THE SL AV NATIONS

T ' SRGJAN PL . UC IO

Englis h Tran slation by

F AN Y C P EL N S . O AND

A

HOD D ER AND STOUGHTON LOND ON NEW Y ORK TORONTO s MC M"" f 0 ’ I A

C ONTENTS.

PAR - T I THE NORTHERN SLAVS .

CHAPTER I . PAGE THE SLAV RACE — — lav Charac eristics SIN Power in the Past The Decline —S ‘ ' t 1 he Dawn "

CHAPTER II . RUSSIA

c — urik 1. R ss Landsca and the Na ional Chara ter R u ian — t to Peter the t eat German Influen

I Siberia W ite R s s Li le Great I. h us ian tt Russians

APT R CH E III . RUSSIAN NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS R l vd The S s an d amine The ussian Sa om Mir tres F D m— — ie u a Russian Literature Gogol Tolstoi Dosto vsld deals—The R s l I us ian Sou .

APT IV CH ER . POLAND AND BOHEMIA — — I . The Con ras t National Character of the Foley Our t — L ady of Csen stochova—Dancin Peasan s Galician — g t o es Selfish o ic — A l v t P l P l y us ria a a t . t ' S S a e I The o es in ussia e Measures —The I . P l R R i 3 Repressiv — ussa — Slav Ideal A Better Understan ding The Poles in Prussia —The ro Heel—L aw of Ex ro r a ion I p p i . I I n t I . NT TS vi CO EN .

P - ART II THE SOUTHERN SLAVS .

CHAPTER V . BULGARIA Coun try and People—The Buildin up of the B arian State — — g Relations mth Russia G erman Influen ce exander of — — ’ Batten er Ki n Fe i an d Bu aria 5 mmediate D u . b g g rd n lg I ty

CHAPTER VI. SERBIA

Ser ian Se i -relian ce— haracteris tics oi the Ser Peo le I . b l C b p - — - The power of the Folk son g Race consciousn ess .

His t of e ou ern S avs . II . ory th S th l The Birth of a Nation— rin ce Milo§ The Great III . P — — Sower Alexander Karagjorgj ewé Ml chael Obren ovié — — - Kin M1l an Fall o f the Obren ovié D ynasty Kin g Peter g ’ - The Res toration of Serbia 3 Prestige. I Ser 1a an d Austri — A amai of Cal umn —Annexa V. b a C p n

- g i on of B osn i a Herce ovin a— The B a ars— Ser ia t g lkan b Rehab1htated— The Tra ed of Sera evo g y j .

APT R VII CH E . MONTENEGRO — The Coun try of the Black Moun tain Women Warriors oet an d Farmer— H1s tor1cal Sketc of Mo ten e h ro n , P n — — — g etar I. Petrovié etar Pro Russmn o ic A o al P , P II P l y R y o - P et Nikola I .

CHAPTER VIII . THE SOUTHERN SLAVS OF THE D UAL MONARCHY

Homo eneous o —A Mili tan — T A e e t ast he Bo u il i I . P pl P g m g — Nation a Bon da e— Na o eon Ill rism— A reemen i h l g p l y g t W t un r — o K u - ed r H un t h en H erva . ga y C y The Greatest e resen tati e of he Southern S s Stros II . R p v t lav s ’ ma er s Gen erosi t an d coura e- F h e y y g all of Coun t K u m ede r - D e h of S rossma cr H rva y at t y . I F wn — o e ence of F um— I I. alse D a C n f r i e Ban Paul Rauch Mon er — — t st Trial in Z agreb The Friedjun g Case Cus ar Frano Supilo . IV Da matia s ria Camiola— — . The I alian Elemen t Bosnia l , I t , t Her o - usio ceg vma Concl n .

P E ILOGUE .

” ' BURIED TREASURES by D imitrij Mitrznovié REF AC E P .

THE task of writing a book on the subject of the Slav nations has afforded me very great m l pleasure , and I hope y work wi l succeed in its object and arouse the sympathies of the

British public for my race . In preference t o giving long disquisitions , I have purposely adopted a simple narrative tone in sketching some of the most interesting points in the national life of the Slav peoples . I have only touched upon historical events in so far as this was of necessary for the context , and owing to lack space I have been unable to do more than allude

art . to Slav and literature On the other hand , a good deal of valuable information on this subject will be found in the epilogue Buried ” - Treasures , which the eminent Serbo Croat Mitrin ovié essayist , Mr . Dimitrij has kindly placed at my disposal . As I am at present completely cut off from my

- r t o sorely stricken count y , I have been unable apply for permission to quote from certain books that I have consulted, but I feel sure that my D ra uti P N Dr. n o literary colleagues , g rohaska , ik u anié Dr G uro Surmn i o n t e p and . j i , w ll obj ct A PREF CE . to my having had recourse to their works in of our the interests race .

. Su il o I am also indebted to Mr Frano p , the e leader to the Croatian peopl , as well as to my

- Mi rin o é . t vi above mentioned friend , Mr Dimitrij of f or the Serbian Legation in London , several valuable hints .

My special thanks are due to my translator , l an d n d i Co a . Mm . e. S e Fanny p , Miss Ella C Sey ang , who have given me invaluable assistance in my work .

L OND N THE A O , UTHOR.

November 1 1 . , 9 4 P R A T I .

THE NORTHERN SLAVS .

THE ATI SL AV N ONS.

HAPTER C I .

THE S V R CE LA A .

— — Sla v Charac eris ics Slav Power in the Pas The —t t t Declin e The Dawn "

ALTHOUGH the Slav race does n ot appear as a united state or Union, it certainly forms a family Of d nations linked by ties of bloo , the tradition

of centuries , similar language and customs , and especially by ties of mutual love and sym r of pathy . It is the greatest and most powe ful i t n ot the European races , yet to this day does hold the pride of place which is its due and which e of it once held . Not the precedenc mere ur f i strength , which is s ely suf ciently represented e of by Russia , but the place due to a peopl r e u ecognized culture , who hav not yet been j stly appreciated in spite of overwhelming proof of are o their intellectual gifts . Slavs still p pu l arly supposed to be a mentally undeveloped

of - Of host semi barbarians and troglodytes . course the educated public of Europe has long 1 1 12 The Slav Nation s

abandoned this attitude ; but it has done little to spread a more just and liberal view among the people at large) “ The German scholars made it their business to lay stress on Slav the barbarism wherever possible , to obscure r bright and glorious pages in Slav histo y , and to emphasize everything that can be taken as a

proof of savagery and arrested development . r on e Unfo tunately, no has written at such length or about the Slav question , attached so much t o importance it , as the German scholars , with the result that other European nations have derived their views from them — so much so that on e might almost say that German opinion of on the Slavs has become the opinion Europe .

Constant unrest in Russia , and the consequent reprisals of the authorities afforded a welcome or pretext for misjudging the Slavs , and the din ary public of Europe came to know of them only as mediaeval inquisitors with Siberia as

- No on e their great torture chamber . seemed z r to reali e that these revolutiona y movements ,

is mo The reason f or thi s cultural ostrac f Russia is hi ca ere has n e er een an both racial an d geo grap l . Th v b y esire i n n an t o e i t e the S a s eas of all us si a . d E gl d b l t l l v , l t R es si n of ra i ion s as f ar c On the con rar a lon s ucc o , a t y , g t d t b k h me W es t o the ex n s e ex re rem as the Vi in A e i t e k g g , b d t t t Eas o f Euro e an d has n ow reac e a rea e ical an d t p , h d g t th n en e But e practical expression in t he Triple E t t . b tween ri rman a s i m a e wh W es ern uro e an d the S es I e o t E p l v l p l G y , has ac e n ot on as a arrier b ut a so as a is or in as s t d ly b , l d t t g gl , through which the western and eastern races of Europe were om o a ac er. F oo n o e the ran s a or c pelled t look t e h oth [ t t by t l t The Slav Rac e 13 no less than the insurrections in other Slav d e of countries , merely represente the resistanc a virile people craving enlightenment against autocratic barbarism ; and that it is obviously unfair to judge the Slavs by the deeds of their o ressors r as pp , who in eve y c e have followed the German methods cultivated by their govern ments in most Slav countries , and imported into Russia by Peter the Great . On the other s oul hand , if the Slav nations are judged by the o the eo le r f p p , and not by thei rulers and state systems , they show a high standard of civili z ation and a trend towards culture of a kindly , humanitarian type , which promises to be a far better contribution to Western European progress than the much - advertised German

Kultur . Certamthe Slavs have not yet attained to their full stature as a race . At present they of r are passing through a period st ong ferment , but the wine that has so far resulted from this ferment gives excellent ground for the hOpe that when the Slavs have solved their v arious national and economic problems they will prove themselves the equals of the other cultured nations of the world . In the world of politics they must attain the degree of power necessary t o safeguard their racial individuality and the freedom of the

Slav peoples . This power must stand in due proportion to their capability f or intellectual 14 The Slav Nati on s

be progress , and should in itself a guarantee for e of the peac the world in the future. For the r n d Slav is not natu ally domineering , a has no f or r r craving powe as a mere means of agg ession .

He belongs to a kindly race , melancholy , as shown in the national poetry in which his soul finds e r to xp ession . He has a craving love and to be e loved , and would fain join the oth r European as nations a friend and brother . His strength will b the has e strength of love . Russia neither need n or t o he desire extend her boundaries further . T Balkan Slavs only wish to accomplish their own destiny quietly within the borders of the Slav S here the r p , and rest of the Slavs desire thei — An d freedom on ly thei r freedom. when thi s i n o is accompl shed , the Slav Colossus will longer

a u r . constitute a danger to Europe , but a s feg a d His political power will only threaten those who would tamper with the foundations of peace from r f me e lust o dominion .

In the present crisis the Slav race is by n o

means seeking a return to the past . The past has

seen the Slavs masters of a great empire and . a o n e real menace to the rest f the world . f o “ I were to take the political map of Europe and indicate upon it the frontiers of the ancient S S r woifl d e lav Empire , the lav ace appear lik an The re . u irresistible deluge h ge Muscovite Empi , the of r - u r the e almost whole Aust ia H nga y , whol The Slav Rac e 1 5

o- of the rm tw r of the Balkans , thi ds Ge an Empire, of r of part Italy, and a large pa t Scandinavia a all these once formed the Sl v Empire . His torical maps show the single triumphant word ” “ Slavs ( famous or glorious ones) ia scribed over all these countries throughout the

centuries . Their history and developmen t can be traced back t o 400 The Taurians that guarded the Golden Fleece of the were Slavs , as were the men Baltic with o f or whom Ph enicians and Greeks traded amber . r e The forest lands of the North , that g ey hom of e a magic , wisdom and valour , hang lik dark background full of strange possibilities behind

- a R sunny Greece and clear headed , practic l ome — and this was the Empire of the Slavs in the Gardariki Iotunheim - past , the and (Giant land) r on e er Of the No semen . From century to anoth they played a part of increasing importance among the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe and were feared as a strong , homogeneous race . Their power reached its zenith towards the en d the tidal w of of the fifth century , before ave the e t e Hun invasion sw pt over Europe. At tha tim they held the mastery from the Alps to the of a to the mouth the Elbe , and from the B ltic one rea e Black Sea . They were then g t peopl divided into several tribes speaking slightly differing dialects ; but only a fraction of their — number the inhabitants of the present Dal ma — fia r The was subject to the Empero Nepos . 16 The Slav Natio ns

v of of in asion the Avars , who took possession a large strip of the Slav possessions between the the e Danube and Dniester , mad the first breach r e in the unity of the g eat Slav family . Henc r forth they were known as Northern , Easte n , and e Southern , Slavs , and began to form separat of nationalities . In the age Charlemagne these nationalities had already crystallized into inde e ' p ndent states , whose power and prosperity are r of recorded in histo y . The strongest these

was eventually Poland , extending far into the

of - of Russia to day . The Moravian Empire of Svatopluk , the Empire Serbia , the kingdom of Slaviciz ed Croatia , and the Bulgars in the

- of South , together with the Grand Dukedom Muscovy (and the Wendish kingdom in North of Germany) , complete the family Slav States . It would take too long to enter into the his t orical of e importance all th se states , but it is a characteristic proof of their power that not only ur European , but Asiatic , nations co ted their favour . Some of the main trade routes of the world led from Northern Europe through the heart of Russia to Byzantium (the Mikligard of the — Sagas) and Asia . Slav, Norwegian , Tatar and Arab traded peacefully together on the banks of the l r N rse Vo ga , and sund y passages in the o Sagas as well as the journal of an Arab trader give us vivid glimpses of those days . Somehow these searchlight pictures of the Slavs and their The Slav Rac e 17

r o r country , reco ded with p sitively jou nalistic of do e freshness and love detail , not corroborat of r the biassed accounts German histo ians . But this world - power which Russia alone has developed steadily up to the present day began t o wane among the other Slav nations soon after the first Crusade Already in 1 2 04 (the u fo rth Crusade) Slavonia , Croatia , Dalmatia an d Bosnia were incorporated in the German (Holy Roman) Empire , together with Hungary ,

r . the Istria , Ca niola and Carinthia Under be Hohenstaufens , Bohemia and Moravia also

came vassal states , and in the fourteenth century the victorious Osmanlis robbed the Bulgars and n exce Serbs of their indepe dence . With the p of her tion Russia , Poland alone maintained 1 2 independence , until the first partition in 77 , 1 followed by the second in 793 . The third and 1 the last partition in 795 sealed her fate , and r Poles were parcelled out under Russian , P ussian and Austrian rule .

The partition of Poland was the beginning of the complete political , and to some extent even

- the national , decay of the non Russian Slavs . Just as Russia began to spread her mighty i r pinions , the Slavs under al en yoke fell deepe an and deeper into apathy of gloom , only broken of r from time to time by rare flashes pat iotism , or e r a temp st of revolt . The book of histo y lay 18 The Slav Natio n s

open before them with its pages of gold and black ; but to their aching eyes the black ever loomed larger than the gold , and they yielded to a d espondency that knew no comfort and saw no escape . And, while they were thus sunk in e t o apathy , their rulers brought strong pr ssure on so bear them , that they might eradicate the of al stamp their nation ity, not only from their faces , but from their souls . Germany and

Austria scented the Eastern question , and divined that in its solution the Slavs might renew their strength . So they determined to approach the problem supported by a totall y emasculated al o and denation ized Slav following. T this end they strove above all thi ngs t o turn the Slavs into docile citizens Of a Germanic Empire ; for from the days Of Charlemagne the German has reiterated the parrot - cry that the Slav is bar barous , obstinate , dangerous and ugly , and that his only chance of salvation lies in merging his of i identity with that of the German the Emp re . It is a fact that during this period the Slavs did A nothing to help themselves . great weariness weighed upon the people , no less than upon the e c s ri du ated classe , and they were prepa ng to reconcile themselves to the fate that had already

S . befallen their brothers , the erbs and Bulgars But the progress of history did for the Slavs

t o . what they failed do for themselves Napoleon , the personification of destruction f or the whole of u — r u r E ropa b o ght salvation to the Weste n Slavs ,

CHAPTER II .

RUSSIA .

uss ian sca an d the a i n a a e I . R L an d pe N t o l Ch ract r Rurik t o Peter the Great- German In fluen ce The ssian Awa en in Ru k g . — — — II . Siberia W hi e Rus sian s L i le Russian s Grea — t — tt t Russian s Cossacks The People of the Sun fl ower— a e in erman — The eac i on M d G y R t .

I .

ROUGH Y 1 2 S L speaking , there are 7 million lavs in the world . The Russians alone number about 1 1 0 millions , and these millions occupy a vast country reaching from the snows of the f ar

N - orth , to lands where the orange trees bloom all the year round . The Russian holds that his dear little mother Russia is the most beautiful of land all the earth . The mountain fastnesses of of and precipices the Urals , the green slopes the Caucasus , the Siberian wastes , the grey shores Of the Baltic and the sunny shores of the — the Euxine the Volga and the Don , and even — t o sacred steppes to him they are all beautiful , him they reflect the image of his soul and his feelings . The Western traveller will find some difficulty in understanding this passionate love of r the Russian for his count y, and will feel 20 Russia 21

tempted to draw sharp comparisons between the

degrees of beauty in the various districts . But the landscape of Russia is as peculiar as the

Russian people . It is as Russian as the Russian himself . There is probably not another country in the world where the climatic and geological conditions have so deeply influenced the inmost

character of the people , even to their external

features . Where the landscape is beautiful and the climate sunny, the handsome noble Russian type prevails ; whereas the cold , inhospitable

- tracts produce the characteristic wide faced ,

- flat nosed type . Yet there is a strange resem blance between the rough type and the hand some type analogous to that which a careful observer cannot fail to notice between the of F different types Russian landscape . or though the steppe is grey, and the fields of

Caucasia are green , yet both are animated by something that wears the same countenance , the breathes same purely Russian atmosphere , the and is suffused with same wonderful charm . e It is the charm of perfectly balanc d contrast . The soil of Russia has a soul like the soul of her children , for whom she cares and lives and breathes . This soul appears everywhere the same ; it exhales the same perfume from the dry grass of the steppe as from the Crimean groves of syringa .

