The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-11

eNlt from the Black Sea as an outlet for
her principal commodity. wheat. Hand
III hand with this commercial conSidrra.
ton of first importance works Scnti.
mental motif. PAM lavsm. which yields
wonderful sway over th" imaginative
Russian. Pam Savism is II feeling not
easily defined; its source is partly ma.
tiOnal, partly mystical. Religion and ra-
clnl pride combine 10 make most Rus
slams firm believers in their destiny to
unite all orthodox Slavs under the acgiS
of the Gar. The Roman-C athulic Poles.
the deadly enemies and victims of auto
cratic Russia. were excluded from this
ideal unity, and it is only recently under
the pressure of war that Gar Nicholas
promised them autonomy and the con
stitutional rights suppressed by his pred
ecesSOrS. Another characteristic of Pan
Slavism is its contempt for western mod
ern civilization with its individualsm
and personal liberty. II stands up for
rural communism and is based on the
conviction of the superiority of the or
thodox religion, this fountain of supersti-
ton and ignorance and firm stronghold
of despntism. 1t also dcspiscs 1.-THE de-
caying German race" The Russians
have feeling of spteful hatred for the
Germans, who for generations tried to
teach them discipline and method. Pan
Slavism, whereas IL is satisfied with til"
meager concession Of dcsultory civic
rights within the boundaries of the
northern Empire, works abroad as rev
dictionary power. Under its inspiration
the Balkan Confederation was formed
against Turkey in 1912 which led to the
end Of Turkish rule in Macedonia.
The Russian advanced posts on the
Balkan Peninsula are Servia and Mon
tenegro. And Servia would have never
dared treSpaSs ON the patience and
forbea1nce of Austria-lIungary. were
she not sure of the support of Russia.
To complicate matters the policy of Rus
sian expansion does not stop at Constan-
tnople. Russia wants not only the
opening of the Bosphorus but also the
breaking up and dividing of Asiati2
Turkey. But here she finds Germany in
her way, who wishes to conserve Turkish
rule in Asia in order To build railways.
execute works of irrigation, and settle
German emigrants on the reclaimed
lands. Turkeys strongest friend has
been Germany. This explains the state
ment of Russian historical writer:
The way to Constantinople goes not only
through Vienna but also through Berlin.
AS LONG as Russia stood alone. her
- rivalry in the Near-East with Aus
tria-lIungary backed up by Germany
was not to be feared. But the inability
of the hgh-spirited French nation 10
reconcile herself with the loss of Alsaca.
led up to the most unnatural alliance Of
the radical Republic with the Eastern
Theocracy. The French billions went to
strengthen the Russian Empire. its
armies and finances and to develop its
railroads.
In the mind of Russian statesmen the
alliance with France never was meant
To help her To- realize her wild dreams of
revenge they wished to make use of
French capital, and To enhance their mil
itary power in order to impose by mere
pressure upon Germany and Austria
their Pan-Slavistic policy. Unfortunate
gantic trade expansion induced Edward
VII to draw closer to Russia and To-
form the so-cllled Triple Entente with
France with view of isolating Ger
many. From this moment the balance
of power in Europe was disturbed. and
the feeling of superior strength of the
Russian group formed dangerous in
ccntive to make use of il against I'll"
weaker group. This feeling was the i'm
mediate reason of the extraordinary cf
forts of France with population of 30,
!DOOOO. to raise an army ms great or
even greater than that of Germany with
"a. JOO.ON. Germany exposed Ia two
attacks had 10 follow suit. and by levy
ing a war contribution Of over n billion
Of marks To- Increase her peace cstab-
lishment by over lOO.OD men. Russia
Immediately answered by obtaining from
the Duma an appropriation for the in