of besieging Vienna. Many other prominent and brave men also emerged, from whom the Ottomans gained much, but Albania gained nothing.
In more recent times, Muslim Albanians have fought and died for the Turks, while Christian Albanians have fought for the Greeks — two nations that neither appreciate the Albanians’ sacrifices nor repay them with kindness, both working towards the destruction of the Albanian nation. Boçari, Xhavella, Miauli and many others, the majority of the heroes who fought for Greece’s revival and freedom, were purely Albanians, not Greeks at all. Yet Greece benefited greatly from their bravery, while Albania gained nothing. In the eyes of the world, it appeared that the Greeks were fighting the Turks, but in truth, it was Christian Albanians fighting Muslim Albanians. When the Christians won, Greece benefited; when the Muslims won, the Ottomans benefited; but the blood spilled on both sides was Albanian. Albanians fought brother against brother, while others profited. Albanians have always shed their blood without hesitation, but they have shed it in vain; Albania has never gained from the blood of its people. Instead, foreign enemies of Albania have always benefited from that precious blood, spilled thoughtlessly.
Not only with their swords and blood but also with their pens and minds, Albanians have always served foreigners. Without writing in their own language, they were forced to write in Greek, Latin, Slavic, Turkish or Arabic. The masters of these languages take pride in their achievements, while Albanians are seen as uncivilized and ignorant, ridiculed with the claim that “their buffaloes have eaten their books.” Yet Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of ancient Greece, was Macedonian, meaning Albanian and not Greek. It is true that some Greeks had settled in Stagira, where Aristotle was born, but his features, seen in his statues, his hesitant and imperfect use of the Greek language, his friendship with Philip, the enemy of the Greeks and other signs show that this great philosopher was not born to any of the Greeks who had settled in Stagira, but to a local Stagirite, a Macedonian, meaning a pure Albanian.
During the Ottoman period, many learned Albanians wrote books and poetry in Turkish or Arabic. Albanian poets who wrote in Turkish were so numerous that their names could fill an entire book. Yahya Bey, one of the greatest and most famous Turkish poets, was Albanian.
Albanians have shown throughout history that they are capable both with the sword and pen, with bravery, intellect and knowledge, and Albania has produced many distinguished and renowned individuals. However, none of them have worked for Albania, which has remained poor and unrecognized, while other countries and nations boast of its achievements.
An Albanian was capable of revitalizing Egypt and transforming it from a ruined and desolate land into the prosperous and enlightened country it is today. Mehmet Ali, an uneducated Albanian, was able to save a foreign land far from his own, yet no Albanian has ever been able to do the same for Albania.
Thus, in concluding these words, we must again say with a heavy heart: the Albanians have always worked for the world and never for themselves. Only Skanderbeg, in times past, worked for Albania, and he alone is truly Albania’s pride.
CHAPTER TWO:
WHAT IS ALBANIA?
I. The Borders of Albania
As we saw earlier, the land where the Albanians once lived was vast, and our ancestors, the Illyrians, Epirotes, Macedonians, Thracians, Phrygians and others, were widely spread. We also saw how, during Roman times, the Macedonians, Thracians and Phrygians began to lose their language and national identity, mixing with other peoples. Later, during the Byzantine era, hordes of Slavs entered the Balkan Peninsula, occupying Thrace, Macedonia and upper Illyria.
Since then, Albania has been greatly reduced in size. Of all the lands once inhabited by our ancestors, the Pelasgians, only lower Illyria (or southern Illyria), Epirus and upper Macedonia (or northern and western Macedonia) remain as part of Albania. However, today the names Illyria, Epirus, Macedonia, etc., are forgotten and are relics of ancient geography. Currently, the land where Albanians live is called Shqipëri in our language and Albania in foreign languages.
Albania is a part of the Balkan Peninsula in the southeastern region of Europe. It occupies the middle of the western side of the peninsula, extending along the Adriatic and Ionian seas from the 42nd parallel down to the Gulf of Arta below the 39th parallel. The northern borders of Albania, starting from the coast, extend northward, bordering Montenegro and Novi Pazar, reaching the border with Serbia above the 43rd parallel. The southern borders turn back northward along the Arta River and the borders of Greece, reaching as far as Zhigo. As for the eastern borders, a line drawn from the Serbian border near Vranja to the Greek border near Mount Zhigo, a line that follows the mountain ridges where waters divide and rivers flow, considering as much as possible the ethnicity of the people — meaning that it includes areas inhabited by other ethnic groups — this line will divide Albania from the other regions of the peninsula.
Thus, Albania is longitudinally situated between the 39th and 43rd parallels of the northern latitude and between the 17th and 19° 25’ meridians of eastern longitude. It is approximately 450 kilometres long and 200 kilometres wide, with a total area of about 80,000 square kilometres.
To the north, Albania borders Montenegro, Novi Pazar (or Bosnia, governed by Austria) and Serbia; to the east, it borders Macedonia; to the southeast, Greece; and to the southwest and west, it is bordered by the sea, which separates it from Italy and the civilized part of Europe.
II. The Land of Albania
This land, surrounded by the borders we described, is Albania, our beloved Homeland. It is one of the most beautiful lands in Europe. Perhaps it is not the richest or the most fertile, but it is very beautiful. It is mountainous, with tall, rugged and steep mountains, but also with plateaus covered in dense forests, cold waters, snow-capped peaks in the summer, beautiful flowers, pastures that feed livestock and sustain people, and metals that sleep beneath the earth, untouched since the creation of the world. It has wide plains, through which rivers flow, capable of irrigating the land and turning it into gardens. But today, due to neglect, these rivers flood the land and turn it into marshes. Just the Myzeqe plain alone could feed all of Albania if the rivers were managed. The Kosova Plain, the Manastir Plain, and the regions of Tetova and Shkup are among the most beautiful lands on Earth. The hills of Çamëria, covered in olive groves and orchards of oranges and lemons, are unmatched. The entire coastline is covered with olive trees and beautiful forests, and oranges grow as far north as Elbasan.
Albania has many rivers and streams. With minimal effort, they could irrigate vast lands and many of them could be made navigable, allowing boats to travel far upstream from their mouths. Albania boasts some of the largest and most beautiful lakes in the Balkan Peninsula, such as the lakes of Shkodra, Ohri, Prespa, Kostur and Janina. These lakes are full of fish and could support small ships navigating their waters.
Even today, Albania raises a great deal of livestock, including sheep, goats, cattle and horses. Albanian këvërxhi and ruda sheep fill Istanbul and all the lands of the Ottoman Empire with quality meat, and Albania with wool. The Myzeqe plain can produce many horses, which, although small, are strong and have excellent endurance. Albanians have a great affinity for and expertise in raising livestock of all kinds. If there were a government that could provide them with guidance, open opportunities and teach them how to expand, breed and improve their livestock, they could live well solely through animal husbandry.
In short, although Albania is small, it has every type of climate and soil, along with many resources and blessings. If it were managed properly, it could flourish and sustain four times as many people as it does today.
III. The People of Albania, the Albanians
Within the borders we described earlier, Albania has around 2,000,000 people or even more. Of these, approximately 100,000 are Vlachs or Aromanians in the Pindi mountains and scattered in other areas. Another similar number might be Greeks, around Janina, and Slavs in the plains of Manastir and the regions of Kosova. However, these could also be Albanians who have forgotten their language and learned Greek or Slavic in school and church. Many of them have no land or homes of their own but are tenant farmers on land owned by others, brought from afar to work the land during times when the Albanians could not lay down their rifles to take up the plough.
All the other native people of Albania are purely Albanians, divided into Ghegs and Tosks. The Shkumbin River separates Gegëria from Toskëria, but there are still some Ghegs living south of the river, and in certain areas, the Gheg dialect is spoken.
There is no deep-rooted division between the Ghegs and Tosks. They are all one nation, speaking one language with very few variations, which will disappear altogether as the language evolves. In terms of religion, the Albanians are divided into Muslims, who make up two-thirds of the population, and Christians, who make up one-third. The Christians are almost equally divided into Catholics, whom we call Latins, and Orthodox. In Gegëria, the Christians are mostly Catholic, while in Toskëria, they are mostly Orthodox. The Muslims are also divided into Sunnis and Bektashis.
However, these religious divisions do not cause any discord or division among the Albanians. Religious conflicts, which have often led to great and terrible massacres in the East and even in Europe, in countries with a higher level of civilization, are unknown in Albania. Never has there been any strife between Muslims and Christians, between Catholics and Orthodox, or between Sunnis and Bektashis in this land. An Albanian is an Albanian before being either Muslim or Christian. Whatever they were when they followed the faith of their ancestors, the faith of the Pelasgians, they remained the same when they became Christians, and they are the same even after adopting the faith of Mohammad. Religion has never changed them, and they have always placed their national identity above their religion.
Through the power of this unity and the desire to maintain their national identity, which they have passed down from generation to generation, the Albanians have been able to preserve their nationality and language through all the dangers that have threatened them over time. Despite the changes in religion and the passage of time, the Albanians today are the same as they were thousands of years ago: they are the Pelasgians of ancient times, the Illyrians and Macedonians of antiquity, and the Epirotes of Skanderbeg’s era. They are an ancient people who have remained unchanged from the beginning until today.
The Albanians possess everything a nation needs: they are so brave and strong that, despite being fewer than 2,000,000 men and women, if pressed, they could raise an army of 300,000 or more soldiers, who are equal to a million from any other nation. The bravery, strength and fighting ability of the Albanian are not just things we Albanians say; even our enemies cannot deny it and acknowledge it constantly. Given this, there is no doubt that the Albanians are capable of defending their country against any enemy or danger. Therefore, Albania should never be trampled by foreigners, and it must always maintain its freedom. Why should the brave and strong Albanian not be the master of Albania? Why should he not govern his own land?
The Albanian is not only brave and strong but also more intelligent than any other nation. In any school or field of learning, the Albanian stands out from others and surpasses everyone. In work and craftsmanship, the Albanian is no less capable than in warfare and knowledge: he works the land tirelessly, digs deep furrows, and can accomplish great and valuable tasks. He is an excellent blacksmith, making knives, scissors, weapons, etc. Once he sees a rifle made in European factories with advanced machines, he is capable of making it himself without even using the same tools. The Albanian also works with silk, wool, cotton and flax, producing fabrics, shajak (a type of cloth), linen, etc. He works leather, making shoes, fur clothing and more. Cheese, butter, oil, wine and other products made from livestock and the fruits of the earth are among the most common goods produced by the Albanians.
The Albanian women, as beautiful as they are honourable, are even more industrious than their men and almost as brave as them. They focus entirely on household work without interfering with their men. Despite this, they never put aside their weaving or embroidery work; they create fine silk fabrics and beautifully embroider with gold and silk, in addition to sewing clothes, knitting socks and doing other domestic tasks.