The Russian soil is fertile , inexhaustively r e e fe til , as if it wer conscious of the millions 22 The Slav Nati o n s

it. dependent upon Metaphorically speaking , i out this soil produces its g fts of itself, and

offers them lavishly to its children . The Russian — never works more than he is obliged to he r not need not w estle with the soil , he need only

forget it . But he tills it with love he does not e the N r forc gifts of atu e , he coaxes them from her do n ot on , and where these fruits appear of the surface , he seeks them in the heart the

r - a ea th , and goes down the coal sh fts and lead mines with the same serene confidence with n ot which he ploughs the sunlit surface . Is he still with his little mother 9

The Russ ian is a farmer by nature . The great industrial developments of the last decades have resulted automatically from the natural

wealth Of the country , but the true Russian l reaps litt e benefit from this industrial boom . e r he His comm rcial gifts are not g eat , and has been content to leave the business exploitation of in of the country the hands foreigners , so own long as he makes his little profit . Mills and factories are German monsters in his

e r t r . ey s , and he prefe s to give hem a wide be th But latterly there has been a great agitation in of s favour the resu citation of all home industries . The Russian has grasped the fact that his policy of sentiment in business will have to be modified r of to suit mode n times , and that the welfare the people must not be dependent on foreign

- r middle men . The p esent great conflict with Russia 23

er e so the G mans , who hav hitherto largely do monopolised Russian industry , will doubtless much to further this movement towards industrial emancipation .

The History of Russia begins practically with Rurik (862 ) who is supposed to have come from Scandinavia and laid the foundations of a * of Russian state . At the coming Rurik the Russians were split up into many separate com mun ities under independent chiefs . Rurik intro duced S Of ' un ited a new pirit organization , and all efforts towards establishing a Russian Empire date from him . Of course it was inevitable that this founding of an Empire should involve much opposition , revolt , war , and bloodshed . Each district was proud and jealous of its inde en den ce p , and only yielded after a hard and bitter struggle . During the period of Empire making Russian history abounds in such bloody

- episodes . The Grand Dukedom of Muscovy was

’ History has recently cast a doubt on Rurik s Nors e ori in but ra i i on is ui e osi i e on the s u ec . Cer g , t d t q t p t v bj t tainl the n ame uri — r in - eric y R k ecall g the Nors e Scottish Rod k or — is in it s a our an d it is in eres in a the Scan R y f v , t t g th t din av ian ori in uri an d even the ussian ori i n of g Of R k, R g Scan in a ian s has een c amion c is writ ers d v b h p ed by s ome S ott h - per aps t o explain t he un oub e Sco is s ympa y wi h d t d tt’ h th th ' the ussian eo l e . See z i m s ree Ci ies in R p p j ( Pia z S yth Th t

“ In conn ec ion wi hi s it is in eres in t o n ow a 1 t th t , t t g k th t s everal Slav historiologist s assert that the Scotch are of Slav escen — d t S T. 24 The Slav Nati on s

the largest of the Russian petty States and in of every way the best equipped , so that the task r organization naturally devolved upon it , togethe the t u of with fruits of victory . Six cen ries ceaseless struggle against foes from without and ’ within bring us from Rurik s day to the accession a sili t h 1 6 of Ivan V s evi c III . ( 4 2 who is f regarded as the founder o Russian Tsardom . He incorporated the still independent princi alities of the p Twer, Moshnik , and Vologda with

- Of o Grand Dukedom Musc vy , defeated the power of ful Republic Novgorod , and freed himself completely from the Tatar yoke In 1 2 he 2 06 of 47 married , a daughter Thomas n Palaeologus , the brother of the last Byza tine

Emperor . European customs were first brought into Russia through this princess , and the double headed eagle of Byzantium introduced in the Us en ski Russian coat of arms . The celebrated p j , and Blagoveshchen ski Cathedrals in Moskva assili c were built in the reign of Ivan V evit h III . He promulgated a decree pronouncing the realm henceforth united and undivisible by law , and was the first Russian ruler t o assume the title f ” of o u . Tsar all the R ssias Christianity, intro r 8 duced by St . Vladimi (9 0 had by this time fully blossomed forth as the national religion , so that we can date the foundation of Holy Russia of to- day in all her greatness from the of age Ivan Vassilievitch III . During the following ages the power of Tsardom Russia 25 increased and finally reached its zenith with the e the of Peter Gr at , who may be called first d n He e his own the mo er Russian Tsars . appli d r Wes r to acqui ed te n knowledge Russia , and enormously improved the general status of the a r re lm . In his eign Russia began to play her r pa t as a political and military power , for it was he who founded the Russian navy and mercantile H . e marine was a ruthless autocrat , and many pages of his reign are traced in blood yet with himautocracy was not so much a matter of senti R ment as of dire necessity . He loved his ussian e people passionately, but said that it was a peopl r who had to be made g eat by force . Confident in the inalienable national character he saw no danger in importing foreigners wholesale to help in the building up of Russian administration . He r surrounded himself with German advise s , fi appointed Germans to responsible of ces , and freely admitted the German element into Russia ” of i as a means spread ng culture . In many ways German thoroughness proved a most useful ’ asset in carrying out the Tsar s intentions . On the other hand it gave rise to a dynasty and an autocratic aristocracy of foreign stock who a the f iled to understand Russian people , and whose influence proved disastrous to civilization an d Outw cll al d . ar intellectu free om in Russia y, Russia became a world- power under Peter the r a in tern all r G e t , but y it fell a p ey to a system r a r e e e of spi itu l slave y , which has b en perp tuat d 26 The Slav Nation s

even to recent years by the successors of Peter h r i a of r a and t ei counc llors , the descend nts Ge m n e e e immigrants . Here li es the true c as of th

revoluti on ary movemen t of more than a century. — The last three Tsars of Russia the two Alex anders and the present Tsar— have taken steps t o e the if h e eliminat great evil , and , so far , they av the only been partially successful , fault lies not with them nor with the Russian people , but with t t he s ill German mind of their advisers . The of abolition serfdom , repeated constitutional manifestos and the introduction of the Duma system are momentous steps towards a brighter e be future . But the gat to this future can only fully opened with the conclusion of the present

Al though Russia has acquired millions of non R — chiefl the r ussian subjects y through C imea , Bessarabia and her Asiatic possessions— she has s r never lo t her purely Russian characte . The laws concerning land purchase are so constituted ' that the territories belonging to the heart of Russia cannot t o any great extent pass into non R f or the ussian hands , which accounts fact that these parts of the Empire have remained essen tiall y Russian . Siberia holds an exceptional

- da r r position , and is to y a g eat colonial p ovince

28 The Slav Nation s

on e . might add , a slothful Russia Agricultural l facilities are imited , the soil is not very fertile ,

‘ and the White Russian is n ot sufficiently in dustrious or persevering to improve it by rational are farming . The people more apathetic than

‘ elsewhere in Russia , and less inclined to adopt modern ideas with enthusiasm . These people become nervous and excitable only when menaced by a dearth of food ; then their attitude is often much more dangerous than the tide of social revolution . At least the White Russian has kept his type fairly pure and in spite of alien neighbours he shows little trace of racial ad mixture .

The Little Russians , who inhabit the entire oi South Russia , and from whose stock the famous C ossacks are sprung , differ most radically from

. t e their northern brothers They are h excitable ,

- - hot blooded , dare devil Russians . In type the men are fin e- looking and handsome almost without exception , and the women often exceed ingly beautiful . Their language differs from other Russian speech by the extreme softness of

h - the dialect (w ich is not unlike Serbo Croatian) , and their music and poetry are the finest in the

Slav race . In the past the Little Russians were divided into many small and independent clans who outvied each other in reckless warlike h enterprises . Of course t e wonderful Cossacks a th lways took e lead . They still occupy their r e on D on in an d o iginal hom the and Caucasia , Russia 29

r elite r fu nish the of the Russian A my , even as they e onc were the flower of the Little Russian tribes . t o Moreover , they preserved the very last their

r r - freedom and thei p ivileges in Russia . TOday on e is accustomed t o look upon the Cossacks as merely a body of men especially devoted to the

’ of Tsar , but , as a matter fact , the Cossack people have had a most chequered and interesting past ;

- Once they formed an independent warrior nation , feared and courted by their neighbours and so r secure in their st ength did they feel , that they ’ even dared to answer the Turkish Sultan s demand for submission with a letter of taunting derision

th - ( e well known Cossack Ultimatum) . They played a great part in the history of Russia , and each Russian ruler in turn endeavoured to assure himself of their support . After their final sub jection to Russia ( 1 851 ) the Coss acks gradually exchanged their political importance for their present military value . Tolstoi wrote about them as follows— though his remarks really apply to the whole of the Little Russian people : Many years ago the ancestors of the Cossacks, ’ who were Old Believers , fled from Russia On u and settled the banks of the Terek (Ca casus) .

They are a handsome , prosperous and war e lik Russian population , who still retain the faith of their fathers . Dwelling among the Chechen tz es , the Cossacks intermarried with them the 1isa es e of and acquired g , customs and mod r R living of these mountaineers . But thei ussian 30 The Slav Nation s

tongue and their ancient faith they preserved in To all their pristine purity . this day the kinship between certain Cossack families and the Chechen tz es is clearly recognizable and a love of r freedom and idleness, a delight in aiding and

warfare are their chief characteristics . Their love of display in dress is an imitation of the r Circassians . The Cossack procures his admi able

weapons from his mountaineer neighbours , and ‘ also buys or lifts his best horses from them . All Cossacks are fond of boasting of their know f r the ledge o the Tata tongue . At same time this small Christian people considers itself highly

developed , and the Cossack only as a full human being . They despise all other nationalities . r V e Eve y Cossack has his own in yard , and presses own r his wine , and his immoderate d inking is not so much due t o inclination as to sacred u ‘ c stom , to neglect which would be regarded as a kind of apostasy . Women he looks upon as a means for promoting his prosperity . Only the young girls are allowed by hi mto enjoy any leisure : from a married woman he demands r old a life of d udgery from early youth to age , and he is quite Oriental in expecting deference and a hard work from his wife . The Coss ck who considers it unb efitting in the presence of strangers to exchange a kind or affectionate word with his wife involuntarily feels her r superio ity as soon as he is alone with her . For the whole of his house an d farm are Russia 31 acquired through her and maintained by her labour and care . Between these extremes of Northern and Southern Russia , the Great Russian stands out like a beacon or an indestructible landmark . He urest represents the p type of the Russian people , hfi ” the children of matyus a Moskva . What ever Russia has produced in the way of true r greatness in every sense of the wo ds , has its e cradle in Great Russia , and has b en nursed at the breast of Mother Moskva . This t ruly Russian f R people inhabits the huge central tracts o ussia , and the governments of Moskva and Novgorod 1 are their particular home . The Russ an faith beaut the t o owes its yj Russian ideal its purity h t he t is people , and to race they have given the

- Id All Slav eal . And they are the only Russian two people whose soul has faces , an outer and an n Tsukoff inner o e. The Russian sculptor has symbolized them in a figure resembling a sun It l flower . is as we l to know that the Great

sun flower- Russian cannot live without seeds . ln ki He calls them podso ush . Everything is odsoln ushki — smothered in p shells streets , floOrs of an d the rooms railway carriages , even corners in the churches . Every Great Russian m o ln us ki dso h unches p , and by temperament l ki he himself is a podso nush . He has an outer shell and a kernel . In Russia the sunflower is e of r que n the flowers , and as the sunflowe is among the flowers so is the Great Russian among 32 The Slav Nati on s the Russian peoples . He is the true tsarkiya of the Rus The Tsar is the sun , the heart e realm, and the Muscovite peopl are the pod n s olnushki . Each individual is only o e among many, a particle , a seed for the propagation and f o . glorification his own race Probably, the Great Russian has no equal in the world as regards idyllic simplicity . Not because he munches ” odsolnushki - p , crosses himself in tram cars r when passing a chu ch , goes about in big boots a of in the he t summer , and drinks vodka , wine or an d beer without regard to time season , but because he is a true yeoman soul . He is quite indifferent t o all that does n ot interest him of personally . The surface his soul is as hard an d impervious as the shell of the sunflower seed .

His face wears an imperturbable , changeless r of hu an expression . To each the kernel his m on e soul has to discard every formality , thrust bite aside every obstacle , and into it as if it were

a sunflower seed . If you abuse him roundly and out have it with him , he suddenly shows

‘ hi s himself in true colours , the best and kindl iest of souls ; but if you handle him with kid gloves hi s n you will never get a glimpse of inner ature . As an acquaintance the charm of the Great Russian consists chiefly in his sudden transition from sharp resistance to an unexpected exhibition f of . gentle , una fected loveableness The Great has l Russian a strong natural talent for phi osophy ,

but , metaphorically speaking , his philosophy is " Russia 33

as vegetarian as his cooking has largely remained

to this day . There is a scent of dried herbs ,

- - new mown hay, and southern wood about it ; it rec alls dark forests where the sunlight , piercing

- the rifts between the tree tops , shines with golden e —a of blue , un arthly splendour ray the light i of Divine . His ph losophy is innocent blood f like the saints o the old ikons . This Great Russian people is the flower of

Russia , the Sunflower , whose golden petals point the way for the future of the whole Russian

nation . a: a: an: e a: The problem of Russian culture has its roots eo l e in the Russian p p , and not in the educated u classes . The desire for c lture has emanated

from the people themselves , and the spirit they evinced has pointed the way for the educated classes in the great struggle for national culture

within recent years . The educated man is the f or interpreter of the popular demand culture , and of the intellectual wealth dwelling in the soul

and mind of the Russian people . Almost the whole of Russian art and literature is derived from so this source , and it has never shown the world of or the much the genius the poet , painter , of sculptor in question , as the genius the Russian people that produced him ; and the best that is revealed in Russian art is the face of the Russian its of hi hil oso~ soul with manifold aspects t nker , p

n . pher , and purely human bei g Dostoievski , B 4 3 The Slav Nation s

Gon tsharoff Tshehoff Tolstoi , Gogol , , , Gorki and dreeff Vasn etsoff Tsukoff An in poetry ; Repin , , , Troubetzkoy and many others in the pictorial arts - all have learnt what they had to tell from the soul of the people and the wisdomof this soul ; and the Great Russian musicians have used the voice of the people throughout for the expression are of of their art . They all them merely inter r f the of p e ers of rich fund culture , the latent th culture of e Russian people . This latent u ure the R c lt , in conjunction with holy ussian r faith , has advanced towa ds the highest develop of ment human dignity and nobility, towards

e not . peac founded upon blood , but upon love The abuse the Germans have heaped upon Russian barbarism is merely the outcome of the ar of who envious rage on p t an inferior, sees his artificial pseudo - culture endangered by another culture which blossoms from the depths of the human heart . The non - Russian Slavs stood for a long time of ur under the influence German cult e . With their characteristic aggressiveness the Germans represented their culture as the high- water mark of civilization and inculcated it everywhere with the same violence which at present di stinguishes the of ir advance the invading hordes . Even s e nations pos essing a peerless millennial cultur , l like the French and Ita ians , have found it difficult to escape their influence . But a sham must oi inevitably die its own exposure. Every

36 The Slav Nation s

propaganda . But when the Slav peoples realized that the Russian influence could only reach them as forbidden fruit , they began greatly to desire it . To the power of the State they opposed the r power of their will and thei instincts . This r struggle is still in prog ess , but it has been uniformly successful in favour of the Russian ’ influence . During the eighties the results of this influence began to show fruit , and since that time Slav intellectual and educational development has safely entered the fairway of Art Russian intellectualism . and literature have and followed the lines laid down by Russia , n become more defi itely Slavonic . The latent mental weal th and resources of the Slav nations have come to the surface and appear pure and unaffected and entirely free from German angu ” larit r y, while thei social problems betray a distinct kinshi p with the Russian social move of ment . In recent years this process emancipa tion and affiliation has so far developed that it has entered the field of politics and materialized the Russi an rotectorate over all the S avs in p l . — it This , however , required no propaganda arose out of itself , as will appear in the chapters dealing with the other Slav nations . P CHA TER III .

RUSSIAN NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS .

ussian m— e — e min — e R Slavdo Th Mi r Str ss an d F a e Th uma— L i era e— i ussi an ur o ol ols o D ost oi R G T , D t t g , t ev ski— ealis ic eal s — Th i n S l R t Id e Russ a ou .

