The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-19
Rtsstt's GREAT AIM.



Washington Letter to the Chicago Record
The attitude of Russia in the tlssIe he
tween Turkey and Greece is exciting much
Comment and curiosity in diplomatic cir
Giles. 1t is the general understanding that
the disturbance in Crete which began the
war was melted by Russian intrigue. and
it has been expected that sooner or later
the ear would show his hand and make
another attempt to accomplish the purpose
which Peter The Great hequeathed in his
Will TO his successors upon the throne.
Ever since the Turks captured CONSTANT
nople and drove out Constantine. Russia
has aimed TO be considered the patron and
protector Of the Greek church all over the
world. For 500 years every Russian las
been born with the hope that he may some
day follow n certain gate into CONSTANT
nople, in fulttllment Of the prophecy of one
of the early patriarces that the Russian
car would some day te-Cstablish Chris
tan worship in the mosque of st. Sophia
That gate was vailed ny two centuries
ago by one of the sultaps because Of this
prophecy.
Without Constantinople Russia can not
reach the high seas N winter, Her fleet is
IDLE except IN summer At least five months
IN me year all her northern ports are ice
bound, and were there no other reason this
Is enough 10 justify her in trying to con
trol the Dardanelles. Half the wars In Eu-
rope during the last four centuries ave re
suited from this ambition, and all the poll
clos Of the Russian government are framed
with this end in view. Greece had n sad
experience with Russia in 1921, which may
ne repeated Ia the present emergency.
Ihen an extraordinary woman was
concerned. Her name was Nine. d.
hTudener, of German ancestry. but a Rus
sian subject, whose husband held high
rank in the diplomatic service of the
czGr. She was a beautiful and clever wo-
man, devoted 10 pleasure. f~rivolity and in
trigue until his death, when she went TO
I'VE with her mother at Riga.
There she was converted TO Christianity
ny a poor Moravi1n lay preacher who made
her SHOES. aud, abandoning the gay world.
she devoted herself 10 the study ot the
SCRIPTURES, to charity and missionary work
she was the intimate friend Of The good
queen Louise of Prussia. who gave her
active ENCOURAGEMENT In her religious du-
ties. She converted the mother o. the Fin
rerer Alexander, the queen Of sweden the
qu'!n OF BaraNid, Queen Horterse Of iI1l-
land the Grand Duchess of lIosse and
menhcrs Of other royal families. she
tidVeled through Europe as an evangelist.
Preaching Christianity TO Protostants aud
Catholics alike, and excited a religious re-
NFal second only to that inspired by Mar
I'm Luther. Alexander l, a. Russia. who
hai naturally a deep religious feeling. after
tho retreat OF Napoleon. sent Tor her to
come and teach him. She Joined hil camp,
followed the allied army TO Paris in the
suite Of the car and returned with i'm
10 ~, petersburg, whfrc che was attached
to the court. and served not only rs his
reliGious advisor. but as a'Rible teacher in
ms family She interested him M the con-
qluon of the Christians in the Mphamme-
aan countries, ana under his ancolrlS ,cuent
and auspices she organized a secret rclig-
lnns order known NJ the 'Hotitrists.'
Ihls order was ostensibly for the relief Of
christians, and particularly members Of
mo Greek church who were prosecuted by
mo Moslems, but its real purpose was the
overthraw OF the Ottoman empire and will
the knowledge and approval ri AleXdAder
OF Rusfia' a rebellion against the siltan
broke out simultaneously in Greece. Bul-
saria' sfrYia. and all Danube provinces,
under the leadership OF Alexander Ypsiian-
H. and MS brother, Demetrius. ,lAxander
was the aid-de-camp Of the ear and his
devoted friend. and left ST. Petersburg for
me sole PURPOSE OF melting this revolution
through The nelairists.