In short, the Albanians are brave, intelligent, hardworking, and capable of every kind of work. Despite the differences in religion, they are not divided or fractured but united, with a deep love for one another. In other words, they have all the qualities that a nation needs to prosper.
IV. The Albanians Outside of Albania
In addition to the approximately 2,000,000 Albanians living in Albania, there are more than half a million Albanians living outside of Albania, in Italy, Greece, some parts of Turkey, Montenegro and elsewhere. Among these, the Albanians in Greece and Italy are quite numerous. Those in Greece left Albania before the arrival of the Ottomans, during Byzantine times; they fled from invaders and other wild tribes that swept down from the north and overran Albania along with other lands. Thousands of Albanians left their Homeland at that time in fear of these invaders and settled in the Greek islands, in Morea, Attica and other regions of Greece. Many of these areas were deserted and uninhabited when they arrived, and even in places that had people, the Albanians, by living together, were able to preserve their language — Albanian — which they still speak today. Nidhra, Peca, Poros, Kullur, Egjina and other islands are still purely inhabited by Albanians, and Albanian is the only language spoken there. Most of the inhabitants of Attica are Albanians. Athens, before becoming the capital of Greece, was a small Albanian town where no other language was spoken except Albanian. It is said that today, one-third of Greece’s population (excluding Thessaly) are Albanians; if not one-third, certainly at least one-quarter. At that time, many Albanians also spread to other places, and thus the island of Marmara near Constantinople, as well as some villages around Adrianople and Plovdiv, known as Arnavutköy, are purely inhabited by Albanians.
The Albanians in Italy are located in Calabria and Sicily, where they have established villages and communities, living separately from the Italians while maintaining their language and religion (as they are Orthodox Christians). There are about 300,000 Albanians who speak Albanian. These Albanians fled Albania after the death of Skanderbeg, when Albania fell into the hands of the Ottomans. At that time, many Albanians fled, but most dispersed throughout Europe and eventually lost their language and mixed with the local populations. However, some prominent families, though they assimilated, retained the Albanian name, such as the Albanians in Italy, who produced many distinguished figures who served Italy with their knowledge and great contributions. One such figure was a pope: Clement XII.
Of this wave of Albanians who fled to Europe, only those who settled in the Kingdom of Naples, to which Skanderbeg had offered assistance, were able to stay together and preserve their language and national identity until today. The language they speak is Albanian, specifically the Tosk dialect, though somewhat altered and mixed with Italian, but still retaining many old Albanian words that we have since forgotten. Among the Albanians in Italy, there are many educated and valuable individuals with a strong desire to preserve their national identity and language. They have collected many old poems and songs and have published some books in Albanian. They have also contributed greatly to Italy and demonstrated much bravery alongside Garibaldi.
Thus, the Albanians, both within Albania and outside of it, number more than two and a half million.
V. How Are the Albanians Today?
As we mentioned earlier, when the Albanians fell into the hands of the Turks, they did not become captives, as was feared, nor did they become the slaves of the Turks. Instead, they became their companions, joining them in attacking other nations, plundering and seizing wealth, and returning to their land laden with spoils. Albania remained free and almost independent.
For hundreds of years, the Albanians lived in this way. But do they live the same way today? No, not at all! Today, the Albanians are enslaved, humiliated, subjugated, oppressed and scattered far more than other nations under Ottoman rule. They are treated worse than the Greeks, Slavs, Armenians and even Jews!
The Ottoman Empire no longer trusts the Albanians. They view them as enemies and traitors, not as allies and brothers, as they once did. Today, the Albanians are conscripted into the military, oppressed and beaten to force them to learn the Turkish language and military knowledge, which the Turks themselves do not possess, and which the Albanians learned naturally, as if from their mother’s milk. They are not taught, but rather mocked and humiliated. They are taken into military service for three years but kept under arms for ten years, far from their homes and Homeland — how? Naked, hungry, sick and poor! In battle, they are sent to die for no reason. Their commanders, who are Turks, are ignorant and cowardly, leading them into traps from which they cannot escape. The poor Albanian, despite everything, fights naked and hungry with broken weapons, fighting like a dragon, showing his bravery and bringing honour to the Turks and the Ottoman Empire! But is his sacrifice recognized or rewarded? Never! The Albanian soldier, if he does not die in battle, perishes from illness, hunger or exposure. Of those conscripted, very few ever return home. And who becomes the commander? Always the Turks. Half of the Ottoman army is made up of Albanians, but not even one in a hundred commanders is an Albanian.
The Albanians, who were once accustomed to not paying any taxes, are now subjected to such heavy taxes that they can barely survive. The Turks, who have ruled them for five hundred years, have not taught them any trade, craft or knowledge, but only how to fight and plunder. Now, suddenly, they want to disarm them and demand that they pay! Where can the poor people find the money to pay when they have nothing to eat? The Albanians, who just a short time ago were dressed in fine clothes and armed with silver and gold weapons, are now naked, with only a single shirt, so ragged that even a dog wouldn’t touch it! And then comes the tax collector or official, raising his stick and beating them, shouting, “Pay!” But where can the poor Albanian find the money to pay? They sell their belongings — goats, sheep, whatever they have — down to the very nails of their homes! The Albanian must starve in order to pay the taxes! What a disgrace! What a great injustice! May god not allow it to continue!
This is the state of Toskëria today and many parts of Gegëria. Some regions of Gegëria, which have kept their arms and remained in their rugged mountains, have not been as oppressed. They do not provide soldiers or pay taxes, but they live like wild people without any government, constantly fighting among themselves. Even they are being consumed by poverty, as they have no means of income and their lands are barren and poor. Despite this, the Ottoman government is tightening its grip on them day by day, trying to disarm them so they too can be reduced to weak, oppressed slaves and stripped of everything they have!
Albania today is governed by foreign Turks and by corrupt and dishonourable individuals, who buy their positions in Constantinople with money and come to Albania to exploit the Albanians and extract even more money than they paid, stealing whatever they can for themselves!
Even though Albania is poor and uneducated, it has capable people who can govern their country, as they have done for centuries with honour and justice. But not only are these Albanians not given positions in Albania, they are not even allowed to set foot in their beloved Homeland! They are given a piece of bread to shut them up and are kept as slaves in the farthest corners of Anatolia and Arabia! Only traitors are honoured!
This is the state of the Albanians today.
VI. The National Identity of the Albanians
For a person in this life, there is nothing more valuable or dear than their national identity. Just as every person loves their father and mother and the land where they were born and raised, so too do they love their nation. Anyone who does not love their nation and Homeland is a traitor and wicked; such a person cannot even be called human. Albanians, more than any other people, love and honour their nation and Homeland. A true Albanian is willing to die for his national identity and cannot tolerate hearing anyone insult his Albanian heritage. In our parts of the East, people often place their religion before their national identity. For example, a Greek, when changing his religion, also abandons his national identity: if he becomes Catholic, he says he is Frank; if he becomes Muslim, he says he is Turk. Only the Albanian keeps his religion secondary and places his national identity first. Whether the Albanian is Muslim, Orthodox or Catholic, he remains Albanian. Religion never causes division or conflict among them. That is why the religious strife that is common elsewhere, even in enlightened Europe, is unknown in Albania and has never occurred among the Albanians.
But despite this love that the Albanians have for their national identity and the honour they give it, they have done very little to preserve and maintain it. How is a nation’s identity preserved? Primarily through its language. As we mentioned earlier, language is the first and most important sign of a nation’s identity. And how is language preserved? Through writing. An unwritten language cannot remain intact for long; when mixed with other languages, it becomes corrupted. You might say, “But how has our language survived for thousands of years without being written, and why can’t it continue to do so?” Yes, it has survived for thousands of years because, in the past, Albanians lived isolated in their mountains, without mixing with other nations, and the neighbouring nations were also uneducated. Back then, everything was settled by the sword, and the Albanian was the strongest with the sword. However, we see that the Macedonians, despite being strong enough to conquer the world, lost their national identity as soon as they mixed with more advanced nations because they did not have their own written language. As a result, they were absorbed and disappeared to the point that many people now think of them as Greeks.
Only the Albanians of Albania have preserved their national identity by avoiding mixing with foreigners and living separated from the rest of the world, almost like wild people. But while they have preserved their national identity and language until today without education and without writing, can they continue to do so, whether in Albania, Italy or Greece? No, no, never! The world has changed, people have awakened, nations have become enlightened and each strives to advance ahead of the others. Every nation looks to grow and expand, and takes care to absorb those that are smaller and weaker.
Today, any nation that wants to preserve its identity and language must be vigilant, remain focussed, advance its language and be careful not to be devoured or fragmented by neighbouring nations. In the world of nations, there are no friendships, just as there are none in games; everyone looks out for their own interests and seeks to consume the other. Nations are like fish that eat each other. Woe to the weak!
VII. The Dangers Facing Albania
Until recently, Albania was surrounded by Ottoman territories, and the borders of the empire were far from Albania. The Albanians, together with the Ottomans, defended the distant borders of the empire, while their Homeland remained safe and was thought to be beyond any threat, knowing that no enemy could approach Albania. But today, things are different; now Albania is isolated in a remote and distinct corner of the Ottoman Empire and is surrounded by hostile borders. Montenegro, Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria have encircled Albania, and Austria has also drawn near. Albania is connected to Turkey by only a thin strip of land between Bulgaria and the Aegean Sea, which the Bulgarians could easily take and thus sever Albania from Turkey. Turkey has no naval power to assist Albania from that side. Therefore, in any war involving the Bulgarians, the Albanians must be able to defend their land on their own without relying on Turkey, which cannot even protect itself.
But beyond these dangers that will emerge in times of war, Albania faces even greater and deeper threats that are already taking root during times of peace, without bloodshed or weapons. This is the war of the pen and school, the war of national identity. The nations surrounding Albania seek to divide it among themselves. The Greeks, Slavs and other neighbouring nations refuse to acknowledge the existence of an Albanian national identity. Each nation uses religion as a tool to pull Albanians of the same faith toward their side. The first to do this is the Turk, who seeks to separate the Muslim Albanians from their Christian brothers by fostering religious fanaticism and division. To permanently separate Christians from Muslims and create a deep chasm between them, the Ottoman government does not recognize Christian Albanians as Albanians but calls them Rum (Greeks), Bulgarians, Serbs, Latins, etc., while referring to Muslims as Islamic. The name Albanian is neither recognized nor heard. The blind Turks! They do not understand, nor do they realize, that by following this path, they serve the goals of their enemies and undermine their own foundations!