THE Men schikoff eminent Russian publicist , in on e on r of his works Russian nationalism , w ites the following : In a world - wide sense only we — Russians are Slavs and— unfortunately s o far o t n one else . The other Slav nationali ies are so s o dismembered , stupidly and artificially kept apart and hostile among themselves , that they scarcely count either politically or otherwise . The majority of the Outer Slav nations are still under the German , Hungarian or Turkish yoke , and at present they are quite unable to shake off this yoke . There are many reasons for the of S decline the Western lavs , but the principal one is the n egative type of their character and the consequent tendency to dissensions and mutual jealousies . Even as regards national — ih of her culture , Russia spite all internal — miseries takes the lead among the Slav nations . In every respect she has the right to say : I ’ am Slavdom . 38 The Slav Nation s

The somewhat bitter tone adopted towards the other Slav nations in this dictum might easily b e modified by an appeal to evidence , but , for ’ Men schikoff s all that , remarks are correct in ess entials . The truth of his assertion as to the world- wide importance of the Russ ians and the relative unimportance of the other Slavs to - day must be freely admitted . And that is why a Special interest attaches to the question of the

Russian people . It is too early in the day to judge of the full significance of the Russians as ’ r a facto in the world s development , for they have scarcely yet come into their own . The birth of the Russian people has been in progress f or the last century . First the head appeared Russi n literature b a , and then slowly, deli erately , — Russian eo le the giant body the p p , who are gradually attaining to political and national - self consciousness . Till 1 861 the Russian people led an embryonic existence within the womb of Holy Mother of Russia . A nobility mixed Mongolian , German , B ritish , French and even Negroid (Pushkin) stock ate , breathed and thought for the people . Most foreigners imagine that the Russian people 1 were emancipated in 1 86 . But this emanei e was t r p tion only par ial , and mo e apparent than f or i real ; though serfdom had been abol shed , “ ” there still remained the heavier yoke of the Mir a - conservative , iron bound institution , which has greatly hindered the development of the Russian Russian Nation al Characteri stic s 39

r r of the people by estricting the libe ty individual . the Mir the e or Strictly speaking , was villag r it th pa ish , but in an economic sense was e f n ass ociation o several families under o e head . Homiak ff r r o the rs The Slavophil w ite s , and brothe Kirie evaki r y , with thei followers down to Pobye don sz eff Mir saw in the a guarantee , not of f or th only for the welfare Russia , but all e ” b e world . They believed the Mir to that economic communism and moral brotherhood which Western Social Democracy is vainly trying to discover in other ways . They held that the Mir was destined to assure the future of the Russian people and to afford it the means of solving all the social problems of the world in accordance with the laws of justice and of l s love . Russian literature is ful of poem , treatises , of and religious contemplations in praise it . r D os Even the g eatest Russian minds , such as ki hi t oievs . himself , were smitten with t s idea ” No Western doctrine was potent to disabuse N the Russians of their fallacy . ature herself the r had to come to the rescue , destroy chime a and lead Russia back to the high road of common sense and progress .

It happened very simply . The periodic famine the arose in Russia , and vast Empire , the ” of the r f or granary world , had no b ead

o of her r - milli ns honest , ha d working children . They could not understand how there could be e a r u u r a famin in fe tile , sparsely pop lated co nt y , 40 The Slav Nation s whilst the teeming populations of the Western countries had enough to eat . The starving Rus sian people argued that the famine was caused fi of lan d by an insuf ciency , and that they had been cozened in 1 86 1 when the land was divided up between the nobles and the peasants . The result was a growing ill - feeling against the ruling classes , to whom the peasantry still had to pay redemption - dues either in money or in kind . In accordance with ancient custom the Mir periodically divided the land amon g a its members . Obviously, in m ny communities there was not enough land for each member . — Result Famine . The Mir was self mn ove i g g, and had the same powers over its members as formerly the lord of the soil . It exercised a paternal jurisdiction , punished with or blows , with banishment to Siberia , divided ’ the land , collected taxes , issued travellers passes , ar a and often made itself bitrarily unple sant . During the ’ nineties it became increasingly evident that the Mir constituted a moral and material danger to the people . Poor har vests followed by famine were the bane of the people from 1 87 1 till 1 907 and even as lately 1 1 1 as 9 . Space forbids me to enter into the agrarian

- of crises questions reform , experiments and of reactions , which loom so large in the pages f fi modern Russian history . Su ce it to say that all to he r 1 0 this led up t evo ution in 9 5, and that s _ l Russian National Characteri stic s 41 in consequence of this revolution the Government decided upon a step it might equally well have 1 6 taken in 1 86 1 . In 90 the Government decided ” a e the rs parti lly to dissolv Mi , and by estab lishin g freehold farm properties owned by tu dividuals it created the yeoman farmer class with full civic rights . This reform which was l hr 1 1 1 t on y fully carried t ough in 9 , marks he beginning of a new political era for the Russian i t oo man of the people . It is st ll soon t o feel ‘ the consequences of thi s truly great reform to their full extent . The Russian peasant has a of ih sc rcely got used to his new position . a to dividu l freedom , and has not yet learnt give effect to his political and social will . There can be n o question of a constitution so long as the Muzhik has not attained t o the full stature of a citizen and agriculturist . In Russia we ” ” speak of a first Duma , a second Duma , a ” n o one of third Duma , whereas in the rest ” r of Eu ope would speak a first , second , or ” i sirn l of the r th rd Parliament , but p y Pa lia ” ” h . t i r ment These firs , second , t d and now fourth Dumas are simply so many editions D of one and the same uma , with each edition r more rigorously p uned by the Government , till the merest shadow is all that remains . At this moment the entire social structure of Russia is

- R analogous to this Duma system . The ussian world of intel lect is n o more entitled t o represent

n ha the ur D ma. is to the Russia people , t n fo th u B. 42 The a at on s s Sl v N i

h The ual represent t e first . Russian intellect s may speak in the name of the people; but their word is really n o better than a third - hand account . Even when there is no attempt at a r falsification , they lways stand at a ce tain distance from the people . Whatever the great Russian realists have written concerning their own people is merely intuitive conjecture from own o a distance . A poet projects his world int e of the peopl . The psychology the great Russian r of ten den c i w iters fiction is a y, an llusion based n ot on on of the exact , but intuitive knowledge

e. on peopl Russian realism borders the visionary, n i and o mystic sm . Europe has hitherto failed t o discern the actual foundations of this poetry in its relation to Russian life, and has simply allowed herself to be fascinated by the keen f psychology o the writers . The result has been f a false impression . The facts are really dif erent instead of real truthfuln ess we find in the Russian r real ethical resent w iter a realistic tendency, a ment ; thence the increased keenness of his s n p ychology, the critical touch in his imagi ation , e s of which giv s such a triking effect verisimilitude . European critics have never detected the seam in the fabric of the Russian novel ; they have accepted the masterpiece as the outcome of a i h Even ‘ thou h s creative inspiration . g Russian l ' regsmcomes nearer t o life than that of any " h o e art t . t er literature , still it is mor han life ’ Proof of this is to be found in Gogol e privat e

44 The Slav Nation s

the r the saint . His works reflect characte of Russ ian clearly and f aithf uuy as it is In the Russian man of the people on e must discriminate between his innate beauty and the of product of barbarism . Owing to the events of the whole history Russia , the Russian has been at the mercy of every depraving influence , he has been so abused and tortured that it is a miracle that he has preserved the human countenance , let alone his beauty . But he has actually retained his beauty and in all the Russian people there is not one swindl er or scoundrel who does not know that he is mean and vile . Dostoievski further adds : No "The Russian what the are people must not be judged by y , what the as ire to be but by y p . The strong and

sacred ideals , which have been their sal of are vation from the age suffering , deeply rooted in the Russian soul from the very b e

ginning , and these ideals have endowed this

soul for all time with simplicity and honesty , r r with since ity, and a broad eceptive good — ll e a . s nse , in perfect harmony Concerning the part the Russian people are s r e destined to play in the world , Dostoiev ki w ot the following The Russian people is a strange phenomenon of r in the history mankind . Their cha acter is s o different from that of the other peoples of Europe that to this day Europeans have failed

- to u er it e e r r . nd stand , and misconstru it at ve y tu n Russian Nation al Characteri stic s 45

e e All Europeans mov towards the sam goal . if r e But they d fe in their fundam ntal interests , which involve them in collisions and antagonisms, are r whereby they d iven to go different ways . The ideal of a universal humanity is steadily fading from among them . The Russian people possess a notable advantage over the other —a r a European nations , rema k ble peculiarity . The Russians possess the synthetic faculty in — a high degree the gift of feeling at on e with e h the univers and a universal humanity . T e Russi an has n on e o the Euro ean an ularit he f p g y, p ossesses the gift of discern men t an d of gen erosity

of soul . He can adapt himself to anything and d ‘ he can un erstan d. He has a feeling for all re ardl ess o race n ati on alit or that is human , g f , y d e id a fun amn tal e s . He finds and readily admits reasonableness in all that contains even a vestige

of true human instinct . By this instinct he can trace the human element in other nation

alities even in exceptional cases . He accepts

them at once , seeks to approximate them to his own ideas , places them in his own mind , and often succeeds in nding a starting- point for . fi reconciling the conflicting ideas of two different European

D os oievs i who reall on l n ew ussia an d hi s own t k , y y k R eo e was o f course us ifie in cre i in the ussian n a ion p pl , j t d d t g R t ua i i es I he cou a e s u ie the alon e with these q l t . f ld h v t d d Bri is in eir own coun r he coul n ot a e ai e t o dis t h th t y, d h v f l d c e e man ce e ween the t o na ions o r man in of r se w . v y po ts bl b t t S T . 46 The Slav Nation s

r r so r e This cha acte istic is so general and t u , that all other Opinions on the character of a n great people must take second place . It fi ds room f or the Cossack with his nagaika and f or Tolstoi with his gospel It embraces every aspect of the human soul . Dostoievski himself the possessed the synthetic faculty, wonderful gift of universal understanding . He could make r it clea that a crime may be a holy deed , and he holiness mere prostitution , even as succeeded in fusing Russian Christianity with the Tatar n e Karat in o e soul . Whence cam all these paradoxes in the on e man " On on e occasion he wrote I am struggling with my petty L d h e n creditors as aokoon wrestle with t e s rpe ts . I r e . fif urgently equir fifteen roubles Only teen . e fi e me e I Thes fteen roubles will giv r lief , and ” e e the shall be better able to work . Her li s f secret o the Russian synthesis in Dostoievski . Mental work is restricted by hard external circumstances . The inherent tendency to des pond when in trouble is on e of the greatest dangers to the Russian . He would fain lead the i e contemplative l f , and hesitates to take ” a of up arms ag inst a sea troubles . To combat this he has had to lash himself into a state of hard practical efficiency . The Russian must grow strong against himself before he can again f take up his ideal o an aggressive inner life.

It is once more a case , of Laokoon and the

The a ar scri ures T t pt . Russian Natio nal Characteri stics 47

’ r r serpents . For this ve y eason Tolstoi s teaching n ot e h did appeal to Dostoievski . Wh n e had read a few sentences of this doctrine he clutched an d " his head cried No , not that , anything but A he that few days later was dead , and the world will never know what was gathering in his mind against the great heretic But Dostoievski’ s works are really in themselves a most vehement refutation of the Nazarene doctrine— it is as if he had prophetically dis cerned Tolstoi . Dostoievski solves the contrast between European culture and Christianity in accordance with both the Church and culture .

He bows before the miracle , the mystery , and authority, and thus creates the union between ao material culture and Christian culture . He ce ts p the world as a whole , even as the Russian people take it . Tolstoi denies the divinity of Christ and the f l entire synthesis o Russian phi osophy . But even Tolstoi could only have been born in Russia . Personally he liked being accepted by the a The Russian peasants s one of themselves . figure of the Muzhik is inseparable from ’ ’ e Tolstoi s doctrine , because Tolstoi s doctrin is

inseparable from the Russian people . It lives S who r in the Great ubmerged , are as far emoved from Western culture in fact as Tolstoi himself r is in theory . Russian law cou ts have to deal r t o eve y day with people who refuse pay taxes , r or t o e the to se ve in the army , acknowledg 48 The Slav Nation s

’

pravoslav clerical authority . The Church ” ” hko t z i Mol okami o S r calls these people p , , ” i n of Hlist . There are about twenty millio ” them . They style themselves White doves , ” ” ukhob ort z i D o . e The New Israel , In principl r they are pure Ch istians like Tolstoi . Both

have the same tone of soul . Dostoievski says of Tolstoi that he was on e of those who fix on e their eyes on point , and cannot see what happens to the right or to the left of that and if they do wish to see it they have to turn with r thei whole body , as they invariably move r whole thei soul also in one direction only . This correctly observed obstinacy is the very opposite to the syn thetic gift and generosity of soul

mentioned before , and this peculiarity of the Russian mind has often been called Maxi ” r malism , to denote the rigid c iterion , which w loves no happy mean , but al ays goes to the

utter extreme .

Many Western writers , among them the British S a author Bering , have asserted that the lavs h ve f no strength o will . This view is erroneous and harmonizes neither with Tolstoi ’ s tendency to ’ extremes , nor with Dostoievski s universal

charity . It applies only to such phenomena in Slav life as are accessible to the European

tourist , as , for instance , technical undertakings and colonial enterprise ; for in this matter the Slav is naturally not so well qualified as the Russian Natio n al Characteri stic s 49

The th Russian soul , and consequently e

of - character the Russian people , is many sided and paradoxical in its obstinacy and its generosity . It is the historical outcome of such extremes as are represented by yellow positivist Mongolism , and gentle altruistic Christianity . But the soul of the Russian people has not yet clearly found of itself, like the souls the Western nations ;

first , because the head has not yet acquired dl control over the body ; secon y, because the work of enlightenment and emancipation is only being completed by the present war .

- Hitherto it has laboured in its birth throes . It has been a Laokoon wrestling with serpents . CHAPTER IV

POLAND AND BOHEMIA .

— The Con ras Na ion al Charac er of the Poles t t t — t Our L ady of Csen st ochova Dan cin g Peasan s — — t Galician Poles Selfish Poli cy Austria a Slav State. — ’ The Poles in Russia Russia s Repressive Measures — The Sla eal— A Be er n er n in v Id tt U d sta d g The Poles in Prussia— The Iron Heel— L aw of Ex ro ri a ion p p t . — Csech Characteristics Professor Masaryk— J an Hus s— - — Slav Puritan s The Hrad éin Modern oli ics P t .

ROUGHLY speaking the Group of the Northern Slavs includes twenty million Poles and eight h r Csec s . million Nume ically, therefore , they are the greatest of the unliberated Slav peoples . Bohemia and her sister- country Moravia are under Austrian rule , while Poland has been r dismembered and pa titioned between Russia ,

Germany and Austria . At one time both e h countries wer great and flouris ing , and played r 1 6 Csechs a prominent part in histo y . In 52 the 50

52 The Slav Natio n s lost greatness instead of fighting to retrieve Y ou h it . may love the Poles with your eart but never with your reason " In this they are the very antithesis to the Csechs whom you r u cannot love except with you reason . Y o may admire them for the culture they have so

r . labo iously won , but you cannot love them for it To the German and Austrian the Csech presents e a comic type . But no one looks upon the Pol mi r o v but as co c ; you hate him you lo e him , you cannot ridicule him— there is something great and tragic about him . The Russians who hate hi mfor p olitical reasons are fired by religious fanaticism . They hate the Jesuitical principles f o the Pole . The Germans hate the Polish Poln ishe Wirtshaf t want of management , and

Polish management is a German idiom . But no on e would insult Polish idealis m and f the innate nobility o the Pole . He compares with the Csech as Don Quixote with Sancho

Panza . He is a dreamer and visionary who prostrates himself before an invisible shrine and of awaits the miracle salvation and liberation . This life of dreams has endowed the modern - on e Pole with hyper sensitive nerves , dogmatic sidedness , and extreme passivity . Lost in the contemplation of their royal past , the Polish people wait in breathless silence for the first bird - note to herald the dawn of freedom that shall dispel the night of tribulation . the s e the But , while con cienc of nation lan Polan d an d B o hemia 53

uishes r f of g , c ucified in the bitter su fering a s — m Messianic ideal , the Masse the co mon people

' - are sane and sturdy ; they live and multiply of r far removed from the griefs the Classes . Thei

‘ hard life has made them dull and unfeeling ; l caught in a world of factories, mines , and socia democracy, they are only interested in their own immediate concerns and personal pleasures . Anything beyond that they expect from the mediation of Bogarodjitz a (Mother 1 of

God) . Wi s i an ski fin e r j p , a Polish dramatist , has st ik

' ingly sketched the national character in on e hi s Wesel single scene in play e (The Wedding) . The peo ple are dancing their Polonaise and r r on Mazu ka , with gay cockades and ibands their shoulders . The pretty bride leads off with i her herculean bridegroom . Suddenly Y as ek r a r " ushes in upon the d ncers and cries , To a ms r e l is and rebe , for Poland But the couples — as if bewitched continue to dance the n ati on al

“ Y asiek i measure . , bitterly disappo nted , sees his hopes blighted and , choked with despair , he

sinks to the ground . But the couples go on tramled to death b dancing , and he is p y the feet t o of those whom he came to lead freedom . This scene epitomises the position of aff airs in modern Poland— the despair of the great lord is di r who with h pe g ee , broad acres , and capital , has absolutely no hold over the plain people

because they have turned away from him . They 54 The Slav Natio n s

e r r r r hav lost thei ights , thei land and thei tra dition s ; the only link between the two is the of P olish m Catholic ideal , the ideal Catholicis , which is hallowed in the image of Our Lady of Csen stochova the , whose brow is encircled with the of crown of ancient Queens Poland . The younger generation in Poland has realiz ed that this link between the Classes and Masses r must rest on a su er foundation . B etween the aristocracy an d the masses has r of educated oor h a isen the class the p . T ese the people are mainly of Russian descent , but sons of Polish Jews form an important proportion an d e r e hav acquired conside able influenc , chiefly in the journalistic world . This young Poland saw itself confronted by a great vanished Polish a e e g of romanticists and poets , with pronounc d h aristocratic and Catholic sentiments . T e whole intellectual struggle of the modern democratic generation consists in an attempt t o find contact S with this past . cience also is endeavouring t o reconcile the spirit of the present with the spirit of the a past , and hopes to prep re the future develop ment of an individualistic Polish culture on this foundation .

