The San Francisco call., 1897-09-18
GALLfC-PAN-S SLAVIC FRIENDSHIP

is not very surprising that the government
OF the most despotic empire has entered into
an alliance with a republic as such course
was distated by political reasons, but there is
much cause for astonishment that the people
of France and Russia, which represent widely
different and even antagonistic principles,
should profess the sineerest friendship for each
other.
1t will be membered that up to the assassi-
nation of Gar Alexander II the two nations
were at bitter enElity because Russia blamed
France for her defeat in the Crimean war,
while France would not forgive Russia for pre-
venting Aus tria from interfering in the war
OF 1S7O7I The press of both countries did
ali 1t could to foment the i'll feeling md hurled
the most abusive invectives against each
other All this was suddenly changed by a
very unique and interesting episode, which,
though very unimportant in itself, happened
to lead to ftr-reaching consequences.
General Skobeloff a young Russian soldier OF
great ability and sh, who had repeatedly
won distinction in the field. happened to be in
Paris on private visit in January, 1882. The
Iirst independent command held by Skobe off
was in the second battle of Plevna, where ne
distinguished himself in such manner that
Alexander made him general of infantry and
aid to his person. While in Paris the French
ofice cers gave a bs nquet in SIX obeioff's honor at
which he proposed toast to France. In this
toast he abused the Bismarckian policy. advo-
eating at the same time an alliance of France
and Russia for the purpose of humiliatirg
Germany. This toast did not excite much
comment as Skobeloff was considerably under
the influence OF champagne at the time. 1t
was very different, however, when this toast
was followed up by several Others of the same
order which Skobelof proposed TO the officers
at Kew aud Moscow on his return from Paris.
The Cabinet of Berlin took the matter very
seriously and remons rated so energetically
at ST. Petersburg that SIX o beIoff was a once re-
moved from his command and ordered to re-
tire 10 his estates, where he died few months
aftcrward
The seed sown by skobeloff seems to have
fallen on fruitful soil, which had been partly
prepared by Ignatief, another Russian gen.
eral and statesman. Jgnatieff had acquired
worldwide notoriety in 1876 by exciting the
people of Herzegovina and Bulgaria to revolt
aga inst the Sultan. This revolt furnished
Russia with a pretense for interfering, the
outcome of which was the last Russo-Turkish
war. On May l, 1881, Ignatief was appointed
Minister of the Interior in place of Prince
Loris Melikoff. he was removed a year later,
as he had compromised himself and Russia
by his Pan-Sayistic agitations and by his toler-
alton OF J lew batting. This was the end of his
public career, but his agitations have had an
effect on the Slavic race, not only in Russia
but also in those parts of Austria which are
peopled by Saws (Czeehs and Slovacs). The
entire race was now opposed to the Germanic
prcdomlnance in Europe and made overtures
to France. which country was only too ready
to take advantage of this newly developed
sentiment. The entire French press, with the
exception of the radical and socialstic papers,
commenced to foster and cement the TREND
ship with Russia, and their efforts are at last
crowned with success, as is made evident
by the now concluded alliance.
Little things have often given an impetus to
i'm portant political changes, and it is very
probable that the famous toasts of General