The Greeks, who owe their freedom and the kingdom they have today to the blood of Albanians like Boçari, Xhavella, Miauli and other Albanian heroes, are the worst enemies of Albania. The whole world knows of Greece’s great ambitions. Though in the time of Pericles, when they were at their greatest and most enlightened, they had less territory than they do today, and have no right to demand more, they now seek to claim all the lands once held by Alexander the Great, or to revive the Byzantine Empire, without considering that Alexander was Macedonian and the Byzantines were Roman — two nations that were enemies of the Greeks and who ultimately destroyed Greece. Following this grand ambition, the Greeks have aimed to conquer and bring the entire Balkan Peninsula, including Romania and Bulgaria, under Greek control. But after losing these lands permanently, despite their cries and protests, they have now narrowed their focus to Albania and Macedonia. True to their usual tactics, they aim to win over the Orthodox Albanians by separating them from their Muslim and Catholic brothers, trying to make them forget their beautiful language and learn to speak, write and conduct themselves in Greek, thus turning them into Greeks. They believe that if the Christians become Greeks, Europe will not care about the Muslims, and when the time comes, the region, meaning all of southern Albania and Toskëria, will be given to Greece.
Thus, the Greeks, on one hand, work from Athens with schools, teachers, books, doctors and other means, even using money — often paid by foolish and traitorous Albanian Grecomaniacs — and on the other hand, they work from Constantinople through the Patriarchate, bishops, priests and the church, using excommunication and other pressures as if Christ himself were Greek, and as if to be Christian and Orthodox, one must necessarily be Greek or a Grecomaniac. From both sides, the Greeks are striving day by day to convert the Orthodox Albanians into Greeks.
And the Orthodox Albanians, due to ignorance and the darkness in which they find themselves, are easily deceived. They begin to believe that they cannot be Christian without being Greek, and they mistakenly think that only the Greek language is the language of Orthodoxy. They struggle to learn this difficult and forgotten language, which even very few Greeks can master. These traitorous Albanians, unaware of what they are doing, are called Grecomaniacs.
Thanks be to god! Since the Albanian language has started to be written, the number of Grecomaniacs has been decreasing day by day as they come to realize the Greeks’ deceptions and reclaim their national identity and language with both hands. They no longer fear the Greek teachers or the bishops of the Fener. But the Greeks have a powerful ally with whom they have joined forces to destroy the Albanian national identity and language: that ally is the Turk, who assists Greece and the Fener Patriarchate in this effort as much as possible. To serve Greek interests, the Ottoman government does not allow the establishment of any Albanian schools, the publication of any Albanian books or the teaching of anything in the Albanian language, while supporting Greek schools in every way and keeping Christian Albanians under the yoke of the Fener clergy.
After the Turks and Greeks, Albania’s enemies are the Bulgarians and Serbs, who seek to do in the eastern and northern regions of Albania what the Greeks are doing in the south. In those areas, many Orthodox Albanians, just as ignorant and unaware as those in the south, show a desire for the Slavic language and wish to forget the beautiful language their ancestors have spoken for thousands of years. What a shame and what a great disgrace and humiliation! But even the Slavs are aided by the Turks, who grant them every freedom to do as they please, while binding the Albanians’ hands. They issue decrees allowing the Slavs to open schools and establish metropolitan centres in Albanian lands, while denying the Albanians even a single small school! Without even considering for a moment whether the Greeks and Slavs are the friends of the Turks, or if it is the Albanians, who have spilled and continue to spill blood for them?
Thus, with the help of the Turks, the Greeks and Slavs are Albania’s enemies, working tirelessly to destroy the national identity and language of this nation, whose very name they seek to erase. Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia aim to wipe out the Albanian national identity and Albanian language, each trying to claim the parts of Albania they consider theirs by turning the Christian Albanians into members of their respective nations. Meanwhile, Turkey seeks to separate the Muslim Albanians from their Christian brothers, not for its own benefit, but to drag them down into the deep pit of destruction into which it is itself sinking, never to emerge again.
These are the dangers facing Albania and the Albanians. The Albanians must be very wary of the treachery of the Turks, Greeks and Slavs, and they must stand firm against them with their rightful claim.
VIII. The Friends of the Albanians
Although the Albanians are surrounded by enemies and even the Turks and Greeks — who need the friendship and unity of the Albanians — are the ones working the hardest to destroy the Albanian nation, we cannot say that the entire world is an enemy of the Albanians. No, we have friends as well, and many who support us and could help us, if we help ourselves. All the nations of Europe — the French, Italians, Germans, English and others — respect and honour our nation; they all marvel at the bravery of the Albanians, their loyalty and the many virtues they attribute to our people. All European writers have always spoken well of us; they know us as brave and honourable, recognizing us as one of the oldest and noblest nations in Europe. Our language has even begun to be studied and it is given great importance in general literature. France, historically, has shown a special affection for the Albanians, particularly for the Catholics and the people of Mirdita. Italy has 300,000 Albanians in its land who fought more for Italy’s unification than the Italians themselves, and to honour them, Italy wishes the best for Albania, which it sees as a neighbour and does not want to see divided by the Greeks and Slavs. Austria does not want to see the Slavs of Serbia and Bulgaria expand into the heart of Albania and grow too strong; a brave nation like the Albanians is seen as an ally and a force in the Balkans against the numerous Slavs, just as Austria relies on the Romanians. Even Russia, which supports the Slavs and protects all Slavs, still speaks well of and supports the Albanians, just as it has always supported the Greeks, despite the Greeks being enemies of Russia.
Thus, all the Great Powers respect and honour us, and we have many friends. However, none of these friends is close enough to take up our cause and work for us without us first doing the work ourselves. Besides, seeing us divided into three faiths, with the majority being Muslim, they doubt that we can become a unified and cohesive nation capable of self-government. But when they see us in action and understand that we are capable of governing ourselves, there is no doubt that they will all support our rightful cause.
Among our neighbouring nations, there is only one true friend who understands its own interests and knows that it cannot thrive without us. This nation is the Vlach people, who live in Albania and near Albania. Some of them are Albanian Vlachs, who speak both Vlach and Albanian, and others are Greek Vlachs, who speak both Vlach and Greek. The Greeks have done to the Vlachs what they have done to the Albanians, trying to turn them into Greeks through their schools and churches. Until recently, the Vlachs, like the Orthodox Albanians, were deceived and wanted to be called Greeks, trying to forget their language and learn Greek. But finally they realized how valuable their language and national identity are, and they began to teach their language and open schools of their own.
In this effort, the Vlachs can have no better ally or local friend than the Albanians. By distancing themselves from the Greeks, who are never satisfied until they consume and dominate both the Vlachs and Albanians, they needed to ally with the Albanians — those who are true Albanians and love their language and national identity. Even Romania, the homeland of the Vlachs and their kin, understands well that the Vlachs of Albania and Macedonia cannot survive and preserve their language and identity against the deceptions of the Greeks without relying on the friendship of the Albanians and uniting with them. That is why Romania has shown more friendship toward Albania than any other nation and has worked to separate the Albanians from the Greeks. In Romania, the first Albanian society was formed, the first printing press was established and the first Albanian books were published. Albania will never forget this kindness from Romania and will repay it by supporting and treating the Vlachs of Albania well.
But if a person is weak and helpless, everyone will take advantage of them — not only enemies but also friends. To maintain one’s dignity, one must prove capable of standing up against both enemies and friends. In the same way, even though the Vlachs like us and need our friendship, they still want to be above us and more prominent than us, despite being fewer in number and newcomers in Albania. Some Vlachs even claim that they are the intellect and the Albanians are the body — that Albanians should fight and die while the Vlachs govern and rule. These Vlachs are bold enough to say that Albanians don’t need their own writing or schools since they have the Vlach letters and schools. This same offer is made to us by the Greeks and Turks — everyone wants us so much that they offer us their own language and writing, welcoming us into their schools with open arms!
Therefore, we should not trust the Vlachs too much, even though we would like to believe that this way of thinking is not held by all the Vlachs, nor by the wiser among them. In any case, we must carefully consider our own affairs and strive to resolve our own problems because, in this world, everyone looks out for themselves. Enemies want to take our skin, and friends want to take our freedom.
IX. The Writing of the Albanian Language
As we mentioned earlier, the most essential sign of a nation, and what makes it recognized as a distinct nation, is its language. A language that is not written and read is not considered a proper language, as seen with the Provencal in France, the Catalan in Spain, the Welsh in England and other such nations that speak their own language but do not write it. The world recognizes them as French, Spanish, English and others based on the languages they write and read.
Thus, the foremost task for a nation that wants to preserve its identity is to write in its own language. For this reason, those who aim to destroy and assimilate a nation focus first on preventing that nation from writing its own language.
We have already mentioned that the Albanians did not take the initiative to write their language for a long time, which is why Albanian remained unwritten until our times. The Albanian language has been preserved because our ancestors lived separately and did not mix with other nations. But it is not just our nation that failed to write its language; many other nations in Europe and Asia only began writing their languages in recent centuries. Though Albanian has survived thousands of years without writing, it cannot continue to do so for much longer now that the times have changed. No nation can live isolated and separate forever. Our neighbours have awakened and are advancing, striving to overpower us. Their first task is to make us forget our language and learn theirs. Not only Albanians in Greece and Italy, but also many within Albania have stopped speaking and knowing Albanian, even though their parents knew no other language. If left unwritten, the Albanian language, which has been preserved for thousands of years, would soon disappear and be forgotten.
Recognizing this great and terrible danger, some Albanians, filled with love for their nation, brought forth the desire that every enlightened Albanian has long kept hidden in their heart — to write in our beautiful language. Twenty years ago, at the time of the League of Prizren, the Albanian alphabet was fully developed, with each sound having a unique letter and every letter representing only one sound. When the Albanians saw their beautiful language written so well, they eagerly embraced the letters. Associations were established in Romania and Egypt, following the one in Constantinople, which could not last long under Turkish rule. A school was opened in Korça, and for the first time, our language began to be taught. Although schools did not multiply as they should have, the Albanian alphabet spread throughout Albania, and men and women, boys and girls, all quickly learned to read and write in Albanian. In twenty years, the Albanian letters took such deep and strong roots that they could never be uprooted or overturned. This tree, planted twenty years ago, has blossomed and borne sweet and beautiful fruit.
The flourishing of Albanian writing spells doom for the enemies of our nation. Initially, many claimed that it was impossible to write in Albanian, that it was a broken and corrupt language, incapable of supporting an alphabet or conveying knowledge. They said many such things to make us lose hope and stop striving to write our language. But when they saw that Albanian could indeed be written beautifully, read with ease and used for scholarly work, they realized that our language is better developed than many others. They understood that, while it takes the Greek a long time to learn the language of Homer, Euripides and Plato, or the Turk to grasp the vast and complex languages of the Arabs and Persians, the Albanian can learn to read and write his own language in just a few days and quickly acquire the necessary knowledge.