‘ The contrast between German and Polish culture is the contrast between the culture of the masses and the culture of the individual . The principal social feature in mediaeval Germany was l feudalism. Germany was ru ed by a number of eu rinces a um er of ari o r f dal p , Pol nd by a n b st c atic Po lan d an d B o hemia 55

e eim r mili s r e fa . But this g proved disast ous to e r e Poland . A stat where individuals ul by mutual consent is bound to develop differently from on e where families rule without any mutual consent . In the expansive Western monarchies the r of the powe the State increased , while f aristocratic republic o Poland steadily declined . The main reason for this difference probably lies of in the geographical position Poland . It lay too far from the West— t oo far from Rome and its culture .

’ The - r e to r p ovinc of Galicia , which fell Aust ia s e the r of shar by pa tition Poland , undoubtedly r the of fa ed better than rest the country . It is inhabited by Poles and

Ruthenes (including Bukovina) . As geographical Csechs who e and racial neighbours of the , wer already displaying the greatest determination in he r r r e t i national st uggle , the g eat population bad fair to become a danger to Austrian policy . e e rr Vi nna was quick to realiz this , and a anged r he tactics towards the Poles accordingly . As soon as the Russian ' an d German Poles began t o

- se be down trodden , it was an easy matter to dispo of any separatist tendency amon g the Austrian Poles by reminding them of the position of their brothers . At home the Government began by fomenting the national discord between the Poles ‘ and the u e e e er in R th nes. It n glect d the latt 56 The Slav Nation s

of e r favour the Poles , and absolutely disr ga ded their reasonable claims . The Poles were not only granted great national and political concessions they became the Slav favourite of the Viennese nl ministry . Not o y were t hey represented by their own L an dman n smin ister the Secretary for Galicia , so to say) , but one other important portfolio (usually that of Finance) was always entrusted to a Pole . The Poles were quite content with this pos ition and supported Austrian policy accordingly . As

- this policy is above all things anti Slav, this meant that the most chivalrous of all the Slav nations became a tool in the hands of Slavdom’ s hi chief oppressor . T s was partly due t o the fact that this staunchl y Catholic people is surrounded — by non - Catholic enemies by Protestant Germans on the one hand and Orthodox Russ ians on the other . Moreover , they look upon Catholicism as the one safe harbour— hence their attachment to

Roman Catholic Austria . Here also lies the clue hi hi to Polish views , their sympat es and antipat es .

But there is no justification for this position . i Catholicism is not a Slav national relig on , and can never become part of the soul of a Slav people . Strictly speaking , it is responsible for f the decline o part of the Slav race . All Catholic

- Slav countries up to date have been in captivity , whereas all such Slavs as have retained their national orthodox religion are free. It is quite natural that the Poles should cling to Catholici sm P olan d an d B o hemia 57 n as an acquired religio which appeals to them , but they should not have used it as a national and traditional basis for their attitude towards the rest of the Slavs . It is a mistake which has done little good to their own national aspirations , and incalculable harm t o the Slav cause . In many Slav circles there is a tendency to ascribe this attitude of the Poles , not to their Mes sian ic . ideal , but to a purely individual egotism

This view is at least partially true , were it only because Polish politics are not the politics of the nation , but of the ruling class . The Polish r aristocracy, who were unable to forget thei r past glories , saw in the feudal and a istocratic principles of the Austrian Government a possi bility of retaining their position in the Dual

Monarchy . They made full use of their oppor tun ities even while (in theory) they were careful o t guard Polish national interests . This arist oc racy had no feeling for the common Slav cause , and whenever they had a chance of authority Goluchowski i i ( , Bil nsk ) they have proved them selves a positive danger to the cause . That this aristocracy has cast its spell over the greater part of the educated classes and formed political parties as it chose is due to the inherent moral dependence of the Pole upon his aristocracy ; - snobbery is as much a disease with him as R oman Catholicism . Not however among the common people are they always the heedless ’ i s i n ki dancers of W j p a s s drama . They al low 58 The Slav Nations e r over ve ything to pass them , and only trample upon that which happens to lie beneath their

e . r th f et Moreover , their inmost soul is ich in e true Slav qualities ; but thi s wealth is hidden

- as in a fast locked casket , and there it will lie until the radi ant smile of the Mother of God of Csenstochova shall miraculously reveal it . For a long time Polish politics have disturbed a e The the Slav b lanc in the Dual Monarchy . Austro - Hungarian monarchy is properly a Slav c State in the fullest sense of the word . A cording t o official statistics out of ru souls are Slavs . The ling races , Germans and Hungarians , number between them , and the remainder are accounted for by

Roumanians , Italians and other nationalities . It must b e ' poin ted out that Slavs living in Hungary (especially in Bacz ka and in the Banat) are - L much against their will— simply entered in the r census as Hungarians , and that in like manne of hundreds thousands of Slavs in Bohemia , r are Carinthia , Sty ia and Carniola put down as e Germans . Protests against thes proceedings al pass unheeded , and Slav Nation Census Unions were formed to check the Governmental statis tics ; according to these more than 50 per cent . of the entire population are Slavs . This per centage is proportionately increased if we further include the Slav emigrants in Austral ia and fi e m an d r . e r v Ame ica Thes numbe about illion ,

60 The Slav Nation s intellectual and economic development . Austria had no objection to this platonic nationalism so long as the Poles by their pro - German policy supported her in oppressing the other Slavs . The Csechs and Ruthenes have been specially handicapped in their national struggle by the attitude of the Poles . And the resul t was an implacable enmity between the Poles and the hi Ruthenes , which was , if anyt ng , encouraged by i the Government . In th s struggle the Ruthenes undoubtedly fared the worse . They are in a l national minority in Ga icia , and unmercifully oppressed by the Poles , who hate them all the more f or being the descendants of the hated Rus sians (Little Russianms) and because they refused al to conce their sy pathy with Russia . The Ruthenes fought hard for the right to speak their own tongue and have their own school ruthl system . But the Poles were essly opposed s to these demands , which were in consequence al o denied by the Government . The struggle finally degenerated into wholesale denunciations of the r Ruthenes by the Poles , who accused thei enemies hi of gh treason and conspiracy with Russia .

It must , however; be admitted that even among the Poles there were many who d eeply deplored this fratricidal struggle , and did their utmost to induce the Northern Slavs of the Monarchy t o

- combine in the common cause . Time and again the Csech patriots urged the desirability e of a union , and, as similar app als came from Po land and B o hemia 61

the l other Slav countries also , rea ization of a true P an - Slav and democrati c ideal often seemed

P - mi . an Germa ni sm im nent The spectre omf , wait ing like some ravenous onster t o devour the

Slav nations limb by limb , appeared even to the Poles , but unscrupulous politicians , bureau cratic upstarts , and slippery diplomats from Vienna conjured up the bogey of Russificati on to alarm them , and all patriotic efforts were in vain . Still it is psychologically interesting that a Slav race through fear of Russification should oi— have thrown itself into the arms Germanism .

The favoured position of the Poles in Austria contrasts sharply with that of their brothers in

Russia and Germany . They were oppressed in ‘ every way — Russian ofiicial policy towards the of — Poles bears all the stamp autocratic tyranny .

Their political rights are restricted to a minimum , and as regards civil rights they are nearly as badly off as the Russian Jews . Still it is char act eristic that the reason for this oppression lay,

the . not in national , but in the religious element n a e Roma Catholicism , which , was an dvantag 62 The Slav Nation s

r e to the Austrian , proved a misfo tun to the

Russian Poles . For the Russian looks upon Catholicism as the very antithesis to his con

- tion of S al . P S cep the lav ide ravo lav Russia ,

S - with her ancient , wondrously pure lavo religious of traditions , and all the warmth her faith , could dl not take kindly to the haughty , frigi y cold r Catholic Poles . The g eat political p ower of e the Holy Synod , the suprem (unfortunately r of t oo clerical) rep esentative body this faith , exercised an influence adverse to the Polish r people , and the Russian Gove nment , which only too often has been the mere executive of the will of the Holy Synod , established an autocratic regime with far- reaching national and personal restrictions . The first result of this policy was on r unmitigated hatred the pa t of the Poles , in and a crav g for vengeance and freedom . The Russian Poles intrigued with their Austrian brothers , and envied them their favoured position . But the only support the Austrian Poles vouch safed their brothers was that they applied the

Russian methods of oppression to the Ruthenes . ’ Whoever kn ows anything of Russia s repressive realiz e that measures , will l the Poles were in a hard case . Owing to the passive character of the Poles their struggles were never sufli ciently organized to assume the proportions of a well organized revolution . But oppression has e l - strengthen d their national se f reliance , their r e ideals have bu ned mor brightly , and a longing Po lan d an d Bohemia 63

m r . f or freedo has enti ely dominated them Still , e ven now, they are far more inclined to wait e ou for the miracl than to bestir themselves _ their own behalf ; and if in recent years their position has somewhat improved , it is not so much due to their own efforts as to the wave of modern thought among the Russians them selves . The Russian Govern men tal policy made n o distinction between the Poles and her Russian subjects who were thirsting for social regenera o tion . S the Russians discovered for themselves that they had to seek the friendship and collab oration o f the Poles . The wide horizon of the modern Russian movement will not permit the exclusion of a single capable member of the ’ a of th Ts r s great realm from the benefits e future . Not the only the Russian people , but whole of Russia had t o be won over to the cause of the great ideal . The regeneration of Russia was t o herald the regeneration of the whole of the Slav the t o in race , and Poles as Slavs had a right help

this work . The Russians have always said that r the they are ve y fond of Poles , but that they — are not sufficiently Sl av they ought t o be l a iciz ed e t o S v . The Russian Governm nt sought Russian accomplish this by violence , whereas the eo le p p , represented by the Russian revolutionaries ,

chose the better . path of mutu al un derstanding

. f of the and respect Of course , the o ficial policy rce o the Holy Synod is still in fo , and alth ugh " 64 The Slav Nation s constitutional manifesto and the Duma have brought about certain changes , these are at present quite unimportant . The Poles , however , are winning an increasing number of friends and advocates among the Russians , who are pleading for equal rights and a constitution for Poland .

Moreover , the times have changed , and when Russia was confronted by the present great European crisis the Poles di splayed a marvellous ll loyalty, which has, perhaps , unintentiona y brought them nearer the realization of their dreams than they have ever been before The Manifesto of the Grand Duke Nikolai Niko laievitch is the greatest event in Polish history since the partition . The hardest lost of all has befallen those Poles c who have been most loyal to their ra e . I mean those who came under Prussian rule . For whereas Polish Slavdom is tolerated in

Austria, and actually encouraged in Russia , in Prussia it is remorselessly ground down under of the iron heel Germanism . Germanization is r out e ca ried by Prussian rul , aggressively , in a strictly military sense . It is not a question of political tactics— no opi ni on at home or abroad is considered there is nothing but frank coercion . Germany ’ s ambitions are only too well known e they hav been advertised loudly enough , and they have been expounded again quite recently ’ r von r in Gene al Be nhardi s notorious book , — Germany an d the Next War a book written Po lan d an d B o h emia 65

with all the brusque insolence of whi ch onl y a ’ German is capable . If Germany s future pro gramme includes the Germanizing of the whole of Europe , it is surely superfluous to relate in detail how she strove t o Germanize a people under her own rule— it is one of the blackest f chapters in the histories o oppression . By the constitution of Germany the Prussian Poles cannot forfeit their rights as citizens of the realm . This circumstance afforded them a chance of laying their grievances before the of legislative as semblies . But in spite their gallant courage , the struggle brought them no particular advantage except the moral satis faction oi knowing that their pleading could

reach the ear of Europe . But whenever their t oo on voice grew loud , the mailed fist fell their a lips and struck them dumb . When the Germ n Reichstag passed the Polish Expropriation Law al l Europe was scandalized ; but from the point of View of Germanization it was highly successful . Germany disregarded foreign opinion and the law was put in force . It is t o be hoped that the conclusion of the present European war wil l also put an end t o of the sufferings these martyrs , and that the whole Polish nation will be granted an oppor t unity of applying its many admirable qualities The Expropriati on L aw pro vides faciliti es f or German colo n ists in Polish territory whereby Polis h lan d an d private ro er m um x i a be s mari e ro at d f r h p p ty y ly p pr e o t e ben efit of er an i — T mco on s s S . G l t . 66 The Slav Natio n s f or its own welfare and f or the union of the Slav race .

sechs The C have always been a strong , tena cions , energetic people , and no sooner did they begin t o feel the iron fist of their oppressors than they opened a determined campaign against them and pitted their strength against their tyrants . They have won their present civilization inch by inch from their oppressors . Csech Pro The eminent political economist , f essor Masaryk , admirably forecasts the future

hi s . of people He says The humanistic ideal , of s the ideal regeneration , bear a deep national f or h and historical significance us Csec s . A full and sincere grasp of the human ideal will bridge over the spiritual and ethical dreams of centuries , and enable us to advance with the vanguard of human progress . The Csech humani tarian ideal is no romantic fallacy . Without work and effort the humanitarian ideal is but dead ; it demands that we shall everywhere and systematically oppose ourselves to all that unhumanit — is bad , to all social y both at home — all and abroad with its clerical , political and national organs . The humanitarian ideal is

68 The Slav Nati o n s language , for the right to speak their own e— tongu they are fighting against Germanization . Their strongest weapon in this fight is their striving f or economic prosperity— a physical power through which they may hope to obtain a spiritual victory . The principal trait in the Csech character

in itiative. o t o is The very name p ints this , for Csech is derived from the old- Slav Gb or word enti , meaning to will to

History finds the Csechs in the vanguard of all r the Slav t ibes in their wanderings westward . Csech on e of Their legendary leader was , three brothers , and his tribe penetrated the farthest . In the Middle Ages the Csechs were the first t o l of t o chal enge the power Rome , and this day they send numbers of enterprising emigrants t o e h all parts of the world . But the Cs c s have — on e great fault they are fickle . Their en thusi asm flashes up qui ckly and then as quickly dies of of down . This is the reason the failure the Hussite Reformation . The Germans finished what the Csechs began— Luther was the successor of

Huss and completed his work . The Csechs are not by nature a commercial and industrial people . Their business capacity — it is born of necessity is a weapon , not a means

of gain . It is kept going by an unwearied on of agitation the part the national leaders , and if the Csech national ideal shoul d suffer ship Po lan d an d B o hemia 69

Csech wreck , then finance , ambition , and industry will likewise perish . Sundr y Slavophil thinkers would exclude the Csechs of from the group Slav peoples , just because ‘ The of their initiative and business capacity . Russian ethnologist D an il evski cal ls the Csech e people a monstrosity, a German p ople with a v Slav tongue . But these men ha e overlooked the fact that the foundation of modern Csech pros perity was laid by the religion of the Csech

