New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
SLAVS AT THEIR MECCA,
POLITICAL PROPAGANDA IN RELIGIOUS
GJiSE AT KIEFF.

'A'~
nine-hundredth anniversary Of the conversion OF
Russia to Christianity gave rise to ono OF the most
extraordinary spectacles of modern times one in
deed OF nature to create CONSERVATION tnrough-
out Europe. Gathered together in this Mecca OF
Russian Orthodoxy were the leading members oil
the insurrectionarv PARTIES of Austria, Germany,
Rumania, Scrvia and Bulgaria. whose sole ana
openly avowcd aim is to overthrow the existing
regimes Of their respective countries. AS guests
Of the Russian Nation not onl- their hotel bhls
during their weeks stay at kicf, out even 'heir
travelling expenses, were betrayed By the Cars
Government, and arrival In the HOLY
City they were received with the utmost distinc-
ton by a number of eminent Russian statesmen
and officials Of high rank. at the head of whom
figured prominently NJ Pcbcdonotsow and General
Ignaticff. OF these the former, who was the tutor
of the Gar and who has remained his most init
mate confidant and influential adviser. now fills
the post Of Procurator-Gcncral Of the Holy Synod
and as such is the lay administrator and temporal
chief Of the Orthodox Church. Bitterly hostile to
everybody and everything foreign, he is Justly re-
garded both at home and abroad as the most i'm
portant and powerful man in Russia. General
Ignateff is the famous ex-Ambassador and ex-
Minister Of the Interior who is known at Con-
stantinople, where he spent so many years Of his
restless and ambitious life, by the popular sobr-
quet of the Father of Lies" At the present
moment he holds the office of chief adc-de-camp to
the Gar and is besides member Of the Supreme
Council Of the Empire.
But il is not their official rank alone which
renders these two men such potent factors in
Russian politics General Ignatieff was elected a
few months ago to the Presidency Of the Slav
Committee Of Bcncvolence7 which is nothing more
nor less than the Central Executive Committee Of
the Panslavist movement The avowed object Of
this immensely wealthy and extensive organization
is TO bring under Russian domination, either by
fair means or foul, all the fragments of the Slav
race, which are now scattered over Germany,
Austria Turkey and the Danube States. As
Supreme Chief Of the Russian Church and in
tolerant and relentless foe Of all hctcrodox creeds
NJ. Pobicdonotsow is ipse facto the most important
coadiutor of the President of the Panslavst Com
mittee II is true that whereas the latter is work
ing for the temporal adhesion TO Russia Of all the
Slav races abroad, NJ Pcbiedonostow processes to
be striving to attain nothing but their spiritual
and religious union to Muscovite Orthodoxy. But
it must be borne in mind that in the Cars
dominions religion and politics are the wOof and
warp of one texture, and that they have been so
closely allied at all portions Of the nations history
that il is impssible 20 say where the ends and
the other begins. However this may be, the
General is universally regarded as be-
ing, jointly with General Ignatieff and General
Tchcrnacff, the high priest of Panslavism-a
movement which was powerful enough in 1877 to
set at defiance the autocracy OF the late Car,
and to force him against his will into war with
Turkey. 1t was from that time the Slav agitators
abroad receive their instructions and derive their
very liberal subsidies; and when it is stated that
in addition to the foreign malcontents above men
toned, the Holy City throngcd all last week
with Greek bishops, priests and even consuls from
Turkey and Crete, who are openly paid by General
Ignatieff's COMMITTEES to foment discomfort and
insurrection in the European provinces of the
Porte it will be realized that the gious charac
ter of the Kief celebration was merely a cloak
for great Panslavst convention.
To what extent this was the case may be esti-
mated by the fact that within three days after the
Emperor Williams departure from St Petersburg.
NJ. Pobiedonotsow was delivering an eloquent and
impassioned speech at Kcff in which he alluded to
the sacred mission of Russia to shield and preserve
the Slav race and Orthodox Christians from what
he was pleased to term German slavery" while
General Ignatieff at a public banquet in honor Of
the foreign guests at Keff actually went so far as
the following terms:
We are not afraid of Austria We know that
she will never dare to declare war against no
matter what may do. The Initiative will al
ways remain in our hands. Without taking any
account of her or of any other obstacles we shall
push steadily forward TO the West. Do not be
alarmed as TO anything Austria may do 10 prevent
us. She is but the figure 0 in the European con-
cert Of nations She is totally unworthy Of con-
sidcration. We have never shown her any. and
do not intend to do so in the future
In order to realize the full import of these re-
marks. which were enthusiastically applauded by
the Austrian malcontents present. it must be borne
in mind that Austria has Slav population num-
bering close upon 10000. 900 scattered over Bohe-
mia Croatia. Hungary, ETC., where the Panslavist
propaganda is making immense headway. The
speech moreover becomes doubly significant and
threatening whcr taken in conjunction with the
editorial leader the Kief celebration which ap-
peared on tho Cd inst in the semi-ofcial ST.
Petersburg Grashdanin." the favorite organ Of
the Minister of the Interior. Count TolstOl 1t
says:
God grant that but short time may elapse
before all branches of the great Slav race he united
under the shadow of their parent tree. and under
the supreme rule of the great and mighty Car
With this ann in view, which is certain to be at
tained sooner later by Russia, all present diff
cultes such as for instance the Bulgarian question
must appear mean and petty. They will all vanish
like smoke. II only we MAINTAIN Intangible the
sacred principles Of our Orthodox Church. and if
only the whole Slav world can be brought to COM
prehend that IN the Cars protection and guardian
ship alone be found salvation for the great
Slavonic race.
1t is worthy or note that the Editor OF the
Grashdanin" and author of the signed article
just quoted is Prince Metchcislxy. the most inti-
mate friend and crony of NJ Pobiedonotsow.
If Kieff is the Mecca of Russian Orthodoxy, the
famous Petschersly monastery is its Kaaba. 1t is
known as the wcalthiest religious community in
the world It's riches are incalculablc and the
foreign guests at the celebration last week were
only able to obtain faint idea of their extent
from the extraordinary display of precious stones
noticeable on the vestments of the clergy in their
grand procession from the Cathedral of St Sophia
10 the spot on the banks of the Dnicpcr where St.
Vladimir was baptized and where the river was
about TO be soemnly blessed again. This process