Seeing these advantages of the Albanian language and the great progress of its writing, they realized that Albania would soon slip from their grasp and all of them united to stop the writing of the Albanian language. Turks, Greeks, Slavs and others, though enemies among themselves, joined hands against us. The Sublime Porte, the Patriarchate of Fener and the government of Athens all came together for this cause. The Turk prohibited the opening of Albanian schools, confiscated Albanian books and forbade the printing of even a single page in our language, viewing all those who wanted to write and read in Albanian as enemies. The Greek, from Athens, cried out against Albanian writing, issuing countless anathemas against the Albanians who loved their language, even killing many with Turkish hands. The Patriarch and the bishops hurled excommunications like thunderbolts from god in ancient times.
All these prohibitions prevented the spread of Albanian schools and the publication of books and newspapers in our language. But they could not stop the Albanians from learning the Albanian script. The Albanians are used to learning letters even without schools, in the open, without books and writing by hand.
Today, Albanian is no longer an unwritten language, as it was twenty years ago. It is now a written and read language, and one of the most beautiful. No language is easier or more pleasant to read than Albanian. This has deeply angered and embittered our enemies, for they see that Albanian writing has taken such strong roots that they can no longer claim that Albanian cannot be written — because here it is, already written.
X. The Poverty of the Albanians and the Lack of Governance in Albania
Until recently, Albania was quite prosperous and flourishing. The Albanians lived off military wages and war spoils, as well as from certain crafts they practised. They made and wore their own clothing and gear, which was produced locally. The government’s taxes were very low and light. Of the money brought into Albania from abroad, very little left the country and most remained within. This contributed to widespread prosperity.
Today, things are no longer the same. Albanians no longer serve in the military with pay but are instead forced into military conscription. They do not return from wars adorned in gold and equipped with fine weapons, but rather come back naked, sick and exhausted. Nothing is produced locally anymore, as local craftsmen cannot compete with European factories. The little money that falls into Albanian hands quickly flows out of the country, rolling into Europe. The government’s taxes are numerous and burdensome, barely payable by the people. The old sources of income have disappeared and no new ones have emerged to replace them. Roads are paid for separately, but there are none; rivers flood the fields, and the resulting marshes breed diseases, making people perpetually sick and weak, unable to work and causing death by illness and starvation. Thus, great and severe poverty has spread across all of Albania.
The Ottoman government in Albania exists solely to collect taxes and soldiers. “Come, you Albanian boy who has just turned twenty, go to foreign lands and lock yourself in a cold and desolate barracks, hungry and destitute! Come, you poor Albanian, pay five grosh for your goat, from which you cannot even earn half that amount in a year!” This is the work of the Turkish governor, but there is no actual governance. Once the tax collector leaves the village after taking the farmer’s son or livestock, the bandits come to steal or the enemy arrives to kill. The same governor who was skilled at extortion is incapable of protecting the people from thieves or defending them from enemies. The poor Albanian is forced to remain day and night with a weapon in hand just to protect his life and property — if they even let him keep his weapon, as often they take those too, leaving him defenceless against bandits and enemies from whom he cannot protect himself. Moreover, many times the governor himself conspires with the thieves to plunder the honourable Albanian.
Can such a government be called a government? Never. Albania is under a wretched form of lawlessness. There is no true governance. Albanians kill and rob each other every day; Albanian blood is spilled in vain and for no purpose, the same precious blood that should not be spilled except to protect and save Albania!
Poverty, lawlessness and ignorance bring about discord, division and enmity. The Albanians, poor, uneducated, divided and hostile to one another, are killing each other and shedding their own blood in vain. With each passing day, they are losing more and more! They have fallen into a deep and heavy slumber. Meanwhile, their neighbours are awakening day by day, growing enlightened, increasing in strength and leaving their mark deep inside Albania, ready to tear it apart completely!
This is the state of Albania today!
CHAPTER THREE:
WHAT WILL BECOME OF ALBANIA?
I. Can Albania Survive as It Is?
Albania is a part of Ottoman Europe. Its current survival is tied to the survival of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. Will the Ottoman Empire continue to exist for much longer in Europe? No one can definitively answer this question, but the likely answer is “no.” The Ottoman Empire has lasted a long time in Europe; after the Congress of Berlin, it was believed it would last for only ten more years, but twenty have passed, meaning it has already survived longer than expected. This empire has done nothing and is doing nothing to prolong its life. Like a sick person who refuses to follow the doctor’s advice and instead worsens his condition, so too is this empire taking every step to shorten its remaining days. We do not know how long it can survive in Asia, and it is not our goal to discuss that here; but in Europe, its life is very short.
Albania has not established any foundation or taken root on its own; it exists on the crumbling foundation of the Ottoman Empire, relying on its decaying roots. When this great structure collapses, Albania will fall as well, crushed under the heavy ruins of the Ottoman Empire.
Other nations within Ottoman Europe have already started preparing themselves, so they can stand on their own and not be buried under the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. These nations resemble plants that are nourished and grow strong beneath the snow in winter, and when this cold and heavy burden is lifted from the earth, they begin to bloom and beautify in an instant. But the Albanians, who for centuries have depended on the Ottomans, despite seeing that this great structure, which they call the Ottoman Empire, is crumbling and its walls are falling daily, still refuse to let go of their dependence on it. This century-long snowstorm, which has nourished other nations beneath it, has burned Albania’s roots with its coldness. Albania has frozen and withered during this long winter of tyranny, even though it has not been trampled as much as other lands.
The Macedonian issue has been placed on the diplomatic table, and it will soon be resolved one way or another. Rumelia will not remain as it is; the Ottomans will be weakened and will no longer be able to oppress the peoples of these regions. The voices of the nations will be heard and their rights will be granted. Will the Albanians also raise their voices then and demand their rights? Or will they continue to fight until the last moment to keep Ottoman tyranny over themselves and other nations? This is the question.
The closer we come to the fall of the black tyranny of the Ottomans, the more the hope of liberation for the oppressed nations grows. As mentioned earlier, the Albanians have historically been allies of the Ottomans, not their slaves. But today, they suffer under the greatest tyranny — they are the most oppressed and downtrodden. Given this, why do all the other nations strive to rid themselves of this heavy shadow, while the Albanians seek to keep it? Do they not see that they are leaning against a wall that is crumbling and will crush them when it falls? The Albanians are like a person who has fallen into the sea and knows how to swim well, but who wants to save the Ottomans, who have also fallen into the sea and cannot swim. However, these damned Ottomans don’t let the swimmer grab onto them properly and save them; instead, they grab the swimmer’s legs or one arm and prevent them from swimming. As a result, both nations are drowning together, sinking to the bottom of the sea. The Albanian, who sees this danger with his own eyes, why does he let himself be dragged down by this treacherous and reckless person who cannot save himself and won’t let others save him? What should a person do when faced with such a perilous situation? — He should give this traitor a strong kick, send him to the bottom of the sea and save himself. This is the path to salvation, there is no other.
The Ottoman Empire can no longer survive, nor should it. If the Albanians wish to remain attached to the Ottomans, they must be prepared to perish along with them. The Ottomans are like a dead person; no matter how much we love the dead, we must bury them in the ground. If we wish to stay with the dead, it is like wishing to enter the grave with them. The Ottoman Empire is decaying, it has rotted and it cannot be sustained any longer as it stinks up the world.
That is why we say again that Albania, as it has existed until now, cannot continue to survive. Not only is the Ottoman Empire dead and cannot continue, but even if this empire were somehow revived and lasted a bit longer, Albania still would not be able to survive because the revival of the Ottoman Empire would mean the death of Albania. We have seen how the Ottomans have bound the hands and feet of the Albanians, leaving them prey to the Greeks, Slavs, etc. Albania has, until now, preserved its national identity and language, but it will not be able to continue doing so without schools and progress in education. However, the Ottoman government will not allow the Albanians to open schools or advance their language, while other nations, the enemies of both the Ottoman Empire and Albania, are given free rein to do whatever they wish.
If the Ottoman Empire survives a few more years, there will no longer be an Albania; this land will be permanently divided between the Greeks and Slavs.
II. Are the Albanians Capable of Maintaining and Preserving Themselves?
Two things are essential in life: justice and strength. Justice without strength, like strength without justice, is like a bird with one wing; no bird can fly with just one wing. Strength without justice rarely succeeds, and justice without strength is seldom heard. The big fish always eats the small one.
Now, the Albanians, who certainly have justice on their side, there is no doubt about that. How could they not have the right to write and speak their own language when every other nation, even the weakest and most oppressed, has this right and no one prevents them from exercising it? Why should the Albanians be deprived of a right that all other nations of the world enjoy? Why should they not be able to write and learn their language, while foreign nations come and open schools in their own languages and try to take away their nationality and language? Are the Albanians so weak? No! A thousand times no.
The Albanians are stronger than all the nations of the Balkan Peninsula. By numbers alone, they may be stronger and healthier than many nations in the world. Even today, in its current state, Albania could field an army of 500,000 men! And 200,000 to 300,000 could be raised at once. Those who know Albania are not surprised by these numbers, as Albania has produced and continues to produce such forces throughout history. Moreover, it is a known fact that an army of 200,000 Albanians is equivalent to an army of 500,000 foreign soldiers. Even the enemies of the Albanians do not dispute their bravery.
We have seen earlier how much courage the Albanians have shown and how they have honoured the foreigners who have been their rulers or allies. If they have demonstrated such bravery for others, who have not always appreciated it, are they not capable today of defending and preserving their own land, language and nationality? How could they not be capable of this, especially when their strong Homeland supports them? Until now, they have always fought with strength, but never with justice; today is the time to fight with justice and for justice. There is no more sacred cause than fighting for one’s nationality, language and homeland. A warrior who fights for plunder and conquest is always dishonoured, but one who fights for such a noble cause is twice a hero; justice gives him a power and strength that never allows him to be defeated but enables one person to defeat ten!
So, if the Albanians are so strong and brave, why do they sit with their hands tied while weaker and less capable foreigners without any real claim or power continue to divide and destroy them for good? They sit with their hands tied because the Turks have bound them, and foreigners are dismantling them with the power and support of the Turks! But is the Turk so strong that with one hand, he can keep the Albanians bound and with the other assist their enemies? No, we know that he is not strong, but rather cunning: the Albanians are held through trickery and betrayal. In fact, we can say this: the Albanians have bound their own hands because they are ignorant and blind!