Brethren . During the Catholic reaction the Csech Protestants were driven from their posses as own sions and treated aliens in their country . Being thus compelled to evolve a new means of t o gaining a livelihood , they turned inmdustry . Trade and the towns were closed to the , and the Csech Brethren had t o seek refuge in the Bohemian and Moravian hills , and the Orlic wo ds carvers a . o mount ins They became weavers , of and miners , and laid the foundation the great e modern Bohemian textile , glass and earthenwar industries . Religious considerations and nothing else have made the Csechs into a mercantile ’ nation . England s wealth also springs from a — religious movement the rise of Puritanism . Thrift and industry led to the accumulation of n capital . Only a religious man understa ds how t o work and thrift , and he alone knows For utilise capital as a moral lever . this reason it would be wrong t o adopt the views C h of the Russian ethnologist . The sec people 70 The Slav Natio n s as they are have a right t o their future and t o freedom . a: a: a:

of on the of In the centre Prague , summit the

‘ Hradéin old Csech , stands the Royal Castle , a a r splendid monument of p st g eatness . Proud t o Csech and lofty, visible from afar, it speaks the people of the days when it sheltered- n ot the of h Csech foreign invader, but flesh t eir flesh , f e kings and princes o their own blood . And ven of as it is a monument the past , it is also a beacon for the present and the future . When the set ting sun sheds his crimson glory upon Castle

“ Hradéin s and , it seems as though the very tones were aglow with the reflection of all the Csech blood that has been shed in the defence of right — and liberty . But the royal splendour vanishes of e with the sun , and the shadow night d scends on Castle and height “ like a symbol of the present age of gloom . Day by day , with burning eyes ,

Csech dl . the reads the wor ess message _ Yet he e or does not giv way to dreams , sink into deep melancholy , nor does he wait for a miracle . He clenches his fist and smiles the grim smile of the fickleness tireless warrior . His at the time of the Reformation weighs like a sin on his conscience , but its ideals have set their mark upon him and quickened the seed of political reformation in Csechs his soul . In this matter the take the

- lead among all the Slavs in Austria Hungary . I have already mentioned that in certain Po lan d an d B o hemia 71

Slav circles the Csechs are looked upon as Ger mans with a Slav tongue . But , if their indus trial and mercantile pros perity and certain individual characteristics lend some colour to u Csech this view , it is quite ref ted by the activity l a in the Slav national and po itic l cause . In their sturdy and progressive struggle against German iz ation the Csechs have set the other Austrian Slavs a tactical and practical example as t o how the struggle should be fought—d actically on mi al racticall indo t constitution lines , and , p y, with able courage and perseverance . In spite of their long subjection t o an absolute Csechs so autocracy, the developed into strong e t o a political factor , that even Vienna b gan fear the weight of their hand . They achieved this n ot onl y from a sense of self- preservation or separatist selfishness like the Poles , but the Slav ideal runs like a gold thread through all they have done ; it is their motto , task and goal . They were beset from three sides , by the Austrian

Germans in all their power , by Polish opposition , and by Magyar agitations and hostile influences in Vienna . The Southern Slav deputies in the Reichstag were their onl y helpers in the unequal e struggle . But they never relax d their energy and they never yielded a position they had won . The national struggle in Bohemia took on its present form in the first half of the nineteenth century , and it first centred round cultural interests as in other Slav countries . The love “ 72 The Slav Nati o n s of the people for their own language had to be established and even rekindled t o a pitch of n d fiery enthusiasm , a national education had also t o be fostered by the foundation of Csech national schools . The State was by no means t o n the anxious e lighten people , and the number of schools maintained in the country was quite inadequate. The fiscal schools were all German t and served o spread the German propaganda . But the Csech educated classes founded schools own e at their exp nse , as well as the Matica Skolska (School Union) , which undertook the f organization o these schools . This was an effective counter- stroke to Germanization as well f or Pal ack as a good foundation further success . y, Kollar and Havliéek were leaders of the National movement of the time . Pal acky was the source f rom'whomthe others

. r drew their inspiration He was a g eat thinker ,

- a brilliant author , and a cautious , liberal minded politician who may be considered the founder of ch modern Cse national life . And through him radiated the light that pointed the way

s e . o which the e peopl must take Kollar, the p et Havlieek and publicist , and , as politician and Csech political economist , shared the leadership Pal ack with y, and paved the way for a great national intellectual movement which kept pace with the national political movement . They founded a strong nationalist party in Bohemia (The Old Csechs) in opposition t o the Viennese Po lan d an d B o hemia 73

Government . With their majority in the Land e tag , and their appearanc in the Viennese Parlia the Csech e i ment , peopl became a factor w th whom the Government had t o reckon f or good — a or for evil people who refused t o be ousted . i f al t o Bohem a , which o fici Austria loves consider t o a German country , had be divided into spheres . The State had to pay for the upkeep of Cs ech schools and the administration b bi~ lin ual l r ecame g Of course , in acco dance Csech with the usual Government policy , many localities were included in German spheres and

promptly became bones of contention . The Matica Skolska foun ded more schools in these sph eres to prevent the Germanization of Csech children , whilst the German schools pursued their system of an unofficial propaganda with the tacit of support of the Government . This state affairs to led constant disturbances , which frequently degenerated into riot and bloodshed . With the rise of the Young Csechs the struggle assumed a more drastic and determined character , for this party aimed at nothing less than a purely Csech ro government for Bohemia , and a p portion ate share in the management of Imperial f e a fairs . They repeatedly succeed d in wrecking the Austrian Government , and under Prince Hohenlohe they were so strongly represented in the Cabinet that they succeeded in making Csechs their power felt . The Young have e greatly helped the national caus in Bohemia , 74 The Slav Natio n s and also furthered the Slav cause by their i of - al enthusiastic championsh p the All Slav Ide . f Kr mz o . a ar One their leaders , Dr , who was dl very frien y with Russia , has been specially

active in this cause . Though the Young Csechs

‘

are still the leading party , recent yearshave seen the r of e ise parties even more radical in th ir demands . The Social - National s and the Csech Radicals desire to see Bohemia an absolutely autonomous State , whereas the followers of Professor Masaryk aim at the regeneration of the Csech race on a of different basis (see opening this article) . Events have moved rapidly in Bohemia since

the last Balkan war, which made a profound

impression on all the Austrian Slavs . Owing t o the uncompromising attitude taken up by the various parties , the Government dissolved s e con stitu the Bohemian Landtag , su pend d the tion and placed the administration in the hands of a Commission appointed by the Government Csechs and responsible to none . The retorted by a violent obstruction in the Viennese Parliament and so paralyzed the House , that it had to be Csechs prorogued indefinitely . The demanded

the immediate convocation of the Landtag . ” No Landtag , no Austrian Parliament , was s their watchword , and they tood firm . When the crisis with Serbia and the outbreak of the war o o ccurred , the Parliament was unable to ad pt any attitude towards these events , and the only con stituti on al body in the Monarchy able to deal with them was the Hungarian Parliament .

CHAPTER V .

B ULGARIA .

n r an d e le— The il i n u of the Bul arian Cou t y P op bu d g p g State— Relati on s with Russia— German In fluen ce — Alexan er f Ba en r — n F rdi n n d d o tt be g Ki g e a ’ B ri a mme ate ulga s I di Duty .

ALTHOUGH it is asserted on historical grounds

that the Bulgarians are a mixed race , and merely Slaviciz ed by the influence of neighbouring to Slav races , they certainly ought be included

in the great Slav family . In many ways they

have always held aloof from the Slav Ideal , and t o emphatically preferred stand alone , but , nevertheless , they have done great service to the f or Slav cause in the past , and often fought it th of with true enthusiasm . In e early days Christianity the Bulgarians also did much for Slav culture through the Bogumili— (a sect of reformers which will be dealt with in the Chapter on the Southern Slavs) — who spread religious enlightenment , and through the old Bulgarian tongue laid the foundation of the other Slav who languages . The Bulgarians , were once of masters a great Empire , and enjoyed world r wide impo tance under Simeon the Great , had 77 78 The Slav Nat io n s to share the age - long tragedy of all the Eastern

Slavs , and it speaks volumes for their national character that they emerged from Turkish

- bondage as a strong , self reliant people . Who ever knows the Bulgarians well , cannot fail to do respect them , even if they not inspire great af ec aff ection . I believe as a race they are not f t — tion a e they prefer to command respect . The

- gentle , dreamy , love craving element in the character of the other Slavs is quite absent in n ot them , and even their fire and enthusiasm is e a matter of sentiment , but a practical n cessity — of al almost a matter mathematic calculation . r Industrious and th ifty as no other Slav nation , - l o u cold b o ded and calc lating , they have justly

been cal led the Slav Japanese . Their type is very interesting and differs considerably from w that of the other Slavs . Almost ithout excep tion the men are handsome and strongly built , whereas the appearance of the women is spoilt - hi - by their wide cheek bones and t ck set build . Like most of the Slav peoples they are mainly

- farmers and cattle breeders , and as the country o out is fertile , they make quite a g od income of f field- r r o . thei expo ts grain , produce and cattle Although Bulgarian intell ectual life springs r are from the people , and the Bulga ians essen tiall y a democratic nation , it is necessary to distinguish between the educated classes and the l a common people . The Bu garian pe sant is an e c l xceedingly good fellow ; physi al y very active , Bulgaria 79

a mentally rather stolid , he pursues his c lling in i rufl d e e . a calm deliberat way , and is not eas ly His food is most simple he takes practically n o al t o of cohol and , owing his temperate mode life ,

lives t o a very great age . The entire population numbers about four milli ons and shows a greater

percentage of centenarians than any other nation . The Bulgarians are very fond of music and n o or of dancing , but they have music poetry own do their , and what they possess has been or borrowed from the Turks other Orientals . The traveller may often come upo n the genuine aut ch a N dance in a Bulgarian vill ge , and will hear songs sung t o purely Turkish melodies . If the Bulgarians have any advantage over the other

Slavs , it is in the beauty of their unadulterated

Orthodox faith . The people are narrowly t o n ow i religious , and up their rel gion represents f the zenith o their culture . In this respect they resemble the Russians and all the Slavs who

- have retained the Slavo Orthodox faith . It is superfluous to enlarge on the fighting qualities of — Kirkilisse the Bulgarians , Lule Burgas , and Adrianople have given ample proof of these . The educated classes are distinct from the people in two ways : they are free - thinkers and e quarr lsome . Religion is cultivated among them as a fashion , and the churches have become mere rendezvous, as in Paris , Berlin and Vienna . But , of i one in spite all th s , must admit that the educated classes of Bulgaria are excellent social 0 8 The Slav Natio n s t organizers , hough politically and intellectually n t ul li they are o partic arly bril ant . The amount achieved in social matters by these men in the short time that has elapsed since the emancipation is marvellous . Bulgaria in this respect has become a truly modern state . This bright side s r is , however, eclipsed by the countle s blunde s Th they have committed in other respects . e worst of these is their headstrong blindness in the political administration . Bulgarian politics

- have degenerated into a devastating party system , and are largely responsible for the tragical hap enin s of ec p g r ent years , in which the whole u co ntry , and more especially the innocent mass of the people have been involved . The chief characteristic of the educated Bulgari an is his distrust of everyone ; he does not confine thi s e t o distrust to strang rs , but extends it even his

King and his own party leader . Hitherto intellectual Bulgaria has created but out of r little , and that little is quite propo tion to the achievements of some other much smaller ul Slav nations . B garian art and literature are merely poor reproductions of foreign originals and by n o means express the strength and vit al ity of the people . Of all their poets Ivan Vasoff Hrist off Kon st antin off , , and Aleko alone of have understood anything of the soul the people , and only their work will live . In art we seek in vain for anything purely Bulgarian . But there is one thing of the greatest value that the educated Bulgaria 81

f or Bulgarians have done for their nation , and this of l they deserve a true crown laure s . I am refer ring to the organization of the Macedonian bands

- during the last half century . Their perseverance f or and heroism call the greatest admiration . The country owned by the Bulgarians is on e of the most beautiful inhabited by Slavs . Only

Dalmatia and Bosnia can compare with it , and whoever has once been there will never forget of it . It is the land the great Balkans in all their wild beauty- the land of the Kazanlik Valley with its vast glorious rose - fields ; the f Vratza Gorge with its romantic cli fs , dark primeval forests , and hills covered with lilac ; the f of Black Sea , and the beauti ul shores Varna and Burgas , and above all tower the snow f i u o V tosha . capped s mmits the Everywhere , and in everything , dwells a throbbing life , full of of variety and contrast , beautiful as the men Bulgaria and rugged as their women .

Bulgaria was freed from the Turkish yoke in 1 8 of r 78 . The work emancipation was car ied out by Russia with the help of Bulgarian bands and many volunteers from all the Slav countries . By the peace of San Stefano Bulgaria was de iure declared mistress of the entire territories Silistria from the Black Sea to , and along the

Danube as far as Vidin in the north , from Vidin along the Morava via Ochrida as far as Yanina 82 The Slav Nati on s

vi a al in the west , from Yanina S onika to Kavala r in the south , and in a straight line f om Kavala D e acto t o Varna in the east . f she was only given independent jurisdi ction over such terri tories as she possessed up to the first Balkan

war . The complete liberation of Bulgaria was ea by no m ns achieved by the emancipation , and she continued t o remain under Turkish suze t ainty . The first task after the emancipation was to reconstruct the country on the lines of a modern t o f European state , and in use new life into it s of after o many centuries Turkish misrule . Education was represented solely by the priests a who f or and the schoolm sters , had laboured the enlightenment of the people even before the e mancipation . Of course , there were a few who Bulgarians possessed a European education , e and had graduat d at European universities , and upon these devolved the task of solving of - the problems the newly created state . There so of were however few them that , at the begin of ning , many men culture were imported from i other Slav countries , ch efly from Russia , Croatia and Bohemia . The military administration was who entrusted to Russia , established garrisons of her own in Bulgaria and undertook to create the Bulgarian army . Considering the transi tion ar of y stage the country at the time , it was inevitable that the Russian military authori ties should obtain considerable influence over the

84 The Slav Natio n s characterized the military organiz ation f with the in tention of g forming an independent , purely For u a . t B lgarian rmy , in spite of his grea f or admiration Russia and the Tsar Liberator , Prince Alexander felt that dependence upon — Russia more especially a milit ary dependence would render his country a vassal de facto of n o de ure l Russia , less than it was j a ready the

vassal of Turkey . He therefore strove to render the Russian military administration superfluous in Bulgaria by building up an efficient home army As soon as this was accomplished he sent a of letter thanks to the Tsar , made a public s t o manife to , gave a big dinner the Russian al gener s , and gratefully dismissed the Russian co - s operation . Then the Ru sian generals had t o N o leave Bulgaria . o ne can deny that Prince Al exander showed himself manly and self- reliant in taking this decision , which was prompted by a very proper ambition . But he gave mortal

offence in Russia , and from that moment he l fe l completely from Russian favour . The Court circles in St . Petersburg , which had been hostile t o r n ow t o r him f om the beginning , began int igue f against him in Bulgaria , their e forts finding

- a ready response in the pro Russian party . The first Serbian War in 1 885 afforded splendid ’ of proof Alexander s military organization , but too his influence was far undermined , and even hi r s victo ies failed to save him . The tide of adverse circumstances was t oo strong and led Bulgaria 85

t o the inevitable but , fortunately , bloodless

’ “ 1 ri coup d état in 886 . P nce Alexander was taken r from his palace by night , transpo ted over the

frontier and formally deposed . Prince Alexander left Bulgaria a well - organized

e . State , only disturbed by internal party hatr ds r of The new uler , Prince Ferdinand Coburg ,

wi m ; was received th divided sy pathies . Already had en mo t in many ways his path , , be s o hed f or he a mre it , o on him but met with f in / k pppos i own eo le tha i r s r e from his p p eb s ap sdscés o , wh n

f ear l or Witi H nRasmussen. m t l I s e a a i n es ek t l siP Gsr

h s ai e nst r atyg essenc f n ov l d ra kly, asks xsdss

L J l r J b r c 3 - j . l i l u l Hal li . al l ug 4} ’

