The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-08-26
CHE dailg g altstin.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. &c, 1885.
SOME RUSSIAN VIEWS.

Russian ideas and Russian motives
are of the greatest interest to us
English people, it may be opportune
to inquire into the true onward
ness" of Panslavism. The En-
peror is well known to be q Pan
slavist himself, and much under the
influence of M. Pobedonostzeff, also
a Panslavist, who in turn is under
the influence of M, Katkoff, another
Panslavist. We hear this term used
very freely in speaking of Russian
affairs, but who is able to say what
Panslavism is? 1t is a dream. We
all know that it is wild, impracti-
cal dream. This we are also aware
of, and for these reasons we attach
but little Importance to it as factor
in political affairs. We forget that
nations, like individuals, have their
dreams and their religions; and
frequently the wilder the dream the
more dangerous the dreamer. Russia
is one of these wild dreamers. The
Witness of her dreams could per-
haps be scarcely better illustrated
than by quoting from the speech
made in 1880 of one of the most
representative of Russian Panslav-
ists-the novelist Dostoyeffsky.
eyes, the mission of Russia is
indisputably European and uni
versal. To take ones stand as a
true Russian may perhaps only mean
after all to take ones stand as the
brother of all mankind, as cosmo-
politan, if you like. And all this
Slavophilism and Westernism of ours
is nothing but a deep misunder-
standing among ourselves, although
an historical and inevitable mis-
understanding. The true Russian
takes as much to heart the fate of
the entire Aryan race as that of
Russia herself, as the fate of his
own native land, because our destiny
is universally, and universally
not acquired by the sword, but the
force of our fraternal wearing for
the union of all people. If you
wish to penetrate into the history of
Peters reform you will find traces
and indications of this idea, of this
dream of mine, if you like, in our
relations with European rationale
ties, even in our statecraft. For
what did Russia do during these two
centuries but serve Europe perhaps
better than herself? l cannot be-
lieve that this was owing solely
to the stupidity of our states
men. Oh! the natives of Europe
do not even know how dear they
are unto us. And, finally, l be-
lieve thatIwe (of course 1 do not
mean ourselves, but the future gene
rations of the Russian people) will
understand all that to be true Rus
sian should mean-to endeavour to
bring peace and harmony into Eu-
ropean contradictions for all time,
to show that an escape from the
Affections and troubles of Europe is
TO be found alone in the bosom of
all-uniting and all-embracing Russia;
and to place in that bosom, with the
tenderness of fraternal affection, all
our brethren, and finally, perhaps,
to pronounce that grand and deci-
sive word Of universal harmony, and
establish the brotherly union of all
nations according to the canons of
the Gospel of Christi. :. Is it
for us, you will say, that such a
future is prophesied; for our poor
and needy soil? Is it for us to
speak the last grand word of huma-
nifty? Well, do l speak of economic
prosperity, of the glory of the sword,
or the fame of science? Ispeak but
of fraternity. 1 only believe that
the heart of Russia may perhaps be
the one of all those of the countries
OF the universe to whom may be as
signed the grand mission of uniting
all humanity in the bonds of bro
therly love-. Let our land be
poor and needy, but the poor and
needy in lowly garb have been
blessed by Christ! Why should we
not pronounce His last word? Was
He not Himself born in stable?"
The logic is irresistible and con-
vincing. But to pass from the poet
and dreamer to the speculative philo-
sopher and thinker. In 1873 there
appeared at Moscow a work-it was
only a pamphlet-which created the
greatest sensation. 1t was written
by young professor at the Univer-
slty of Moscow, whose learning was
prodigious; who had studied all the
great philosophic theories of the
world, and his pamphlet, which was
also political manifesto, was said
to give in concise form the studies
of a lifetime. 1t was called Three
POacers, and in his work Professor
SOlOViaff nnlaayoura6 IN chow tho