Albania today is like a mighty dragon surrounded by jackals and foxes, who have tied its legs and are preparing to tear it apart and devour it. The dragon only needs to shake itself a little, move its hands and feet once, and all those jackals and foxes would scatter and dare not even look back at it. First, it should show its teeth to the Turks and say to them: “Step aside and don’t interfere, for I see clearly how you are repaying the favours I have done for you. For five hundred years, I have protected you, and you are keeping my hands tied so others can tear me apart. And you want to drag me to the bottom of the pit where you wish to fall yourself.”
What are the Turks? — A savage people who came from the deserts of Northern Asia with a club in hand. With their savagery, they conquered the most beautiful and civilized lands in the world, and after plundering, destroying and burning them, they still hold them today under a savagery, poverty and tyranny that terrifies the world. Among these lands, which have been groaning for centuries, is poor Albania, suffering more than any other because of the carelessness of its people. The Turks are among those nations that have swept across the earth like a hailstorm or snowstorm. Where are the Huns, Vandals, Mongols, Avars, Goths and so many other savage peoples who conquered half the world, burning, destroying and shedding blood? The Turks had no right to remain longer than these companions of theirs; their survival until now has been a stroke of fortune, but now they no longer have any right to continue. They have neither learned how to live properly nor wish to; they have not created a proper nation or government like the rest of the world but wish to continue living savagely forever. They will perish, and they must perish so that humanity can be freed from them. But why, in their downfall, do they want to take us down with them? What do we have to do with them? Did we come with them? No, never! We are not Turks who came from the deserts of Asia. We are the oldest nation in Europe; we have more right to the lands of Europe than any other nation.
This sacred right, the Albanians are capable of preserving and defending, even with weapons in hand. When justice is combined with strength, it gains a force that nothing can stand against. The Albanians are, therefore, capable of upholding and protecting their rights, meaning their nationality, language and Homeland, against any enemy; they just need the will to do so.
III. The Salvation or Downfall of Albania Is in the Hands of the Albanians
Today, Albania finds itself at the edge of a steep and terrifying precipice. Standing at that edge is not something that can be maintained; if it tries to remain there, it will roll down the slope and be shattered into a hundred pieces. If it wishes to be saved, it must retreat from that edge and find a safe and stable ground.
If Albania manages to escape the dangers surrounding it and enters the path of prosperity and progress, it can become one of the finest and most beautiful countries in Europe. Although not a very large country, it is no smaller than Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, etc., all of which are independent kingdoms. It is situated opposite Europe and is neighbours with Italy and Austria. It can quickly enter into civilization and integrate with Europe. As we have seen earlier, it has everything it needs. The Albanians are highly intelligent and capable; they are quick to absorb civilization and all kinds of knowledge, and they are brave and distinguished soldiers.
Our beloved Homeland cannot continue as it is for much longer; it will either be lost forever, with neither an Albanian nor Albania remaining, or it will be saved and rebuilt in such a way that it will have no equal in history, and all the nations of the world will envy it. The salvation or destruction of Albania is in the hands of the Albanians themselves; if they choose, they will be saved, and if they choose, they will be lost.
The Albanians do not need to take up arms, hide in the mountains or caves, fight and suffer as other nations do to gain their freedom. The Albanians are not so oppressed or humiliated that they must resort to such hardships. They do not need to do anything other than come together, unite as one, give and keep their word honourably, stand firm in their commitment, and demand their rights from Turkey and Europe. Turkey will listen to them and grant what they seek, willingly or unwillingly, and Europe will assist them, as it has helped other nations. Europe will also pressure Turkey to grant the Albanians their rightful due.
IV. The Pledge and the Alliance
The pledge of the Albanian has always been known and respected throughout the world. The pledge given by an Albanian is never taken back, never broken and is kept until the last breath leaves his body. The same pledge that has honoured the Albanian until today will now save him from all dangers. Above all, the Albanians must make a great and universal pledge among themselves and form an alliance and unity that will encompass all of Albania. Every Albanian must be part of this alliance and this pledge. Let them leave behind blood feuds and enmities between them; what has been done until now should be forgotten. Whoever is owed blood should forgive it. The blood of an Albanian is too precious — why spill it needlessly? Why should we kill one another when we need to unite and spill that blood against the enemies of our Homeland?
Albanians, united under a strong pledge and a firm alliance, will be like a single body, brave and strong, with one desire, one word and one purpose. Who, then, would dare oppose Albania and the Albanians, and who would dare rob or trample their rights, as they do today when they find them divided and weak?
O brave men, O Albanians! Clasp the pledge, the alliance and our unity with both hands, for this will save you! If not, you are lost. Do not consider differences in faith; whether Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox, all Albanians, wherever they are, are brothers. All must unite under the sacred banner of Albania! Any Albanian who leaves his brothers and separates from the Albanians to join the enemies of Albania, breaking the pledge, is a traitor, an enemy of the nation and the Homeland. Such Albanians would be better off not existing at all than to exist as they are. These should be regarded as enemies, not as Albanians.
Praise be to god! The alliance is forming in Albania, the pledge is strengthening and unity is expanding. From one corner of Albania, the alliance has begun, and day by day, it is spreading throughout all of Albania. At first, this alliance seemed different, as if foreign to the purpose of the Albanians; but as time passes, it is becoming clear that it is not so. It needed to appear that way at first because those who initiated it intended it that way; without appearing so, it could never have risen, as it was not meant to fail. But once established and strengthened, it will surely bring its purpose to the forefront and accomplish what is necessary. The second and third gatherings will confirm our words.
We wish to believe and hope that this alliance, gathering and pledge being made today in Albania will be the foundation of Albania’s salvation; because all Albanians have understood the great danger facing Albania and have realized where their salvation lies. Today’s pledge is not like past pledges; it is a pledge for survival or death.
The alliance of the Albanians must not be for a short time, but must remain always and at all times until the Albanians receive what they seek, and until Albania is saved from danger. Until that day, the alliance must stand firm and take the place of governance in Albania, as the government of the Turks is not one for construction but for destruction. The Turkish government does not save Albania, it destroys it. Therefore, the Albanian alliance must take its place in all matters concerning our nation and our rights. It must either carry out these tasks itself or force the Turkish government to carry them out, willingly or unwillingly. In this way, it will preserve our language, nationhood and all the rights of the Albanian people.
The alliance will be divided into as many districts as there are sanjaks in Albania, plus one central district. In each of these, there will be a permanent council that meets once a week, and a general and larger council that meets once a year or whenever necessary. The members of the general council will elect the members of the permanent council, who will include: one leader, one secretary, one treasurer and four or five members. When they see fit, they will convene the general council or communicate in writing with the grand council of the central district.
V. The Goal of the Albanians
The sole goal of the Albanians is to preserve Albania from being divided by foreigners, to maintain their language and nationality, to resist the intrigues of their enemies, and to stop the spread of the languages and ideas of the Greeks and Slavs, who are undermining the foundations and uprooting Albania and the Albanian identity.
Anything that might harm this goal will be fought against by every true Albanian and by the Albanian alliance. Whatever aids this goal will be embraced wholeheartedly by them and will be carried out, whether willingly or unwillingly. The foremost of these is the language; there can be no Albania without Albanians, no Albanians without the Albanian language, and no Albanian language without Albanian writing and schools where Albanian is taught. Therefore, above all, the language must be maintained, and the Turkish government must be forced to lift the ban it has placed on the Albanian language, allowing Albanian schools to open and Albanian books and newspapers to enter and circulate freely in Albania. Every Albanian must first learn to read and write in Albanian, and then in other languages.
The second is the Church; the Albanians must be freed from the yoke of the Greek, Bulgarian and Serbian clergy, and they must have their own church with Albanian priests and the Gospel in Albanian because Christ was neither Greek nor Slav.
But to achieve these, the current government must be replaced by a patriotic government, one that works according to the needs and rights of the Albanians. An Albanian government with its eyes open, not a foreign and blind government like the one in place today. It must be a government as it should be, regardless of what name it carries.
This is the goal of the Albanians.
VI. The Future Government
The government we mentioned is as essential for the Albanians as the bread they eat and the water they drink. Without such a government, the Albanians cannot revive and spread their language or maintain their nationality.
Albania must first be defined — its borders clearly established. Our land must be recognized as Albania, and Europe must also recognize it as such. The Albanians should illuminate and enrich their language with writing and knowledge, unite together and present themselves as one nation, deserving of the same rights as any other nation on Earth.
Then, if there is unrest in the Balkan Peninsula and the Ottoman Empire collapses, Albania will stand on its own. No one will wonder what will happen to Albania, nor will anyone dare to think of seizing a piece of it.
This government should initially remain under the Ottoman Empire. The Albanians, who have shed blood for this empire for 500 years, will never wish for its downfall, even though they see that it is trying to destroy them by dividing them among their enemies and its own. The Albanians will shed blood for this empire until the end and remain loyal, as they always have. When they have their own government and are strong, they will be able to help the empire even more. But if the Ottoman Empire continues on its current path, heading towards inevitable ruin and refusing to save itself as it usually does, then Albanians will save themselves and will not perish alongside this entity which, while holding the means to save itself, is choosing self-destruction, as the entire world knows.
Thus, this government should be under the Ottoman Empire, but in such a way that if the empire falls, it does not drag Albania down with it. Albania must be able to stand on its own, just as it is now. The Ottoman Empire, while it exists, should not be allowed to destroy and undermine Albania, as it has done until now. And when it fades away, it should not take Albania to the grave with it.
But how will Albania achieve such a government? We know that the Ottoman Empire never willingly or generously grants anything. The Ottoman Empire is not a shepherd who wishes to nurture and revive the flock to milk and shear them. It is a wolf that, once it grabs hold of a helpless sheep, does not let go until it has torn the flesh and broken the bones. The Ottoman Empire would rather lose Albania and let it be divided among its enemies than give it a wise and good government that would restore, develop and make it a bright country like others. They have done this elsewhere, losing many lands they could have saved and kept forever with just governance. The Ottomans think, “If we cannot kill, cut, beat, skin, steal, burn and ruin as we please, then what use are those lands? Better to leave them altogether and let whoever wants them take them.” With this mindset, the Ottoman Empire has refused to reform Rumelia and Anatolia, despite being bound to do so since the Congress of Berlin over twenty years ago. Despite pressure from Europe, it makes no real reforms and prepares for wars it will surely lose.
Therefore, the Ottoman Empire will not grant anything to the Albanians willingly. The Albanians must take what they want by force. They should demand it with words, but also be ready with loaded guns. We still believe the empire is not foolish enough to go to war with the Albanians. Gone are the days when they pitted Ghegs against Tosks and Tosks against Ghegs. Today, not only Albanians but even many Turks, especially those in Rumelia, will not fight against the Albanians. The Albanians are not easily frightened by Anatolians either. Moreover, when Albanians clash with the Turks, will the other Balkan nations simply stand by and watch? Won’t they also rise to claim their share?