‘ tr c b a o r l “ rrmn rl r e l n e e ma s n d J n q u e i ; n p f r e a b e fi t iyss snhuls s s o releases

s ame alway s weetener} sh 86 The Slav Nati o n s

politics and varied with the party in power . Enthusiasm for Russia and antagonism against Russian influence were alternately the order of of ul the day . Only the people B garia remained constant in their confidence and affection f or Russia they could never forget whose hand had set them free , and even political changes could t a n o shake them . Certain politic l circles took the emancipation from Russia as their party cry and hoped t o make the country great outside T t the Russian protectorate . hey desired o trans ‘ late their f or the Bulgarians an u h a o e into absol te fact . T is p rty was f und d ri St amb ul of f n by the noto ous , and whe ever they came - into power they insisted on regarding n ot only Russia as the national enemy , but also the Bulgarian people who were in sympathy o with Russia , and they did their utm st to ” tyrannize the people out of this disease . In fighting f or this idea they coined the party catchword Greater Bulgaria in the hope of of bribing the people by promises Macedonia , Serbia , Greece , and even Constantinople as - ar future tit bits . This p ticular party knew very well that Russia would never allow the Slav r equilib ium in the Balkans to be upset , and , as it n ot was over Slavonic in its sympathies , it waged a bitter opposition against the Russian pro tectorate n i , u der wh ch all the Balkan Slav

nations stand t o benefit equally . In opposition ’ t o Stambul fi d o s e party there aros another , founde Bulgaria 87

Karavel off of by , the greatest Bulgarian patriots , who fought with all the enthusiasm of which Kara grateful hearts are capable . vel off saw clearly that Bulgaria would be t oo weak t o f or t o stand alone a very long time come , and that the Russian protectorate was a strong guarantee

again st foreign hostile influence . After Karave ’ loff s death his ideas found enthusiastic partisans Cz ankoff Radosl av off D an eff e of in , and in spit t b ’ minor tactical party differences . S amul off s violent death— he was assassinated in the open — ’ street put an end t o the regime of hi s party f or the ro many years , and brought moderate p

Russian parties into power . But Bul garia was deeply injured by his policy . He bequeathed a legacy of discord and hatred at home and pro ’ voke d Russia s displeasure abroad . The new pro- Russian Government di d its utmost t o heal the breach , and succeeded in improving relations m ’ St a bul off s with Russia , but partisans agitated in every possible way for the re instatement of

- the radical anti Russian party . In Dushan Petkoff and Evlogij Gen adieff they had energetic who al leaders , pursued their go with all the characteristic Bulgarian tenacity and a ruthles s persistence that was positively Asiatic . After ’ Ferdi nand had established a personal regime in ’ of Bulgaria , they realized that the turn fortune s wheel n o longer depended on the temper of the or t of on will nation the streng h a party , but the o the rul er t o f , and they were content bide their 88 The Slav Natio n s

m the eo l e the had n o l A on o l owin time . g p p y f g r whatsoeve . But whichever party is in power by the will of the ruler is assured of a majority

in the Parliament . Elections are invariably manipulated by terroristic pressure from the n o e authorities . There is diff rence except that , whereas the pro- Russian parties are content t o Stam bulovists employ demagogic means , the t o have had recourse bloodshed . At last the Stambulovists were successf ul ; they came into power in 1 902 — (in accordance with the wish of the highest power in the land) —and estab lished a reign of terror equal to that of Stam u f b lo f himself in its cruelty , but breaking all

previous records as regards corruption . The St ambul ovists commanded a crushing majority in the Sob ran ye (Parliament) and pursued a policy of secret provocations against Russia Ratsho . t and the nation General Pe roff , a personal favourite of King Ferdinand an d an absolute nonentity , was the Premier but the actual dictator and leader of the St ambul ovist of party was Dushan Petkoff , Minister the of Interior . Once more the policy the Govern - tren d but ment took an anti Russian , , in the meantime the nation had developed and stead T . o be fastly pursued a different policy sure , under compulsion they had given the Government ma or t i ar a j y but not their heart , and this he t n ow t o belonged Russia more than ever . This sentiment found expression in various violent Bulgaria 89 demonstrations ; it culminated in the assassina tion Of Petkoff (likewise in the Open street) and in the abuse showered upon King Ferdinand as he drove to the opening of the National Theatre at Sofia . From that point Bulgarian me policy took a totally new turn , and for a ti it seemed as if the Slav renaissance had really taken root and Bulgaria had at last found herself . The Balkan Alliance before the war certainly seemed strong evidence Of it .

Bulgaria ’ s relations with Serbia have varied as os quite much as th e with Russia , but with the difference that in these ups and downs the nation has always been undivided . Bulgarian dis trust Of Serbia dates from the beginning of the political independence Of the former . Instead Of trying to settle their differences in a brotherly t o of spirit , and eliminate the Macedonian bone of contention by fixing the spheres interests , both parties— especially Bulgaria— worked them selves up into a fever Of enmity which could only be mutually detrimental . Actual frontier collisions added fuel to the fire , and the situation l grew steadi y worse . It is safe to say that there was never any love lost between the Serbs and the Bulgarians , even if political opportunism at times dictated a more friendly attitude . Many discerning Bulgari an politicians have Often tried to promote a more cordial and neighbourly 90 The Slav Natio n s understanding between the two states f or the d sake Of the Slav cause and the common goo , and their Serbian colleagues loyally supported al them in this . But their work was ways undone by the distrustful attitude Of Bulgaria , which was e even increased by foreign influenc . In 1 885 the nation entered into the war with Serbia with unanimous enthusias m and a bloodthirsty spite almost inconceivable between brother nations . The war was fierce , and fate favoured ; Bulgaria but , instead Of being content with ’ V their success , and exhibiting a ictor s finest u — a q ality humanity , the Bulgari ns only grew increasingly bitter in their hatred towards Serbia , and showed it in offensive taunts . After their defeat the Serbs Obviously could not feel very tOwards friendly their neighbours , but I do not believe they hated them in their souls . But from on e cause or another it was impossible to

find the way to friendship . The Bulgarians declared that their differences with Serbia were n o by means settled in this war , and that the Macedonian question would have t o be decided

e . e b yond dispute Thus the war was continu d , n ot unfortunately only with the pen , but also with arms , for the Serbian and Bulgarian bands in Macedonia waged war upon each other more

fiercely than upon the Turks . Matters went t o es eci from bad worse for both nations , and p ally for the Slav cause in the Bal kans . Russia t o exerted all her influence reconcile the two , but

92 The Slav Natio n s

Of peace an d friendship between the two peoples . f or They reaped considerable success , the tide

Of mutual enmity subsided , and when King Peter came to Sofia on an Ofli cial visit he met with a reception that expressed n ot merely the pomp and circumstance Of a Court but the heartfelt cordiality of a fri endly people . It must not be me t forgotten that in this rapproche n good service was rendered by those politicians Of both coun tries who persistently did their best t o improve mutual relations . Chief among these is the i Paé é. Serbian statesman , Nikola He cultivated this mutual friendship so successfully that it l i culminated in the Ba kan All ance , which would have proved a lasting blessing to the whole Of the Balkans if it had not been broken by the attack Br al Of eg nica . Yet the collapse of the Alliance n ot was due to Bulgaria , but to other extraneous influences .

I have briefly touched upon Bulgarian relations with Russia and Serbia in order t o give a brief sketch Of the only t oo frequent mistakes made ’ f by Bulgaria s O ficial Government . The Bul arian s g possess many excellent qualities , and , as our a nation , have a distinct claim on respect ; but they have one drawback : they are not e l n ot indep ndent in po itics , and their policy is of of the outcome the requirements the times , n ot t o as a rule it is even suited them , but is Bulgaria 93 merely the mouthpiece of foreign influences . Whenever these influences were Russian they at least did n ot clash with the interests of the un f o tu or . r people do any particular harm But , m l to ately , Bu garian policy has a great extent ’ followed in Germany s footsteps , and for a long — time German in fluence especial ly in recent e — u y ars has made alarming progress in B lgaria , The first t o fall a victim t o this influence were St ambul off and his followers who had made so free with the motto Bulgaria f or the Bul

arian s . g And , in proportion to the vehemence with which they pursued their corrupt policy , they imported the German element into Bulgaria . Intellectually it would be quite impossible t o e Germanize the Bulgarians , but , as r gards their political economy and foreign policy they fell e more and more under G rman ascendancy . The Eastern expansive policy Of Germany and — Austria Hungary , finding the doors fast closed in t o Serbia , was content for the moment ignore an Obdurate opponent , and insinuated itself into Bulgaria as being free from the infection Of ”

al . fantastic Slav ide s In King Ferdinand , as a a German prince , German prop ganda found a

- a distinct well wisher . The Bulg rian stock market

- u was controlled by German trade , Austria H ngary and Germany founded branch banks and business Am houses in Bulgaria . German and Austrian b assadors could always command the ear of the her Foreign Oflice. And Germany bestowed 94 The Slav Nati on s favour or disfavour in proportion to the pro German or pro- Russian sympathies of the Govern ment . In face Of this tide Of Germanism all honest Bulgarian politicians are confronted with a herculean task , if the country is to be saved from becoming simply a vassal state to Germany . In the events which preceded the second Balkan t o War their labours appeared have borne fruit , and Germany and Austria were suddenly con fronted with a fact they had never even contem plated— an al liance between Bul garians and the detested Serbs , and even a military convention o i st between these tw aga n Austria . But their amazement was only a thing of the moment the German influence redoubled its efforts , and i second Balkan War was due to its mach nations .

Bulgaria ’ s defeat in the second Balkan War

has filled the nation with a burning , unquenchable

hatred against Serbia . The realization of their

Macedonian ambition , which had been almost d within their grasp , had vanishe in a bitter disappointment and plunged the heroic victors of Kirkilisse into an agony Of sullen despair . the When the first stupefying shock was over , Of thought revenge came uppermost , and every on e foresaw that at the next Opportunity the ’ brother nations would again fly at each other s throats . Bulgaria 95 It would be unreasonable t o deny the Bul t o garian claim part Of Macedonia . " If a great national problem is t o be permanently and satis f act oril y solved , the principal Of nationality l cannot be ignored . But Bu garia exceeded the principles Of nationality in her demands and su emac r aimed at a position Of p y in the Bal kans . By her acquisition Of Thrace it became necessary t o of revise the stipulations the Alliance Treaty, con and , if the Allies could have arrived at any clusion or , accepted the arbitration of the Tsar , t o- day the position of the Bal kans in the present

crisis would be more favourable . The Bulgarian nation cannot be held respon Br al ni a sible for the crime Of eg c . It merely f played a passive part . The O ficial perpetrator , supposed t o have remained undiscovered t o this n ot il day , was guided by the w l of the nation , who but by orders from Vienna and Berlin , desired t o be revenged f or the affront they had suffered through the Balkan Alliance . Nothing short Of a despicably devastating blow aimed f um at all the Balkan States would su fice , and fortunately they found a ready tool in the wild

o . ambiti ns Of certain Bulgarian circles Of course ,

the blow was aimed at the detested Serbians , but with the relentlessness Of fate it fell upon those who had hoped t o profit by the Austro

German intrigue . Though Bulgaria alone suffered

material loss through the war , the whole of the

Balkan States have suffered morally . For their 96 The Slav Natio n s

deadly enemy achieved his mai n Object— the of al breaking up the B kan union . Such was the lamentable state Of affairs in the Balkans when the present European crisis came to a head . The Austrian declaration Of war upon Serbia o caused a positively insane j y in Bulgaria . It was balm to the Bulgari an wounds that the great monarchy should devour their small neighbour their brother n ation— and not one Of the heroes who had helped in the conquest of Adrianople be left alive All this time they overlooked the e fact that , when Serbia had b en disposed of, their

Own country would have been. the next dish " in the menu It was a sordid triumph , neither

n or Slav. manly,

In their satisfaction they even forgot Russia . NO one dreamt that Russia would raise her mighty al "t o hand and cry H t the Austrian devourer . l But when the inevitable occurred , Bu garia suddenly found herself face to face with a prob ’ ’ lem . Russia s word Serbia s enemies are my

- u enemies staggered the honest B lgarian people , who t o are attached Russia , and they began P to ask themselves very seriously, What next The first upshot of this was the perceptible cooling Of the anti- Slav agitation ; then the eo le nation began t o reflect . The p p and the

patriotic Slavophile circles sent their best wishes , and their finest General— Ratko Dimitrieff t o f or fi fight Russia , and the Of cial Government proclaimed a strict neutrality . Both these facts Bulgaria 97

- bode well for the future . But the anti Slav i ag tation has by no means lost all its power , St ambulovist and the circles , in conjunction - not with Austro German emissaries , have ceased to stir up the people and the masses against Serbia and against Russia . Which will pre " f vail It is di ficult to make any forecast , especially if on e remembers the personal regime of who Of con stitu King Ferdinand , , in spite the

r e. tion Of the country , eigns suprem At the same time it would be wrong to lose hope and we must trust that in the decisive hour the Slav instinct will dominate all other instincts , and n ot onl thus y assist the Slav cause , but also prove of t o il the greatest service civ ized Europe , and above all things t o Bulgaria herself .

mo n Bu arian au ors w e mus a s o men ion F en c o A g lg th t l t h Sl a v e ko ff a n a i ve Mace on ia s ome of w os e wor has j ( t Of d ) , h k in is been ren dered to En gl h . CHAPTER VI .

BI SER A .

Ser ian Sel - relian ce— arac eris ics the Ser I . b f Ch t t Of b — People— The Power of t he FOlk - s on g Race

Con sciousn ess .

. Hi r t S ern Sla . II sto y Of he outh vs he B of n — n c Mil The III . T i rth a Nati o Pri e O§ Great Sower — Alexan der Karagjorgjevié ic el ren o — in ilan — F a the M ha Ob vié K g M ll Of — — Ob ren ovié Dyn as ty Kin g Peter The Rest ora ’ i n f ia t o o Serb s Prestige . IV — er i n d A ri — A ami n umn 4 a a us a a a . b t C p g Of C l y An n exati on Of Bosn ia - Hercegovin a w The Balka n W ars— er i r ili a — The ra e S b a ehab t ted T g dy Of r Se ajevo .

THE free and independent kingdom of Serbia is undoubtedly the most important of the Southern

Slav States , although she has only three and a on half million inhabitants , and is shut in all

— - sides by her six neighbours Austria Hungary ,

Roumania , Bulgaria , Greece , Albania and Monte 1 8 1 negro . In 7 she was freed from the Turkish 1 00 e yoke , and in less than years she has develop d - f into a sturdy , self reliant state , e ficient in an intellectual , economic and military sense in 98

00 1 The Slav Nation s passionately , Often unreasonably , but never with f or calculation . He desires his beloved land — In himself to keep it untouched by strangers . spite Of considerable business capacity he is not ’ aggressive , and does not covet his neighbour s possessions . But , should his neighbour dare to move his fence even one inch over the boundary , or purposely let his cattle stray into his meadow , e un then the Serb b comes fierce , wrathful and forgiving . The Serbian farmer has no need to study history in order to learn where his neigh bours have removed his landmarks . His history o lives in his songs and ballads , and g es back a thousand years . These poems tell him every one Of - thing . Every his beautiful folk songs is a of piece history , a bit Of the past and they sink deeper into his heart than any historical education . dates The Of his power , past splendour and decline ; e are meaningless to him but the sad , d eply

- moving legends in his folk songs , telling of his l triumphs and his tragedies , plaintively thri ling of al with love country , and his tempestuous b lads Of heroism and revenge— thes e have fostered his

' of sense patriotism , his yearning for his down i s trodden brothers , and his th r t for retribution . These folk- songs have been handed down from On e t o i generation to another , and th s day they have been preserved in al l their pristine purity of text and melody in the souls and memories Of n ot the Serbian people . It is necessary at a time of foreign menace to appeal to the Serb people Serbia 101 withmelaborately- worded proclamations and in amt or fl a y speeches . The refrains of their songs ufli ce s . , and they take up arms as one man But the cause must be in harmony with the traditions f o the past . They fight like lions when they go t o battle with their ancient songs upo n their lips . Thus did they war with the Turks thus they are warring now against Austria . TO the Serb the love Of his language is second n o ly to his love Of country . The most beautiful al l * and melodious Of the Slav tongues , rich in l S idiom and soft in modu ation , it is pecially fitted f - o . to be the medium folk poesy This language , which is identical with that of the Croats (thence - has the name Serbo Croat tongue) , been the sacred and abiding link between the Serbs and their still enslaved brothers in Turkey and in a Austria . The Serbian pe sant is in the habit Of cal ling every on e who speaks to him in a foreign language a Schwab o ; Tbut should the stranger d or ad ress him in Serbian , indeed , in any of the n as Slav tongues , he will say Pa ti si (Thou art one Of us) . Undoubtedly , apart from their one national music , this bond Of union has been of the strongest factors in the preparation of the future , for through it the Serb can freely com mun icat e with his brothers beyond the frontier . Those dear familiar sounds tell him that his

Thi s s a emn ha en orei n S a t t e t s be en dors ed by man y f g l v c er ia o e t he co l s ho lars . Both S b an d Croatia have a d pt d — T. S . loq uial o n gue o f Hercego vin a a s eir li erary lan guage . t ‘ th t erisi e ermf j A d v t or 102 The Slav Natio n s

ee brothers still live and share his sp ch , his songs and his yearnings . This explains the unanimous enthusiasm of the whole nation in the Balkan

War , as well as in the present second war of liberation . They are not the soldiers Of the king who have gone to war , but the soldiers Of l of an idea . The miracles valour these men have performed are n ot the exploits Of a war machine , but Of a great heart , in which hundreds n of thousands Of hearts beat as o e.

