The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-06

each writer viewed the new Panslavic thco-
rics as means OF comprising the specific
object Of his nation. To tho Moscow Slavo-
philc, for instance, those theories meant tho
absorption OF the other Slavs by Russia.
TO the Polish exile tho triumph Of
tho now doctrine implied fedora
ton of Slavonic States under tho hcgo-
mOny OF Poland. On tho other hand, the
Czcchs turned Panslavism TO tho account OF
their old hatred for the Germans, while the
Bulgarians and Serbs sought to make Of
1t a bucklcr against the Turks. Perhaps
the Croats came nearest to extracting some
substantial results from tho Panslavic
dream. After adopting for thor literary
tongue the moro perfect idiom OF tho Dali
NATHAN Serbs, they raised tho standard Of
Illyrianism, so called, under Which they
proposed to group tho scattered forces of
the southwestern Slavs. Their plan, In
other words, was 60 found tri-unitarian
kingdom which should absorb Dalmatia,
the Adriatic coast, and the Austrian con-
fines.
Two cvcnts-the Panslavic Congress at
Prague and tho revolution Of 1SiS-sufliccd
to prove that tho new dogma Of Slavonlc
identity and sympathy was an Illusion Of
poets and philologers, or a catchword Of
schoming politicians. The reunion at
Prague brought out the futility Of cstab-
| fishing by scientific deductions tho cthnic
unity Of nations, unless that unity is rccog-
nizcd and sanctioned by the masses OF their
populations. What obstacles intervene lc-
tween theory aud practice in such matters
was sufficiently signalizcd by the fact that
onc-half Of tho learned gentlemen as
scmhled in this Congress could not UNDER
stand word Of what tho other half said.
Tho revolution OF Isis emphasized the
impotence Of the panslavic theory.
For example, the Polish refugees aided the
| Hungarans in their struggle against the
! House Of ItNSnrRG, while the Slovcninns,
| Croats. and Serbs Of tho Banatc through
| hatred Of the Magyars. fought on the oppo-
| site side. The C1cchs rcvultcd on their own
/ account but their nearest kinemen and nat
ural allies, the Slovaks helped to replace
/ the Austrian yoke The Bulgarians and the
Serbs of the principality who belonged 10
/ the orthodox or Greek Church, took no part
or interest in these outbreaks; but almost all
the Catholic Slavs. after protesting against
a vote of the Frankfort Parliament which
declared their countries German, turned
around and upheld with their blood the
throne of "A German dynasty. Soon after
ward 1t became evident that the project Of
an Illyrian league was chimerical, since the
Sovcnians avowed their preference for Ger
manilation over absorption by the Croats,
while the Serbs Of Dalmata, where an Ital-
ian element plays an important role like
wise ropudiatcd the Cront prctcnsions
! Finally came the Moscow Congress, with its
wranglings and unsccmly demonstrations.
where the Panslavic dcluSion, which had
nickcrcd but ilecbly at Prague. went out IN
somctl ing not unlike stencil.
II is safe to say that Panslavl-m no
longer exists except in the Imagination
of the Germans, who have special reasons
for viewing the Slavs with jealousy, and
in the illusions Of some Occidental jour
nali-ts who find 1t easier to rci,eraic
stale ciaptrap than to keep Themselves In
the current OF European opinion. The
original SlaNophilcs Of Meow succumlod
long ago to the popular Indifference and
drii-.un. and the reviews which were their
organs are no longer printed. The -ignii-
came" Of the -pl-mndir attempt 10 revive
their propaganda during The pact year can
! hardly lc ml- taken. The Slu,- of Turkey
at all events, know perfectly well what
Russia means by PanSlaNlsm. but it Is
not their cue at present to denouncc
her version. Just now the Bulgarian
j. grateful 10 any power that will protect
him from a renewal Of the late outragcs, but
one of the matters which touch him most
nearly is his ecclesiastical polity. and he
l.t "a