Considering this, the Ottomans will likely not fight the Albanians. Additionally, some of the Great Powers, who do not want unrest in the Balkans, will intervene to prevent a conflagration and force the Ottoman Empire to grant the Albanians their demands. If neither the Ottomans nor Europe heed the Albanians, they can threaten to align with the small neighbouring countries and divide the European portion of the Ottoman Empire among themselves, keeping Albania while leaving the rest to others.
Albania will be recognized from end to end as Albania, with its own self-governing administration. As long as the Ottoman Empire remains in Europe, we wish for Albania to remain under it, and if the Ottomans do not expel us, we will never seek to break away. But the current situation shows that the Ottoman Empire cannot survive much longer, especially in Europe, where its days are clearly numbered. What then will happen to Albania? It will remain independent, but how? What kind of government will it establish?
VII. The Head of Albania’s Government
Foreigners, and sometimes even Albanians, often wonder who would become the prince or king — or whatever the title may be — at the head of the government when Albania is left to govern itself. If the leader is Albanian, they say, there is no one in Albania who is both well-known and widely accepted by all Albanians. Furthermore, if the leader is a Gheg, the Tosks will not accept him; if a Tosk, the Ghegs will not accept him. If he is Muslim, Christians will not view him favourably, and if he is Christian, Muslims will not be pleased. If a foreigner from Europe comes, he will bring with him the balls, theatres and other customs of Europe, which not only the Muslims but also many Christians in Albania do not like. And if a foreign Muslim prince or king arrives, he will come with a whole entourage — wives, eunuchs, Arabs and so forth — whom Albania cannot afford to feed or maintain.
But why does Albania need a single individual at the head of the government? A king or prince would cost more than our country can afford and would also disrupt our own customs, favouring some over others and alienating the rest.
The great geographer Strabo, writing about our land nearly two thousand years ago, said that “the Macedonians, Illyrians and Epirotes” (which means all Albanians), while they had some kingdoms, their true governance was conducted by a kind of council of elders, which they called plakoni (meaning pleqësi, or council of elders), and these councils governed and judged in those lands. So why should we abandon this fine tradition that has lasted for thousands of years and seek a foreign ruler who would take half of Albania’s resources and destroy the beautiful customs of our nation? What do we need such a person for? Let us never abandon the plakoni and the words of Strabo, for we have preserved the council of elders until today, as the pleqësi has always ruled in Albania. Let the council of elders continue to govern and reign forever.
VIII. The Division of Albania
Today, we do not know exactly how far Albania will extend, nor can we say definitively how it will be divided into districts, because to the east we have some mixed regions, and we are not certain which of these will be left to us and which will not. However, speaking according to our wishes, we can say that Albania could be divided into 15 districts, based on their main cities: Shkodra, Peja, Prizren, Prishtina, Shkup, Manastir, Dibra, Elbasan, Tirana, Berat, Korça, Kostur, Janina, Gjirokastra and Preveza. Each of these districts would be further divided into 3-4 kaza (subdistricts), with the central district governed by a qeverindar (governor) and the others by sub-governors. In all of Albania, there would be 15 governors and around 50 sub-governors.
The central area of Albania, meaning the capital city, should be one of the cities located in the middle of Albania where the Albanian language is spoken. However, it would be better to establish a new city in the centre of Albania in a healthy and beautiful location. This city, which we could name Skanderbegas, would be constructed in a very attractive manner with wide, straight streets, good houses, squares and all necessary facilities. In a short time, it could grow significantly, as the Albanian elite and intellectuals would need to gather there and build homes. This new city would be free from all the bad customs of older cities, and since its residents would be drawn from all parts of Albania, the language spoken there would be mixed, allowing it to become the common and literary language of all Albania. This city, along with a few surrounding areas, would be governed as a separate district.
IX. The Council of Elders
Each district will elect one of its leaders to represent it in the Council of Elders. These fifteen elders will gather in the capital of Albania and will elect from among themselves a chief and a deputy chief. The head of the Council of Elders will take the place of a prince or king in Albania; he will receive and send off guests, sign all decisions of the cabinet, call upon individuals he deems necessary to form a new cabinet when the previous one is replaced and open the general assembly by delivering the opening speech. In short, he will perform all the duties that kings or princes perform in other countries. However, he will not act on his own; all decisions will be discussed first within the Council of Elders, with input from the other elders. One person alone can make mistakes, but fifteen wise and experienced individuals cannot all err at the same time. Though the head of the Council will have the honour and authority of governing, it is the entire Council of Elders that will rule. When the head of the council is ill or away, the deputy will step in and assume his responsibilities.
The elders and their leader will be elected for four years, but not all at once; half of the elders will be elected at a time, with one half elected every two years. This way, half of the council will change every two years. The head of the council will change with one half, and the deputy head with the other, ensuring that the council is never without a head or deputy at any given time. However, if the deputy head is elected to be the head in the second election, a new deputy will be elected for only the remaining two years of that term.
Each elder will have a secretary, and the chief secretary of the council will be the chief scribe. The secretaries will not be replaced alongside the elders. Each district of Albania will always maintain communication with the elder it has elected, and they will write to this elder about any issues they face, whether with government officials or other concerns in the region. The secretaries will organize and preserve these communications and, after reviewing them with their elder, the matters will be brought before the Council of Elders for discussion and a decision. The council will then instruct the relevant minister or ministry to take the appropriate action. In this way, the Council of Elders will serve as a mediator between the people and the government, ensuring that all matters are addressed properly and that no one is left unheard.
The Council of Elders will convene regularly, except for two months during the summer, during which time half of the elders will take a break during the first month, and the other half during the second month, to rest and also to observe the needs of their districts.
Those chosen for the Council of Elders must come from the leadership class and be respected individuals. They must be at least 30 years old and may or may not be highly educated. The Council of Elders will also oversee the implementation of decisions made by the general assembly, ensuring that the path taken is balanced, maintaining the wisdom, customs and virtues of the Albanian people while softening any extreme or overly passionate tendencies.
As the elders rotate, every notable figure in Albania will have the opportunity to serve in this council and many will have the chance to lead it. No one will be left without an opportunity to participate. Even those who are not as educated as necessary to lead the council will still be able to participate and have a role in the Council of Elders.
X. The General Assembly
From each sub-district, two representatives will be elected, meaning approximately one delegate for every 20,000 residents. These delegates, who will number around 100 or perhaps slightly more or less, will gather in Albania’s capital to form the General Assembly. This assembly will meet once a year for a month to review the budget, discuss general national issues and address various matters presented by the cabinet or the Council of Elders. The elected representatives, or members of the General Assembly, will serve for four years, but half of them will be replaced every two years. Those who are eligible to vote must be at least 20 years old, own a house, land or other assets that pay at least five francs per year in taxes, or have completed schooling and be able to read and write. Those eligible for election must be at least 25 years old, own property or land paying at least ten francs in taxes per year, or have completed secondary or higher education.
Any law proposed, any decisions made and all major projects, such as railways and similar infrastructure, will first be thoroughly considered and approved by the Council of Ministers before being presented to the General Assembly. If the General Assembly approves them, they will then be sent to the Council of Elders for final consideration. If approved by the Council of Elders, the decisions will be returned to the Council of Ministers for implementation, signed by the head of the Council of Elders.
Once assembled, the elected members will choose from among themselves a leader and a deputy.
XI. The Ministers
The ministers who will govern Albania according to its laws will consist of seven individuals: the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Army and Navy, Minister of Prosperity, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of General Affairs and Faiths. One of these ministers will serve as the head of all and of the council they form when Albania governs itself. When under Turkish rule, the head will be a general governor, appointed from Constantinople for a term of five years. The Ottoman Porte will propose the name of this individual to the Council of Elders, and the Council of Elders will convene the General Assembly. If both councils approve the individual, they will be appointed. If not, the head of the Council of Elders will respond to the Porte, requesting a different candidate, repeating this process until an agreement is reached.
Each minister will be accountable for their actions in front of the General Assembly and the Council of Elders, and the head minister or general governor will be responsible for all ministers.
The Council of Ministers will meet once or twice a week to discuss government matters and each minister will bring forward issues they cannot handle individually. For particularly important matters, the council will correspond with the Council of Elders, and when necessary, the two councils will meet to deliberate jointly.
XII. The Army
Every Albanian will be a soldier from the age of 20 to 40. Upon turning 20, they will enter the nizamije (training army) for just one year. During this year, they will stay with the nearest troops to their area and learn the skills of warfare and everything necessary for a soldier. If they learn in less than a year, they can request an early discharge in writing, and if their commander confirms it, they will be released. Those who complete the training army will enter the redif (ready army), which is divided into three ranks: the first for seven years, and the second and third for six years each. The first rank will assemble for one month each year to refresh their training, the second rank for two weeks and the third for only one week. These soldiers will gather at the centre of their district, where they will have their commanders and their weapons and uniforms, according to their assigned number. Whenever there is a need and orders are given, the ready army will mobilize immediately, with the first rank called upon for minor needs, the second rank for more serious situations and the third rank in the most extreme cases, and they will be deployed where necessary.
After the age of 40, every Albanian becomes a mystahfiz (guard of the Homeland) until the age of 60. These guards will only be called upon during wartime to defend the country.
Albania’s army, which in peacetime will not exceed 20,000 men, can, in times of war, grow to as many as 500,000 soldiers. It will be divided into four corps: one on the Greek border, one on the eastern border, one on the northeastern border (Serbia) and one on the northwestern border (Montenegro). Janina, Manastir, Prishtina and Shkodra will be the centres of these corps. Each district will have a general, each subdistrict a bimbash (colonel) and smaller units in villages as necessary.
These officers will not interfere with the training army, which will have its own commanders and will be stationed in select locations. However, they will be responsible for the ready army, which they will assemble during training periods, and at other times will keep records, command the guard units (gendarmerie) and, if a disturbance occurs that they cannot control, immediately call upon the ready army from the nearest area to quell the unrest and restore peace.
The navy will be organized slightly differently and remain on duty for longer periods for training, including the corvettes and gunboats. The navy will consist of several warships based at Pashaliman (Uji i Ftohtë) near Vlora, and they will guard the coast from Ulqin to Parga.
