Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-20

These wars" remarked the count, gave
freedom to Bulgaria, Servia, Macedonia
lin treaty Macedonia was again given over
to slavery to Turkey, and Bosnia-Herze-
govina was acquired In bondage to Aus
tria-" Thus 1t would seem that Bisnarck's
and Beaconheld's wor kin Berlin had left
as a legacy white slavery In Europe In the
twentieth century.
you might say" remarked the general,
that the great Slavic Society in Moscow
did much good work for humanity In the
way Of personal service and funds In aid
Of the wounded in these wars referred to.
and spent fully thirty million dollars for
The society today has changed entirely
it, policy and now works tn Europe with
the propaganda for only peaceful means 10
e Snsain ..r Tsssdom by The Hague e. eonasr .
who really Wishes peace. must demand Of
his government to ask the revision of the
treaty OF Berlin, which Is the most in
tyranny and which Is the real reason that
Europe represents an enormous military
camp.
Man Of Wonderful Energy.
Gen. Spiridovitch is q man OF wonderful
energy and resourceful mind. Indeed. his
expressions in thought are rendered so
rapidly as to put to severe test the ability
OF newspaper scribe to catch his words.
His vivid descriptions of life in the empire
are given in striking characteristic style of
man who is today the veritable soul of
the Slavonic freedom movement. and his
whole life and fortune are consecrated to
that one idea. Indeed, the Slavic press in
variably refers to him as the future Slav-
onic Bismarck.
1T may interest The Star readers said
the general, Ito know that the Slavic So
ciety. of which I am the honored head, has
for its principal aims the amelioration of the
cruel position of those under the yoke of
Turky and for the oppressed little Slavic
nations. BY his strong interference be-
tween Russia and japan, President Roose-
welt has done very much to promote world
peace, and of all peoples in the world us
Slavs are certainly the most grateful. In
Russia there was strong sentiment for
war because many of the people believed
that it would be advantageous. but the
Slavic people occupied the unique position
of wanting peaceful solution and also the
return of Russian power in Europe, be-
cause they regarded the empire strong
defense against enemies from without.
Slavic Esteem for Roosevelt.
In recognition of his services for peace,
the great Slavic society of the old world
deputed it's president to visit the United
| States and the capital of the nation and
| extend In person to it's chief executive their
keen sense of his efforts for world peace and
their high esteem, a peace which the
|
| for their happiness and prosperity. The
general was also entrusted with the presen-
| tation of magnificent cup of honor.
| 1t is q fine example of Slavic art. 1t Is
| made of silver and gold and is ornamented
| with enamel. 1t was made in Moscow
by the most skilled silverSmiths and stands
| about two feet high on three lion legs 1t is
| appropriately inscribed in Slavonic charac-
| tiers and also the letters ct. r." 1t is
surmounted by the figure of an ancient
I O n hno oil e 81
| workmanship These cups of honor are
distinguished gifts for they are only pre-
| sented to crowned heads and high rulers OF
the world. This testimonial is presented
| to the President as a slight testimonial
| of the esteem and best wishes of the en-
tire Slavic society.
Some Striking Personal History.
Gen. Spiridovitch preferred to talk alto
gether about his country and the great mis-
sion Of his lfe-the amelioration of the
/ Slavs. But The Star representative was
| able to get a little bit of information from
| him at a time, which he has interviewer
| into story of his life. He has been the
| recipient of numerous medals from foreign
| powers for bravery in which he risked his
life to save the lives of many on the high
| seas. His deeds Of daring are well known
| to many in his country. 1t was learned
| casually that he has brother who be-
| longs to the emperor's bodyguard at st.
Petersburg, and while the emperor is him
| self brave and resolute man, this select
| body of defenders of the car are rarely
| If ever out of their rulers sight. The general
| talked most entertainngly of court life and
| the unique political situation of the conn
| try in which the brave emperor Is ever be-
| tween two strong opposing factions-the
court party and those who favor. constitu-
tiOnal government.
Some interesting facts in connection with
Gen. Spiridovitch's life in the politics of
| Slavism may not be amiss. 1t was in 1903
that Pope Leo XIII decided to confide the
protectorate of the Catholics to Emperor
William The treaty was ready and there
only remained to be done the aff1xng of
the signatures Of Cardinal Rampolla and
Count. Won Buelow. men Gen. Sprido-
declaring that from advices furnished by
thousands of his Slavic agents. If this privi-
lege was conferred upon the perpetual enemy
Of the Slavs it would excite among forty
millions of Catholic Slavs the most positive
hostility, the consequences of which might
be extremely serious. Soon the same
journals announced that Count Won Buelow
would, on presenting himself at the Vatican
for the final signatures, meet with an UNI
expected refusal The Catholic Slavs, Or
ganized a banquet at Moscow to honor this
happy result. This incident caused much
stir; it set aside the German protectorate
paralyzing in consequence the spread of
German influence.
Then again in 1903 the general hired a
motel at FranZenSDad Tor july and August,
1901, to call together congress of Slavs,
assuming all the outlay. The Austrian gov
ernment alarmed at this manifesto tion
used it's influence in such way that NJ
Wolff. the proprietor of the hotel, sold hts
establishment. thus canceling the contract.
In the same connection Count Gouchowski
wrote to Count LamSdorff begging him to
make known to Gen. Spiridovitch that his
guests would not be allowed to cross the
Austrian frontier, asserting that the pres
ence of the latter caused too much agitation
in Slavic centers.
Again, in 1904 the question was widely
discussed in Austria of Transforming the
temporary occupation of Bosnia Herzego-
vina (Serbo-Croat provinces) into a final
: annexation, while Russla's attention and
troops were directed to the far east. This
annexation would have had disastrous con-
sequences for Servia, Croatia and Monte
negro, and extraordinary profit to their
oppressors. Gen. Spiridovitch visited Vienna
promptly, where the deputies and presi-
dents of the Slavic societies and organiza-
lions in Austria were assembled. On 1t being
proposed the meeting unanimously voted
that request be made to President Roose-
yelt-who at that moment was actually en-
gagged in calling together a new conference
at The Hague-requesting him to submit to
this conference as first question the VIOLA
ton on the part of Austria of the treaty
of Berlin and demanding the evacuation Of