New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-17
Slav and Teuton


mind on reading the news of the Russian
revolution was entirely and necessarily
thought of the meaning Of this great
event. not in terms of world politics, but
in terms of world humanity. That many
millions of men and women, millions OF
men and women living in one OF the most
despotic of nations, should achieve democ-
racv and liberty was thing appealing
Immediately to the enthusiasm and to the
IMAGINATION of the American people, ana
for ms all this aspect will doubtless remain
the more important.
Yet il is not less necessary at THIS time
to think of the political effect OF an
emancipated Russia upon the destlnies OF
Europe. II is well to recall again the
fact so frequently forgotten that this war
had its origin, as well as its immediate
occasion, in the conflict between the Slav
and the Teuton, and Russia liberated
and democratic must necessarily be the
champion of the Slav races In the future
es an autocratic Russia never could be.
German autocracy, like German world
notifies. dreamed of fastening its system
upon the Czech, the Pole, the Slovak, the
Slovene. the Serb and the Bulgar. That
great Mitteleuropa of German dreams was
in fact Central European state IN which
the Teutonic supremacy was assured put
state in which the Teuton made use OF
millions of Slavs as his slaves and his
servants. his cannon fodder" and his IN
dustrial machines.
The German statemen have long per-
ceived that unless Germany could expand,
unless Germany could divide the Slav
world and bind the Poles and the Austrian
as well as the Balkan Slavs to her chariot,
the inevitable expansion of Slavdom might
some day eliminate Germany as a world
mower. Considerable as was the annual In
crease of German population, that of Rus
STA was growing by leaps and bounds, and
the hour when Russia should organize her
self was recognized by thoughtful Germans
as the hour which would see the extinction
of German dreams of world power.
Germany struck in 1914, when Russia
had succeeded in building in Serbia tenn
porary Slav barrier against Teutonlc eX-
mansion to the Near East. Berlin calcu-
lated that Russia was still too weak, too
unorganized, too divided, to oppose that
resistance which few decades later would
be beyond Teutonic resources to stem.
The Germans foresaw an inevitable con-
hict between the Teuton and the Slav.
They foresaw that if the Slavs were united
Germany would not only be outnumbered,
but her pathway to the Near East would
be forever barred along the Danube and
her eastern marches on the lower Wis
lula threatened. She foresaw that Bo-
hemia would become a Slav citadel ip the
heart of Germany and that in the longer
future Germany herself, like France and
Italy, would be relegated to the position of
a secondary power in world which be-
longed to the Slav and TO the Anglo-SaXon.
Beneath all else this war was a German
war to assure for Germany position in
the world Of the future commensurate
with that held by Germany now Her
place in the sun" could only be assured if
Russia were turned back from her west
ward and southwark advance and string
Of Slav states depending upon Germany
were erected on her frontier; states com
parable to those Napoleon erected in
Southern Germany in the days Of his Euro
pean domination.
The Slav people instinctively perceived
that the question at issue was funda-
mental question; a question Of the liberia
ton Of the Austrian Slavs, the protection
of the Serbian Slavs and the acquisition Of
that gateway to the warm seas 50 long de-
MED, first by British and then by German
veto. They accepted the war They have now
declared that the war shall be fought out.
II is too early now 10 forecast what will
happen, but it is not too early to indicate
how tremendous may be the consequences
politically and racialy Of this Russian
revolution. 1t may have consequences af-
fecting the map Of Europe more per
manently than did the French Revolution
and affecting the Slav peoples as deeply
as the Italian and German struggles for
unity affected the Italian and German
peoples in the last century.
The future Of Germany was imperlled
bv the promise of Slay awakening, but
the present existence Of Austria is i'm
mediately in danger. For twenty-six mill
ions Of Slavs living within the Hapsbure
doninions the supremacy Of democracy in
the great slav state must give new and
irresistible impulse both 20 strike for lib
orty and TO seek closer association with
Russia. However weak the race tic may
have been, the moral and spiritual tie
With democratic Russia must be strong
at once, and must grow stronger
10 The revolution in Russia follows the