XIII. Education
If there is one thing that the Albanians must care for above all else, it is undoubtedly education. Every village or a cluster of two or three nearby villages must have primary schools, and cities should have more than one, depending on their size. All boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 13 will be required to attend school, and parents who do not send their children will be reprimanded and forced to comply. Education will be free of charge and the poor will also be provided with notebooks, papers, etc., at no cost. In the centre of each subdistrict, there will be a secondary school for boys and one for girls. In the centre of each district, in addition to secondary schools, there will also be high schools for boys and girls separately, as well as vocational schools depending on the region — such as for agriculture, etc. In the capital of Albania, in addition to secondary and high schools, there will be a university (similar to a modern university), a military school, a school for metallurgy and forestry, a school for agriculture and many others for specialized knowledge and skills. Later on, two additional universities should be opened: one in northern Albania and one in southern Albania. A maritime school should be established near the coast, where the naval ships are stationed, either in Durrës or Uji i Ftohtë (near Vlora).
An Academy of Sciences should be established in the capital to oversee language, literature and other educational needs. A government printing house will be responsible for printing necessary books for schools, and publishing periodicals and educational materials to enlighten the Albanians. Various societies, supported by the Ministry of Education, will be established to advance geography, history, geology, metallurgy and other fields of study in Albania. Each of these societies will publish a monthly or less frequent periodical, where they will present their findings and discoveries. In the capital of Albania, there will be two major schools for languages: in one, modern European languages such as French, German, Italian, English, Slavic and modern Greek will be taught; in the other, ancient languages such as Ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, etc. Each of these schools will have a council composed of individuals proficient in these languages, working to write and publish educational books. The government printing house will have typefaces for all these languages to print the necessary materials.
A general museum will be established in the capital for all ancient artefacts, statues, inscriptions and other items found in Albania and abroad. The museum’s administration will also conduct excavations in ancient sites and cities to discover more historical artefacts. Another museum will be dedicated to natural history, with its council conducting research throughout Albania on plants, trees, metals, living creatures and other natural resources, as well as geology and anthropology. Both councils of these museums will publish a monthly journal reporting their findings, as well as noteworthy discoveries from Europe and elsewhere. A large library will also be established, containing necessary and valuable books in all the languages relevant to Albania.
In those areas of Albania where other languages are spoken in addition to Albanian — such as Bulgarian, Greek and Aromanian — those who speak these languages will learn both their own language and Albanian in primary schools. Secondary and higher education will be in Albanian; however, if desired, they may establish large schools in their own languages. However, they must learn to read and write in Albanian, as they will not be eligible to participate in government work or be elected to councils without this knowledge.
XIV. Public Works
After education, the Albanians’ greatest care and need should be for public works, which will bring prosperity and great wealth to Albania. Roads, railways, ports, river and swamp drainage, metals, forests, etc., are the most essential and valuable works that Albania must undertake once its hands and feet are untied. Roads, for which Albanians currently pay exorbitant amounts — enough to pave all the roads in Albania with silver — can be built with far less money by a just and honourable government, and people and animals will be able to travel safely in all directions.
A railway should begin from Manastir, and after passing through Korça, it should split into two branches: one leading to Preveza through Janina, and the other to Berat and Skanderbegas, with another branch leading to Vlora and Durrës, and extending further to Elbasan. Another railway from Manastir should go to Ohri, and from there, following the Drin River, one branch should descend to Shkodra and Lezha, while the other should pass through Prizren and connect with the main line at Ferizaj that heads to Salonika and Austria.
These railways, along with some secondary branches, can be completed in a short time, either by foreign companies or by Albania itself through small loans, bringing great wealth and civilization to the country.
After the roads, the first major project to undertake is the development of Myzeqe. This vast plain is a fertile field capable of feeding all of Albania and producing much grain and other goods, but only if it is properly developed. To develop this plain, the rivers Seman, Berat, Devoll and others, as well as the Vjosa and Shkumbin that flow through its edges, must be dredged. These rivers should be deepened and walls should be built where needed to prevent their waters from spreading across the plains. Then sluice gates and canals can be constructed to irrigate the entire plain. At that point, the marshes and swamps, where stagnant water collects in the summer and causes foul odours, can be drained, saving the plain from becoming a continuous swamp during the winter months.
Myzeqe will become a vast and fertile field which, being well irrigated and having rich soil, will become a second Egypt. The hills of Myzeqe can be covered with vineyards and olive groves, while its meadows can support horses and livestock, enough not only for Albania but for all of Europe.
The opening of the port of Durrës — a wide and beautiful port in the northern part of the city, which Sultan Mehmet foolishly closed to prevent Venetian ships from entering — will bring back the prosperity of this city as it once was and turn it into a second Trieste or another Salonika. Many other ports along the Adriatic, like Butrint and others, can be opened and developed, and many trading harbours can emerge and thrive.
A steamship company could be established to operate ships along the Albanian coast, all the way to Trieste and to the ports of Italy and Greece. Steamships and boats could also operate in the lakes of Shkodra, Ohri and Prespa, as well as on certain rivers that would be opened up.
All of these projects, including forests and minerals, will be overseen by a ministry for general affairs. Every forest will be divided into sections, and by the time the last section is ready to be cut, the first section will have regrown, ensuring that the forests will always yield timber and will never be depleted, but will continually renew and flourish. Minerals will be explored throughout Albania and extracted wherever they are found.
Crafts, trade, agriculture and livestock will also fall under the care of this ministry, which will work to ensure that every craft in which the locals are skilled — wool, flax, cotton, silk, iron and wood — is developed and produced as much as possible, reducing Albania’s need to import these goods from abroad.
XV. The Affairs of Faiths
Among the ministries, either the Ministry of Knowledge or the Ministry of Justice, there will also be one responsible for the affairs of faiths. A Grand Mufti for the Muslims, an Exarch for the Orthodox Christians and an Archbishop for the Catholics will oversee all the religious matters of the three faiths in Albania. The mosques, churches, tekkes, monasteries, muftis, imams, muezzins, priests and all religious figures and places, as well as their assets and endowments, will be supervised and organized by these three high-ranking officials, each of whom will also have two councils to consider these matters. The minister responsible for overseeing these affairs will assist and manage the accounts without interfering in matters strictly related to faith, which will be the sole responsibility of the religious councils.
Each of the religious leaders will have two councils, as mentioned. One will consist entirely of people from the faith: muftis, ulemas, professors, dervishes, bishops, priests, theologians and so on. The other will be a mix of such people and laypeople. The first council will handle purely religious matters, including the review of religious texts. The second council will oversee the administration of mosques and churches, and will manage finances and other such concerns. Some members of these councils will be appointed by the heads of the faiths and confirmed by the head of government through the minister of religious affairs, while others will be elected locally.
The heads of the faiths — the Grand Mufti, Exarch and Archbishop — will hold high respect, but they will only intervene in religious matters, as will the other muftis, bishops and all other religious figures. The ulemas, dervishes and clergy will not interfere in education or schools, except for religious teachings, which they will conduct in mosques, madrasas, churches and other places of worship.
The Bektashis, who are widespread and numerous in Albania, will have a Chief Baba in a specific location in Albania, who will appoint other babas and, together with a council of babas and dervishes, will oversee and guide the affairs of the tekkes and the order.
All other faiths will be free and unrestricted in Albania. Jews, Protestants and others will have their own leaders under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Every person has their own faith, and no one has the right to compel another to believe in something or to perform any religious act against their will. The heads of the faiths, ulemas and clergy will only be able to guide people to the path of faith through good words and persuasion, and this will take place within the mosques, madrasas, tekkes, churches and so on, not outside of them. No one will be forced to pay for the affairs or institutions of faith unless they willingly offer what their heart desires.
XVI. The Affairs of Prosperity
Today, Albania, after the taxes collected by the Ottoman government from the four vilayets, including those on trade, salt and other resources, generates around 3,000,000 Turkish lira annually, excluding what is stolen, wasted or lost unnecessarily.
It is true that many taxes, such as those on livestock, are excessive and need to be reduced to ease the burden on the people. However, there are so many resources that are currently being wasted, such as forests, minerals and other valuable assets which, if properly managed, could bring great prosperity.
Even with all these considerations, and if managed properly, Albania could generate much more income in the future; but let’s assume that the revenue reaches 3,000,000 French lira, which amounts to 60,000,000 francs.
When Albania governs itself, one of its first tasks should be to mint clear and distinct currency. A gold lira should be minted, worth 20 pieces (francs), with each piece subdivided into 100 cents. There should also be half and quarter liras in gold, as well as coins worth two and a half and five liras, equivalent to 50 and 100 pieces. The smaller coins will be made of silver. Additionally, there will be nickel coins worth half, five, ten and twenty cents. These will be all of Albania’s coins, with the foundation being the gold lira; silver and nickel coins will be used only to cover small amounts, ensuring that the value of the lira is not compromised by fluctuations in the prices of silver and nickel, as happens today in Turkey due to the devaluation of the white medjidie coins.
A national bank will need to be established, with its headquarters in Albania. All people who have money but don’t know how or where to safely store it, often losing not only interest but sometimes even their capital, will be able to deposit their money securely in this bank, which will be guaranteed by the government. The taxes collected by the government will not be kept in safes but will be immediately deposited into the bank. The bank will have branches in every region and subregion of the country. This way, the bank will be accessible throughout Albania and people will no longer need to carry money in their pockets or wallets; the bank will act as the treasurer for everyone. The bank will invest all the money it collects from individuals and the government, bringing prosperity and wealth to the Homeland, and in place of that money, it will issue paper currency (banknotes) that will be used more frequently by the people so that gold and silver do not remain unused or without interest.
Two things often cause problems for the people of a government: excessive salaries, which pave the way for waste and corruption, and low salaries, which lead to theft and neglect of duties. Therefore, in Albania, there should neither be excessively high salaries nor overly low ones.