Many people , and especially Germans , have said that the Serbs are dirty , lazy and dull . As regards the last Of these accusations I am ready to admit that such Germans as have come in contact with the people may be excused f or this impression . The Serbian peasant regards the Schwab o with ext reme distrust . His natural shrewdness teaches him the wisdom Of appearing as dull as possible before the un scrupulous exploiter he knows so well . It would be n o advantage t o him to inspire confidence in Of that quarter , and , as a matter fact , the Serbian peasant has Often got the better Of the apostles Of Kultur by this little deception . English who and French travellers , have had dealings with the Serbs , have spoken Of them in most flattering terms . As regards the other two l indictments , they are on y absurd . The Serbian we peasant works very hard indeed . If consider the results Of his labours , which can be gauged by the considerable export Of farm - produce and

104 The Slav Natio n s

Slavdom is the symbol Of his protectorate , but

- of to a Serb O Croat it is the breath life .

* In - prehistoric times , the south eastern tracts Of the Balkan Peninsula were inhabited by r who A menians , were eventually compelled to 0 t o 0 B. e C . r treat Asia Minor , about 7 The next inhabitants were the Phrygians , who pos

- sessed a well developed civilization , and pene t rated very far westward but with the invasion of the Thracians from the north , the Phrygians were likewise forced to migrate to Asia Minor and only a few scattered groups were left between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains , where they remained until the Roman invasion . Unlike

- the above mentioned Semitic races , the Pelasgians L e ese n O u and p , who formed the aborigi al p p Of In do~ Euro ean lation Greece , were of pure p stock . They were eventually conquered by the

Hellenes , and the illustrious Greek nation sprang i from the intermingl ng Of these three tribes . The dawn Of history shows the great Peninsul a Of Eastern Europe divided between three tribes . The Greeks dwelt south of Heliakmon and Thracians west of the Tekton T en mi o u an ié D e o a ro Z k f N k p ( l , Serbia 105

l valley in the eastern portion of the Peninsu a , Of and the Illyrians west the Pindus . Their territory extended north as far as the site Of

modern Vienna , and south to the Gulf Of Corinth . Of these three peoples the Greeks alone attained t o a high degree Of civilization and culture . They f ounded several colonies on the narrow

- coast line Of Macedonia , but the greater part Of the Peninsula t o the west of the Vardar re

mained Illyrian , and , to the east Of the Vardar , al Thracian . Only the we thier classes and the royal family from which Alexander the Great traced his descent migrated into these countries Of from Grecian Thessaly in search conquest . The Roman invasion was foll owed by con siderable colonial development . Under the sound administrative policy Of the Romans a certain level Of civilization penetrated t o the greater part of the Peninsula , and a Latinized dial ect became the general language . The

Thracians very speedily became Romanized , as did most Of the Illyrians ; the Hellenes alone retained their national distinction . The Illyrians eventually disappeared from Maced onia ; but r e their kind ed tribe , the Albanians (Skip tars , a t o Arn uts) remain there this day , although they show a strong admixture Of ancient Roman and ma ian s of Rou n Slav blood . The are the product and Of a lingual racial mixture Thracian , Roman

and Slav elements . The Great Migration broke up the Roman n‘ 106 The Slav Natio n s

D r e re- Empire (476 A. . ) and Eu op was distributed - the resulting racial boundaries having f or the t o most part persisted this day . The Germanic on r tribes set their mark the No th and West ,

e 2 A. D . and the Slavs on the East Of Europ . In 5 5 the Slavs under the name of Exxon/ear are li on e mentioned as dwel ng low r Danube. a nthe u a e From that time , and for a cent ry , they w g d e a fierce warfar against the E stern Empire , until a the latter became exhausted , and the Balk n Peninsul a was left open t o the invaders from the north . e In the first half Of the sev nth century , during the reigns of the Emperors Phokas (602 - 6 1 0) and Heraklies (6 1 0- 642 ) the Slav hordes over- ran the countries Of the upper and lower Danube n like a flood from Venice to Constanti ople , sweeping southward as far as Cape Matapan . The aboriginal inhabitants fled before them an d s took refuge in mountain fastnesses , i lands , and walled towns . Christianity eventually tamed u was these wild hordes , and peacef l intercourse once more established . Constantinople , Adrian w ople , Seres , Salonika , Larissa and Patras ere the centres whence the light of Christendom t o and Greek culture penetrated the Slavs . Who and what manner of people were the rdan i o s 1 D . Slavs The Roman historian J (55 A. ) ” already distinguishes the Sloveni , as he calls them , from the rest of the Slavs , whom he calls e iti V n . He speaks of an innumerable Slav

108 The Slav Natio n s incidentally adopted the Slav language as their O h i wn . They merely retained t eir orig nal name , and their distinctive , coldly methodical genius for organization— a racial characteristic which is totally absent in the other Southern Slavs . In a short time the Bulgars also conquered the

Slav tribes in Macedonia , Epirus and Thessaly , and subjugated the whole country as far as the

Morava . In the ninth century the Bulgarian Empire reached from the Carpathians in Hungary al to the Pannonian V ley , and , as a matter Of Of was fact , Budapest , the capital Hungary , founded by the Bulgars . The Bulgarian Tsar Boris was baptized by the apostles Cyril and

Method , who also introduced the Slav liturgy in di Bulgaria . The Slav alect spoken between Constantinople and Salonika was adopted as the Gla olitz a literary language , and the g (Glagolithic alphabet) and eventually the Cyrillitz a (Cyrillic alphabet) were introduced . This fact is Of - f or world wide importance , on this foundation rests the whole subsequent intellectual develop ment of Russia and the Bal kan Peninsula— in

of . fact , Eastern Europe Under Simeon the Great (893- 92 7) Slav literature reached its zenith — its golden age . The Moravian monks , who out were driven by Svatopluk , found a hospitable welcome in the monasteries around the Lake of Ochrida , and developed great literary activity . The Southern Slav monasteries sent monks and o b oks to Russia , and thus they became the first Serbia 109 instructors Of their mighty brothers in the North . Still later , the Macedonian Empire was founded e m Sa oilo Oc and the Emp ror resided in hrida .

He , however, was soon overthrown by the i s Byzant ne Emperor Ba il II . in the Battle Of Belassit z a But the Bulgarian Empire recovered again under Tsar Ivan Asen II . (1 2 1 8 - 1 2 7 1 ) and had reached the zenith of its power when it was shattered for centuries by the invading Turks The central Southern Slav (Serbian) countries — — Illyria , Moesia , and Dalmatia for a long time remained broken up into separate counties . Not before the twelfth century did Rasa become Of e the centre a Serbian stat , founded by Stefan Neman a y to whom the Serbs ow e t h e a s A t t h famous Neman ya dyn ty . f er eir victory over the Byzantines at Kossovo the Serbs pene trated further and further south towards Mace

s 1 1 - 1 donia . Under Du an Silni ( 33 355) Serbian power reached its meridian . He organized the nation into a state and gave the people good laws . In his time Serbia reached from the Save t o and the Danube the Gulf Of Corinth , and from the Adriatic to Mesta on the frontiers of Thrace Belbushde and Macedonia . After the battle of ( 1 330) even the Bulgars had t o acknowledge the f supremacy o Serbia . The Serbian Metropolitan of Petcha was made Patriarch , the National Serb

Church was founded , and , in the Macedonian town Of Sko l e s p y , Du an Silni proclaimed himself Tsar 110 The Slav Natio n s

of : . the Serbs , Bulgars and} Greeks With an r army of men he ma ched on Constanti t o n ople in order establish his throne there , and to be revenged upon the Greeks who had a few years previously called the Ottoman Turks to * on —it Europe . But he died the way , is said that he was poisoned by a Greek . Architectural and literary monuments from the age Of the Serbian rulersfiin the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries still clearly show traces Of the high degree of culture that had spread from

Byzantium , Venice and Florence . But these are merely sparks which the Serbian discriminative genius and natural ability would doubtless have kindl ed into a bright flame had not the advent Of t he Turks frustrated the great plans of Du§an Const an t in O l e o l Silni . p w u d have remained in the hands Of a Christian people who love art NO and progress . other nation was so well fitted as the Serbs t o infuse new life into the

culture Of the ancients . The presence Of this sane and strong young nation would have saved the humanists their flight from Byzantium . After the death Of Du§an Silni the great Serbian Empire crumbled into a large number of s mall states , whose rulers played a dangerous on e game , and intrigued against the other ,

whilst the Turks were conquering Thrace . The Thi s fact is the first proof in hi story that th e Southern S a s a e mthe er e in nin een the u war l v h v fro v y b g g b b l k Of C ris i ani an d ere also the b ulwar Euro ean h t ty , th by k Of p ci i iz a n v l tio .

112 The Slav Nati o n s

When Serbia began her life as an independent

State , she was still bleeding from the many wounds inflicted upon her through centuries Of t o slavery , and first Of all these wounds had be tended . The Serbian nation , intellectually and economically bankrupt from long Turkish misrule , was in the position Of a merchant— an honest to fellow , but robbed his last farthing , whose who ruined shop is being restored to him , and is expected to work up the Old business to its out former prosperity of these ruins . Years had to elapse ere the people got accustomed to the of Of new order of things , and , out the welter beginnings , found the way to sound civic develop t o ment . In those days Serbia fell a victim on every political infantile disease , but the other hand she was inspired with a poetic , truly Slav patriotism . Their golden freedom , which they so had long yearned and fought for , and had now at last won , affected the nation not as a political amil i l f fest va event but as a great y , in which all the members were united in love and joy . They revelled in their new- found freedom ; the sordid considerations Of the day were put Off till or t o of the morrow , left the care a small body Of

- cold blooded men . Civic law and order , and regularity i n the administration— unheard of under Turkish rule— were first looked upon as S erbia 11 3

i purely m raculous , and then tacitly accepted as the inevitable consequences Of freedom . The idea of a free State is only Of theoretical value to the Serbs , the main thing for them is that they should be a free peopl e. As a free people they — followed their leaders not as superiors , but as sirn children obey their fathers . With childlike plicity they gathered round their rural magistrate to hear his instructions , and in the same spirit they assembled under the ancient plane - tree in ‘’ To chider the p Park to hear Milos , their first o Gosp dar and Prince , dispense wise counsel and

- - even handed justice . But in these council meet ings between ruler and people was sown the Of seed Of the true constitution the State , and , Of § like the empire Du an Silni in days gone by , modern Serbia has grown up out Of her own people . And this is why Serbia is an emin en tly n ati on ali sti c

of . state , free and independent foreign influence Perhaps in some ways this has been a drawback , but it has also been a great source Of strength t o Serbia . The intimate connection between the reigning house and the people proved a bul wark against foreign attempts at denationalization , and gave Serbia the necessary strength to keep herself free from Germany ’ s corroding influence to this day . In every way the patriarchal state of Prince Miloé proved the best possible preparation f or ’ Serbia s political future . She matured slowly , n ot like an apple in he sun , and fortunately was , t 114 The Slav Natio n s

. the compelled to ripen unnaturally Moreover , of inborn gifts the Serbian people , which I have to already mentioned , proved a great help this

process . They began to see that poetry has its e limitations , that a free people must becom an

organized state , and that political order , though

it cannot be set in verse , is the only guarantee Of

to . prosperity the nation Of course , legal decisions and taxes were vexatious matters , but their good

effect on the community was recognized . The law expressed the will of the people and was n o

longer resented as an imposition . It was fortunate f or the young State that D ositi Obradovic f , the greatest educational genius

of Serbia , had lived before this critical time . He laid the foundations of a national educational system— that most necessary discipline f or a youn g nation— and was beyond doubt one Of the greatest men the Southern Slavs have produced the in modern times . In Serbia he is called reat s ower f g . He truly sowed the s eed o n ot enlightenment , only in Serbia but wherever e D ositi Obr d é S rbs and Croats live . j a ovi has n ot educated individuals , but whole generations ,

and through them the entire nation . And if the

modern State is synonymous with civilization , then D ositij Obradovié was the true founder of e se n S rbia . He sowed the ed , all others have o ly

been reapers . ’ s 1 8 Prince Milo , who abdicated in 39 , was en é He succeeded by his son Milan Obr ovi II .

116 The Slav Nati o n s

on was developed modern , rational lines , and industrial enterprise and foreign trade made their first appearance . Under the strong guiding Of arm hand of their prince , the organization the y kept pace with the economic development Of the * an d nation . He initiated Serbian foreign policy f was the best and wisest diplomat o his country . His policy towards Russia resulted in the Russian so t o protectorate , which has proved powerful al this very day , but it so aroused the jealousy b bren vié of Austria . A ove all things Michael O o hi s n ot n was a Serb , and Slav policy was o ly on of carried in the interests the nation , but dictated by his heart . He evolved the idea of a Serbia with a seaboard on the ZEgean as well as the Adriatic . He knew that the future Of his country will never be secure until all Serbs and

Croats are united , and the ways open which will permit Of a corresponding economic prosperity . ’ Serbia s demand f or a seaboard is n ot mere l aggression , but the recognition Of a vita problem

‘ which will be disposed of as soon as her min imum requirements are satisfied . Obren ovic Under the next , the jovial Prince

Milan (subsequently King Milan) , Serbian policy occasionally deviated from the lines laid down by Prince Michael . Unfortunately , the good services which Ki ng Milan undoubtedly rendered his country are overshadowed by his many

I is due t hi s i o mac a Ser ia w s ree rom t o d pl y th t b a f d f he T r h r erri o r t u kish garriso n s in e t t y . Serbia 1 17

seri ous mistakes . At first his genial personality and great popularity seemed to fit him very well for the continuation and completion Of the

work P rin ce Milan had begun . But apparently di d his ambitions not lie that way, for his reign presents a long record Of discord at home and

- abroad . The party spirit in civil and military f a fairs assumed formidable dimensions , and the l State repeated y barely escaped shipwreck . Of Milan was a spoilt man the world . He pre ferred to live abroad and Often left the admin is tration for long periods wholly in the hands of

the Cabinet Of the moment , who , in the absence ffi t o Of the ruler, Often found it most di cult maintain their authority in the face Of opposing

factions . Abroad the king became acquainted

with eminent foreign nobles and statesmen , and , r as in most cases these were Aust ians , he fell under the influence of the Monarchy . The tide of German pressure towards the East began to fil ter through into Serbia , and at times the l n - Officia policy was fra kly pro Austrian . The

King was still popular , but the people gradually on lost confidence in him , and several critical occasions he was fain t o save hi mself by * brilliant addresses to the people . But the

Roy al blunders became increasingly frequent , and were further aggravated by intolerable

Kin Mi an was a as cin a in ora or an d en the g l f t g t , Oft o ulace who ha d ass emle wi the in en ion emo n p p , b d th t t Of d himw r s carrie awa his st ratin a ain s e e o o ra o r g g t , d y by t y in c eers that their abuse was con verted to h . 118 The Slav Natio n s domestic dissensions which finally led t o the divorce of Queen Natalie . Fortunately Serbia possessed singularly able statesmen during the t o reign Of King Milan , and it is solely due their c efforts that the country es aped public disaster . ' Pasié The present Serbian Premier , Nikola , s already played a prominent part in tho e days , and repeatedl y saved his King and country in times of imminent danger . But presently matters i became intolerable , and King M lan abdicated s on who in favour Of his Alexander , was still of under age . The reign Alexander is the darkest period in the history of modern Serbia . During his minority the country was governed by all a regency , and went well ; but when Alex ander assumed the sceptre himself , the state a began to crumble in its very found tions . Men n tally deficient , and therefore da gerous in all his actions , he inaugurated a rule Of autocracy , n o r one tolerated opposition , and endowed eve y ' of his mistakesjwith the distinction Of a supreme and command . The rift between King people a grew wider and more impassable , and fin lly became an abyss when he insisted on raising his mistress Draga Maschin t o the position of f legal wife and Queen o Serbia . But even this l n was not all . The new queen , with all the b i d arvenue conceit Of a p , introduced the worst type Of petticoat government at . court and in politics , un which showed itself in graft , corruption , f or blushing exhibitions Of contempt the people ,

