TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-10-31

ny Alexander v. huher, Austro.
Hungarian Consul.

Hungarian Consul.
II 10 safe to assume that most OF
u readers are unaware that the
Ruthenians, or Small Russians as the
RusFians christened them. or Ukrat
mans Is they style themselves. are
3 people numbering thirty.nyA mil
lions. The Western World hardlS
suspected the existence OF tbis nation,
which ranks second among the sla9:
the R~uthenians have beeh moved 10
a mere prominent place In European
politics lately, their future destiry
being mi Of the main causes Of the
present war.
OF the thirtyHye millions OF
R%uthenlana, more properly called
ukrainians, about four millions live
In Eastern Galicia and half a million
In Upper Hungary, whereas more
than thirty millions arc at home In
Southern Russia, In the fertile plalns
stretching from both banks OF the
Dnieper to the Don and the Black
Sea. As far back as the tenth
century Ukraiaa was a mighty
country, and its capital. KieY. then
was the largest, wsalthiest and the
most advanced city in Eastern
Europe. In those days Western
Europe fully realized the UkrainiaH
rulers power, foreign rulers sought
their frisndship. Prince Volodymir
Monomaeh was married 10 Harold's.
the Saxon King OF EnKland's,
daughter, Gytha, and his daughter,
Amaze, became Queen Of France.
After the destruction Of their
nourishing country BY the invading
TartarS. The UkraInians came under
Lithuanian, then Polish and finally
Russian domination.
Russia was quick TO realize that,
yer the national civilization OF such
a large population occupying the most
fertile parts Of the empire allowos
to subsist, this would ever be a
source Of danger for herself. II wac,
therefore, decided to de-natlonaiizs
the ukraiafans, and drastic. un
%Eerupulous we're the methods applied
TO this end. The very existence oil
the nation was denied, its language
was summarlly decreed to be the
small Russian dialect" and was
prohibited In schools and ofheiAl life
Not content With this, oHielal Russia
prohibited the printing OF Ukrainian
texts, even Of prayer books.
The total suppression OF national
existence, which threatened the
Ukrainians was happily aYerted when
a fraction OF them came under
Austrian rule as a consequence OF
Poland's partition. With the con
stitutioual freedom granted BY
Austria the Ukrainians In thai
country were enabled to maintain
and develop their national existence
and culture. Ukralnian schools and
colleges were founded, beside many
national clubs or associations fol
UNFOLDING the peoples economic ana
ideal interests. ukrainian was Off
cially recognized as the country's
language, and acts were passed In,
the local county councils and paFiia
ment safeguarding Ukrainian rights.
The people were inaugurating A
national renaissance" their culture
and literature we're once more going
ahead, the Austrian Government, well
Eppreeiating the situation, had agreed
last year to the establishment of an
ukrainian University Ii Lemberg.
The national resurrection Of the
UkraiHians, though materially con
fined to Austria, had a moral effect
far beyond the Russian borders.
Comparing their lot with that OF
their happier fellow countrymen IN
Austria, the Ukrainians In Russia
gave signs Of unrest, and Russia had
70 realize that her yoke was un
bearable to the people who looked
to Gallcla as to their "Pieniont."
The Ukralnian aspirations were not
passed unnotieed by the watchful
Russian officials who quickly per.
eelyed that a new threat wal arising
to their Governments despotism;
nationally enlightened Ukrainians
would not willingly submit to Rus
sian oppressive rule and would even
attempt to free themselves.
onieiaI Russia then declared that
he annexation OF Gaicia was the
safest course to take In order to
OFFSET the threatening danger. When
this would be achieved. the time
honored Russian "a la Cosaquer
methods would nip Ia the bud the
~resurrecting Ukrainian culture. These
Official Russian views we're dis
semfnated In periodicals and at
public meetings. As long as a
powerful Austria stood In the way,
such theories could be advanced III
speech and print, but they could not
be put into practice. Since annexa
ton by violeHee vas not possible, n
had to resort to other means.
TIE Ukrainlan Renaissance was
declared by oficial Russia to be but
a malicious Invention 81 the Austrian
Governments, nay. the very existence
Of U~krainiaus In Galieia was fatty
denied, and the Ukrainians were
described by Petersburg as Russians,
brothers who were subject to utterly
u~ntolerabls religious and national
oppression! The Petersburg Govern
ment gave It's financial support to
the recently launched Russian,
Galician Society" and "slav Benev.
olent Society,"" both inspired by
Count Bobrinski with the sole object
Of promoting Russian political agita
| ton ID Galicia. In this campaign,
which started both on educational
and religious lines, the chief Russian
| tvaannu mn@-tha Ruhln