For example, we can outline the salaries of public servants and calculate how much they might total monthly:
| Role/Position | Cost (per) | Cost (total) | |
| Head of the Council of Elders | 3,000 | 3,000 | |
| Deputy Head | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| 13 | Council Members | 2,000 | 26,000 |
| 15 | Secretary | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| 8 | Ministers | 2,000 | 14,000 |
| Prime Minister | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| 8 | Chief Secretary | 1,000 | 8,000 |
| 8 | Assistant Secretary | 2,000 | 16,000 |
| 3 | Leaders of the Faiths | 2,000 | 6,000 |
| 3 | Council of their Secretaries | 2,000 | 6,000 |
| 15 | Governors | 1,500 | 6,000 |
| 15 | Chief Secretary | 1,500 | 22,250 |
| 15 | Inspector of Wealth | 750 | 11,250 |
| 15 | Inspector of Education | 750 | 11,250 |
| 15 | Inspector of General Work | 750 | 11,250 |
| 15 | Inspector of Justice | 750 | 11,250 |
| 15 | Chief Financial Officer | 2,000 | 30,000 |
| 50 | Deputy Governor | 750 | 37,500 |
| 50 | Secretary | 300 | 15,000 |
| 50 | Deputy Inspector of Wealth | 300 | 15,000 |
| 50 | Other Secretaries, etc. | 300 | 15,000 |
| 50 | Lower Court | 1,000 | 50,000 |
| 15 | Intermediate Court | 2,000 | 30,000 |
| 1 | High Court | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 50 | Secondary Schools | 2,500 | 125,000 |
| 2,000 | Primary Schools | 200 | 400,000 |
| 20 | Higher Education Institutions | 5,000 | 100,000 |
| 10 | Academy, Printing Press, Observatory, Museum, Library, etc. | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| 20,000 | Soldiers | 40 | 800,000 |
| Military Cadre of Warfare and Gendarmerie | 500,000 | ||
| Roads and other Public works | 500,000 | ||
| Warships | 500,000 | ||
| Envoys to Foreign Countries | 25,000 | ||
| Other Work Abroad | 75,000 | ||
| Monthly Total | 8,439,750 | ||
| Annual Total | 41,277,000 | ||
| 100 | Members of the General Assembly | 200,000 | |
| Chief, Deputy Chief and Secretary | 10,000 | ||
| Annual Total in Gold Francs | 41,487,000 |
Thus, all the expenses would not exceed 2,000,000 lira, leaving about 1,000,000 lira, which would be spent on building railways, carriage roads, ports and other public works, as well as ships and steamers for defence and trade. As these efforts continue to progress and improve year by year, they will increase Albania’s revenues so much that a day might come when the country can be governed solely on the income from commerce and trade. This would relieve the poor villagers from the burdens of taxes they currently pay on themselves, their livestock, land and homes — taxes that break their backs and don’t allow them to breathe. At that point, Albanians, like the Americans today, would live as if in paradise.
The currency of Albania will have, on one side, an eagle standing with half-spread wings and a star (symbolizing divinity) on its forehead, the emblem of Albania. Encircling it will be the name of Albania, and beneath its feet, within a wreath of branches, the denomination of the coin or cents.
XVII. The Villages
The happiest place in the world is one where the influence of the government is felt very little. As much as possible, the government should not directly interfere with the local populace. For this, the villages need to be well-organized, so the residents recognize only their local government, which in turn deals with the central government. The villages will collect taxes and deliver them to the government; handle minor disputes among the people; build small local roads and bridges between villages; and oversee schools, markets, public works, forests, common gardens, fields and vineyards.
Every small town will be considered a katundi (municipality), and larger towns will be divided into two or more municipalities. Several villages that are near each other and form a natural district will be grouped into one municipality. In this way, every subdistrict will be divided into multiple municipalities.
Each municipality will have a general assembly consisting of all men who are at least 20 years old and own at least a house, field, vineyard, garden or another asset that is taxed at least five francs per year or who know how to read and write. This general assembly will elect a mayor (or mudir for rural areas and reis for towns), deputy mayor, three members of the municipal council, a chief judge, deputy judge and three members of the peace court. The names of these elected officials will be sent to the district governor, who will promptly send them to the government for confirmation.
The municipality will have authority over road and forest guards, tax collectors, the local gendarmerie and other officials. Taxes will be collected by the municipality through tax collectors, assisted by the gendarmerie when necessary and delivered to the district authorities. All minor legal cases, whether related to property or offences, will be handled by the local peace court of the municipality, which may also handle larger cases if both parties agree.
In this way, all local affairs will be managed by the municipality and the people will recognize no other authority except their elected local government. The central government will only intervene in major or broader issues, and only when the municipality, unable to handle them alone, requests assistance from the district authorities.
The municipality will have its own revenues, collected from households, fields, vineyards, forests, markets, sales and purchases, among others. These funds are separate from the state budget and will be used to manage local affairs, pay guards and other expenses.
SUMMARY
From everything we’ve said, it becomes very clear how Albania can be governed and what a beautiful country it would become with such a government! How it would thrive and prosper! In a short time, it would become one of the most beautiful places in Europe and the world. In this way, the Albanian nation, in a short period, would become one of the most enlightened and civilized nations on earth. The Albanians, who have lived in slavery, poverty and severe oppression for hundreds of years, would all become prosperous and happy, living as true human beings!
What is needed to save this unfortunate nation and this impoverished country from the great calamity that has engulfed it, and from all the dangers surrounding it, so that it can flourish as we’ve described? Very little: just desire! All it takes is for us to want it; if we truly desire it, we have the power to make Albania as we have envisioned and to save it from all the dangers and calamities. When it is in our hands, we Albanians, to either save or lose Albania, how great a sin it would be to sit idle and do nothing! This would be like killing our Homeland with our own hands. When we have the power to save it and choose not to, it is as if we are murdering it ourselves!
So what must we do? Not more than what is necessary:
Every Albanian must always, night and day, keep the salvation of Albania and the prosperity of the Albanian nation in mind and heart. How can this be achieved? — Every Albanian who truly desires it must strive for the unity of the Albanians; all Albanians are brothers, sharing the same blood. There are no Turks or Christians, only Albanians! A true Albanian should always view other true Albanians as brothers, regardless of their faith. Albanians existed as Albanians before becoming Christians or Muslims.
Therefore, a true and good Albanian, who desires the salvation of Albania, always places nationality above religion. His brothers are not those of the same faith, but those of the same nationality. True Albanians are brothers among themselves. This brotherhood must be so tight that nothing can divide or break it, and nothing can come between them. Just as freemasons and Bektashis are brothers among themselves, so too must true Albanians be.
An Albanian is anyone born of Albanian parents and who speaks Albanian, but a true Albanian is one who has an Albanian mind and heart. These true Albanians are the real, pure Albanians. They love their language and nation and strive for the prosperity of their Homeland. When all Albanians, or the majority of them, become true Albanians, then Albania will be saved from every danger. Therefore, every Albanian must first become or remain a true Albanian, and then work to make others the same, so that little by little, one after the other, all become true Albanians.
Today, many Albanians — perhaps 90 per cent, we could say — are not Albanians in mind or heart. They neither love nor respect their nation and language. They don’t want to read or write in their own language, and many are even ashamed to speak Albanian! How can they be ashamed to say that Albania is their mother?
Albania is more ashamed and humiliated to have such sons! The Albanian nation is not one to be ashamed of. Being from a nation as brave and intelligent as ours is not shameful but a great honour. If our nation has fallen behind, it is not its fault, but ours. If the Albanian language has remained unwritten, it is not because the language is weak or flawed, but because we have not taken care to write it. The nation is not at fault, nor is the language — our failure is our fault. We are the oldest nation in Europe, the most noble and brave: we speak the oldest and best language of the Aryan race.
The Albanians who do not appreciate their nation and language, and instead take pride in calling themselves Turks, Greeks, Serbs or something else, are mad, ignorant traitors. Their existence is a great shame for Albania and the Albanian nation. How shameful it is when an Albanian, with the blood of Skanderbeg and his companions running through his veins, disgraces his nation and language and honours a foreign one, striving to impose it in place of his own! These people are not merely enemies, because there is no word to describe such vile and filthy traitors!
Such people must not exist in Albania, nor on the face of the earth; they are a burden to the world. Every true Albanian must strive to ensure that none of these kinds of people remain because they bring great harm and shame to Albania and the Albanian identity. Every Albanian must first strive to become a true Albanian and then work to turn others into true Albanians, ensuring the Albanian language and culture spread and thrive.
This is the only way our nation, being naturally intelligent and brave, will become one of the most civilized and enlightened in Europe in a short time.
We must strive, for we have the intellect, the bravery and the beautiful and easy-to-learn language needed to advance. If we use all of these for our benefit, we will be successful.
A nation as ancient as ours, the oldest in Europe, descended from the Pelasgians of old, enduring and surviving for millennia, a people so old and yet so young, now blooming for the first time, brave and capable, with a sharp mind and unmatched courage, speaking a rich, expansive, beautiful and easy language, learned from the cradle — such a nation, who can stand against it? Who can get in its way?
O brave Albanians, if we desire and strive, we will become one of the best and most enlightened nations in Europe, a nation to be admired by all. Let us not be overwhelmed by the slumber of indifference and ignorance because if we remain idle, we will be lost. What a tremendous loss and shame it would be for such a nation to perish at this moment, at a time when even the weakest of nations are awakening and flourishing, a nation like the Albanians, who have endured for thousands of years in such harsh and wild times. A nation so intelligent, with such a beautiful language, to perish out of ignorance and lack of written tradition! A nation so brave that it doesn’t hesitate to spill its blood to be divided by weaker and cowardly peoples!
We have the intellect, the courage and the beautiful, easy language to advance, and yet we neither know how nor want to use these gifts for our benefit. Instead, we sit idly, or worse, work toward our downfall by uprooting our own foundations through ignorance and blindness!
Are we truly Albanians? Our faith, commitment, actions, care and desire must all be for Albania and the Albanian identity. We must push our language forward, expand and enrich it with writing and knowledge. We must open schools, teach and ensure that no Albanian remains ignorant or illiterate. We must remove foreign schools from our land and fill our Homeland with Albanian schools. In a short time, our children will learn to read and write in their own language, and once they know their language, they will be able to quickly learn all necessary knowledge. Even the shepherd, the farmer and the labourer will not be without education.
These are our rights. Whoever tries to stop us from working toward this righteous and noble goal is robbing us of our rights. It is our duty to fight with words, pen and, if necessary, weapons to reclaim our rights from those who have stolen them. We do not seek to take what belongs to others, but we refuse to let anyone take what is ours by force. We must fight for our rights, for our language, for our nation, for the welfare of our people. Whoever stands in our way and tries to prevent us from walking this sacred path we must push aside, knock down and trample over to move forward! We must raise our voices, call out and let the civilized world hear us so that they can help us in defending our righteous cause.
We must not fear anything. We must fight and not stop until we achieve what we seek. We are on the side of justice, and god is always on the side of the just. God is justice itself!
O Albanian brothers! Let us not be like those savages in Australia and Africa who were tricked by Europeans with beads and cheap trinkets, only to lose their lands. Let us not be fooled by baubles and glass that hold no value and let go of our rights, our nation and our Homeland into the hands of foreigners and our enemies. Let us break the yoke that has weighed us down for so many centuries. Let us break the chains that bind our feet and throw off the heavy shadow that presses us down, suffocating us, preventing us from breathing freely! Let us not remain paralysed and frozen — let us move our hands and feet, rise and walk freely on the path of god, the path of righteousness:
GOD, JUSTICE, NATION, LANGUAGE!
ALBANIA, ALBANIAN IDENTITY!
This is our goal! This is our sacred mission! This is our pledge! All those who share this goal are our brothers! Among true Albanians, there is no division, no schism, no difference! We are all brothers, all one body, one mind, one goal, one pledge!
(NEPH edition, Toronto 2024)
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