120 The Slav Nati o n s

hi it : But his heart and s love ruled with the

Serbian people , and probably he felt the mis fortunes Of his country more keenly than any t other Serbian . It is absurd o hold King Peter hi s responsible for the murder of predecessor . Any one privileged to know him would in dig

n antly repudiate the thought . His accession to the throne was merely a consequence and in no n vié way a cause Of the Obre o tragedy . But Europe was too horrified at the murder to dis criminate at the time , and would accept neither reasons nor explanations proving the necessity of making a fresh start— and this quite a part from the circumstance of the murder . Europe regarded the deed and not the causes of the deed and refused t o search her own histories for

similar deeds provoked by similar causes . Thus King Peter was confronted with a two- fold on e difficulty . On the hand both he and his country had forfeited the sympathies of Europe , and on the other he succeeded to the govern ment Of a country demoralized by the previous s reign , and torn by party dissension . It was a fi most dif cult situation , so many conflicting interests had to be reconciled "Truly a very weighty task for an elderly and perhaps already

- world weary man . But King Peter did n ot come to Serbia as a pretender who has at last gained the crown he has coveted ; he came as the champion of the Serb ideal of the past— whose last representative Serbia 121

b Obren ovrc — had een Michael , the ideal of national

of . expansion , a Serbian future He recognized his difficulties but attacked them without fl n h — i c in . For g the Serb nation impulsive , tempestuous and sensitive— it was a blessing t o l delib pass under the guidance Of a ca m , wisely t era e . king He went his way step by step , firmly , f and without illusions . Amid the tumult o acclamations that greeted him in Belgrade his rt was probably the only hea heavy with care . He knew only too well that the violent coup ’ ’ d etat was not the solution but merely the begin ning Of the problem . This consciousness and his patriotic ideal have been the ruling motives Of his reign from the very first . One Of King ’

Peter s first tasks was the , rehabilitation Of Serbia in the eyes Of Europe . Unjust ly enough the entire responsibility for the loss Of Serbia ’ s t o prestige was laid his charge , and it was uphill t o al work ter the opinion of Europe , but he refrained from protestations and excuses . He realized that Serbia must be regenerated in such a fashion as to win back the full confidence of i Europe . By the wisdom Of his policy and w th the help of able statesmen— principally Nikola ’ Pasic— he steered Serbia s foreign policy back into a healthy , normal channel , and within a few years the country once more took her position — as a well- ordered European State apart from the calumnies and enmity of Germany and s Austria . In fact , this succes ful reconstruction 122 The Slav Nati on s was proof in the eyes of Europe that the dynastic change was a necessity for Serbia , and that in the solution Of the Balkan problem she might cer t ainly be trusted to take her part of the burden as a civilized State . She proved her mettle al a soon afterwards in the first B k n War , for in this war the ideal of the King— which he shares — with his people scored its first great success , when the hard- pressed nation displayed a high

e of . degr e valour , statesmanship and true nobility In his ten years ’ reign King Peter has gone

“ far to restore to Serbia her ancient glories . During his reign her politics have become more

. r settled at home and abroad Ag iculture , trade and industry have improved and expanded . i Literature and art have made miraculous str des , so that Serbia may fairly consider herself the equal Of the Western nations ; and the Serbian army has now demonstrated its excellent or ganiz ation and great military value in three successive wars . r e so King Peter , whose sho t reign b came stormy towards the end , may look back on the results Of his labours with the same calm assur ance with which he took up the sceptre . He of has quickened the new soul Serbia , and although he retired shortly before the outbreak of the t o present war , and entrusted the sceptre his l e hi s son , his spirit sti l liv s in people and army — — and please God will lead them both t o victory .

124 The Slav Natio n s the first and strongest fortress in the way o f a Germ n pressure towards the East , and staunchly e Of believed in the ultimate succ ss her cause . The t o brave little country had a mission fulfil , not only a in her own interest , but in that of the Sl v race and the whole of Europe . Vienna and Berlin was knew that Serbia a very hard nut , but they felt confident of cracking it in the en d . When Open aggression failed , they put a good face on

- the matter , and assured the hard pressed Serbs of of their kind intentions . The occupation Bosnia and Hercegovina was the first tangible of proof these kind intentions , for on that occasion Austria delivered two million Serbs an d

Croats from Turkish bondage . Unfortunately Serbia did not in the least appreciate this bene a of fit , whereby large number her kindred were of handed over to the tender mercies Austria , whose solicitous care of her Southern Slav — in subjects was only too well known fact , of instead being grateful , Serbia never ceased to point out her own national and territorial claims upon Bosnia and Hercegovina . Naturally this insolent attitude on the part Of Serbia provoked fi the animosity , and presently the Of cial disfavour , on of Austria . This disfavour was displayed every possible occasion although it always wore a sanctimonious garb . Serbia was too weak and unprepared to retort aggressively upon this animosity her defence was limited to diplomatic measures and the moral support of Russia . It Serbia 125 was a marvellous achievement on the part Of her statesmen that in the face of strong popular feeling they so long staved Of f an open rupture and that they did not let the thirty- five years Of or misgovernment in Bosnia and Hercegovina , of the oppression the Southern Slavs , drive '

them t o a desperate decision . The influence of European diplomacy was doubtless very helpful

still , the Serbian people displayed admirable

restraint under constant provocation . Germany are t o and Austria , who able corrupt the greater of own part their Press , and even many foreign

newspapers , and can command a whole staff Of political agitators , never relaxed their cam ai n of p g abuse and calumny against Serbia , and

everywhere represented her as an incapable ,

barbarous , and dangerous State . In this they were only t oo successful . Unfortunately the condition of Serbian home politics has Often been t o deplorable , and in addition this the murder of the King and Queen in 1 903 provided ample

material for biassing public opinion in Europe . On the whole Europe endorsed these calumnies and ref used t o listen t o the counter- protestations of Russia and other Slavs , because the testimony of barbarians and troglodytes was Obviously

valueless . Serbia was frequently reduced to al desperate straits . She was re ly defending the cause of civilization by stemming the tide Of Germanism in the East— she was preparin g a

- great world work , and her reward was merely 126 The Slav Natio n s

il ’ contempt or a pitying sm e . Without Russia s moral support she must have been swamped by

Austria long ago . With the annexation Of Bosnia and Herce govin a in 1 909 and the dis graceful circumstances that preceded it (which I shall touch upon in a later chapter) , the mutual enmity between

Austria and Serbia reached its height . War between Austria- Hungary on the on e hand on and Russia and Serbia the other , seemed imminent , and was only averted by the inter vention of c European diplomacy , espe ially by the efforts Of Sir Edward Grey . In a declaration 1 5t 1 0 e dated March 3 , 9 9 , Serbia acknowledg d the annexation as an accomplished fact , and promised henceforth to conduct her policy in a neighbourly and friendly spirit towards Austria . This was the last act of self- abasement extorted from the unhappy country , but by no means the end Of hostile agitations . On the contrary , ul these only became more vir ent , because Austria considered the annexation Of Bosnia and Herce ovin a g merely a prelude to the invasion Of Serbia . Hence the necessity Of representing Serbia as a t o of t o menace the peace Europe , and especially a the position Of the Mon rchy as a Great Power . ’ Serbia s prestige declined still further . But suddenly a new contingency arose , and the Balkan War Of 1 9 1 2 brought to light a series of

Of - glorious proofs heroism , self control , statesman ship , and military and national ability on the

128 The Slav Natio n s merely an accident It is to be feared that this is one of the unhappy mysteries which will

never be fully cleared up .

c o f t h un a h e r i es in . 1 6 e o e See t a t l NO R d T ble. (M an h er e mr ime t he s en en ces in t e S a o u er ria a e e t t j v d t l h v be n as s e an d it is s i n ifican a fiv e Ser s who had n o ar p d , g t th t b p t c emn e in th e mur er a e een on t o ea w erea s the d h v b d d d th , h r ci a n d t he om- w ac a mur e er rin ro er Ca b rrn o vi u l , , , é t d P p b b th , r s of imris n - en en c t o e m on me ere s e . S T were mly t d t p t ) . . R CHAPTE VII .

ON N O M TE EGR .

o n — W m The Coun try of the Black M u tain o en W arriors — n an d F armer— His orica S e c K1 Poe l k h O g , t t — t f on en e ro e ar I . e ro ic e ar M t g P t , P t v P t II . Pro- ussian olic — A o al oe — Ni ola 1 R P y R y P t k .

ALL I have said about Serbia applies equally t o t are t Montenegro . The na ions one and he same : they are identical in every respect and

only geographically divided . Montenegro is the

Serbian advance guard on the Adriatic . It is ’ a of r the e gle s nest Eu ope , the loftiest symbol and e Of freedom independence . Natur herself ' irn re n able has given this people an p g fortress , and placed in their hands the keys of Southern

Slav liberty . From the height of their barren Black Mountains the valiant high - spirited Mon tenegrin has looked down for centuries on the of rise and fall his kinsmen all around him . In all the tragedies that have passed in the shadow hi s r Of eyrie he has played his pa t , both as r who dauntless warrio , and the bard Of freedom from his mountain heights sang the song of the r r The e future to his enslaved b othe s . Mont

the same n - e r a en I war e n g in has alw ys be . tim n 30 1 The Slav Natio n s

of he is a warrior , in times peace a shepherd

armed to the teeth . He is inseparable from

his weapons , but only uses them against his

enemies . Though his aspect is martial and his

glance fierce he bears a kindly, loveable heart . hrs Comparing outward appearance with his soul , one might call hima lion with the heart of a r o dove . A f iend , wh ever he may be , is welcomed

with open arms , and his rough , powerful hand can ’ c be gently aressing as a child s . But an enemy will be crushed by its weight ; for the Monte hates negrin his foe , hates him passionately , on fiercely and implacably , and he is ever the watch for him . Even at tender age the children are decked with weapons and have to learn of the use them under the eyes Of their elders . Sch ab o And the enemy is always the w . The women are just as efficiently trained to arms

as the men , and it has Often happened that the Montenegrin Amazons played a decisive part in warfare ; and , when weapons were scarce , the women rolled mighty rocks from the heights

down upon their enemies . Fighting is a grim to - pleasure the Montenegrin in war time , and of his recreation in times peace . Whoever has travelled in the Montenegrin mountains cannot fail Often to have noticed two goatherds in the midst Han dz ars Of their herds , fencing with their (the sheathless scirn itar Of the Montenegrins) and

- not far Off two goat girls similarly engaged .

The Montenegrin is not a great farmer . The

132 The Slav Nati on s

d R e an their oyal House , lik that of Serbia, has

sprung from the people . Neither country has

ever been ruled by a foreign prince. In Olden times it was the custom that the of al elders the nation , without speci regard t o e the e diplomatic qualifications , should guid fat of r of thei country by the rules ancient custom . adi * Chief among them was the Vl ka , who pos sessed no special privileges as ruler but merely took precedence in virtue Of hi s ecclesiastical e dignity . His ducation was limited to what was r necessa y for his clerical duties, and he knew

- little or nothing Of state craft . The character of a given reign depended mainl y on the prevail wi ing relations th the Turks , and Montenegrin affairs prospered in proportion t o the peaceable e Of or aggressiv attitude these neighbours . A

- d nl n well ordere state , e ighte ment , and education r were luxuries no one desired or requi ed , and the people lived and fought merely for the needs

“

. are l of the day But , although they natural y i the g fted , nation could not develop without an of c art y means edu ation ; and , apart from the of war they were simple and unlettered as al children . Mere adventurers have sever times The taken advantage Of this simplicity . most e was flagrant instanc that Of Stjepan Mali , a who e out t o Russian swindler, gav himself be a scion of the Vojevode family Petrovié and pro claimed himself lord of Montenegro ; Mon ten egro 133

“ Affairs improved when Vl adikas of Cmoje vié family were succeeded by Vladikas of the

i true Petrovié stock in the leadership of the ié . of I. Petrov country The first these , Petar , , was still content to follow in the footsteps of his d Of pre ecessors , and influenced the education his

people only in so far as he himself was cultured . r c His immediate successor Peta II . , Petrovi N e o§ r n the r Of j g , ea ned undyi g fame in histo y

Montenegro .

Petar II . became Vladika and Gospodar Of at Montenegro the age Of seventeen . At the time of his accession he was scarcely more than a

Montenegrin peasant lad , accustomed to dealing

with attacks from the Turks , but otherwise

without education . The young ruler knew nothing whatever Of system or the deeper meaning Of c learning and edu ation , when he took the helm . an d ffi f or Times were troubled di cult , , even in r Monteneg o Opinions were divided . There were several other pretenders— not so much because Of internal dissensions as in consequence of of in diff er foreign intrigue . It was not a matter ence for the neighbouring states whether the u of ri r ler Montenegro was their f end and tool , or whether he was a man of in depen d en t p er s on ality and inclined to follow Montenegrin S tradition in considering Russia . The andjaks of Skutari and Hercegovina (at that time still ’ the Sandjak N ovip az ar) were Montenegro s vulnerable point . For nearly a century Montenegro 134 The Slav Natio n s had already sought ways and means of extending her territory as far as the frontier of modern of Serbia . Moreover , from the days Peter the d e of Great an i ea had xisted that , with the help the Serbs of Old Serbia , and the Serbs and Croats of a Bosnia and Hercegovin , Montenegro should prepare the way for the emancipation of her

r . kind ed from the Turkish yoke Poverty , how e of on ver , lack numbers the part Of Monte l Of 1 negro , and the vaci lations Russ an diplomacy

r . f ustrated these plans , and Vladika Petar I did not feel strong enough to embark on this enter l prise . Petar II . rea ized that , before Montenegro could hope to attempt this task , she would have to strengthen her hands— and those of her brothers awaiting liberation— by a thorough - going pro

Russian policy, which would secure them the he protection Of the Russian Empire . S must also provide her children with the means Of education . He knew well that nothi ng can be done with l d an unlettered people . The ines lai down by him were quite correct . Russian society under stood the Prince ’ s aims and gave him sufficient Of financial assistance for the foundation schools , etc and Russian diplomacy supported him o his str ngly in politics . Petar II . set about his educational mission with devotion and persever own ance , and even found time to complete his ’ studies . When he attained to man s estate he was already famous as one of the finest of the on e n Southern Slav poets , and as Of the patro s of

136 The Slav Nation s

e r m abdicating , and was probably only deterr d f o o f or hi s his purp se by his ardent love people .

‘ For, despite all vexations , he cannot have failed to see that his presence was not useless and that his work and activities were bringing a blessing to his people and laying the foundations of the

future . ‘ r I His nephew and successo , Danilo . , was the di on last Vla ka the Montenegrin throne . He of was far better versed in the arts diplomacy , but his reign will never rival that of his uncle in a importance . He fell a victim to ass ssination in 1 860 at Kotor (Cattaro) and was succeeded by his nephew Nikola I the first secular prince

of Montenegro . r In Nikola I . fate bestowed upon Monteneg o a ruler with a remarkably strong character and

first - al r rate diplomatic t ent . The count y was

re- r f organized f om within , without giving O fence t o any of the sacred traditions of the Monte ’ n e rins ikol a s g . In N foreign policy veritable

masterpieces were achieved from time to time . Without departing from the traditional pro Russian policy Nikola established excellent rela

- tions with all non Slav states , especially with Of O or Austria , and made the utmost use every pp tun ity whereby hi s country and people might f . O r benefit A man g eat personal charm , highly a cultured and refined , Nikola I . has enthusi stic

fri ends and admirers in every part Of the world . The unity of the Southern Slavs is one of his Mon ten egro 137

r u favou ite ideals , and he has labo red unceasingly hi to promote t s cause . His personal relationship to several of the Royal Houses Of Europe made it possible for him to work effectively and win friends for the Slav cause where another might have failed to do so . i What N kola I . has done for Montenegro during the fifty years Of his reign is more or less

n . The of generally k own education the people , which began under Petar II has made splendid - r I. prog ess under Nikola , and to day Montenegro f . a o can . boast large number statesmen , poets , of so ll scholars and men letters for sma a country .

When the Balkan crisis arrived , Nikola , then of r e t o r already King Monteneg o , tru the spi it of his fathers, unhesitatingly and enthusiastically placed himself and his people at the disposal of o Serbia and won glorious victories, in cons quence of which his territories were considerably

l . en arged After the Balkan War, King Nikola surely looked forward t o a time of peace and

hi s . e prosperity . But hopes wer doomed to e a disappointment , for recent events hav c lled r re r n him to an othe and mo impo ta t task. P CHA TER VIII.

THE SOU H N S VS OF THE D MO CHY T ER LA UAL NAR . — — A Homogen eous Peo ple A Militan t Past The Na ion al Bon a e Na leon Bogumili t d g po Ill m A reemen wi Hun ar — n yris g t th g y C ou t - rv Khuen Hede ary . e rea es re resen a i e the So er l Th g t t p t t v Of uth n S avs ’ tr ssma er s en erosi an d c ura — S o y g ty o ge Fall of oun K uen - Hedervar - ea of tr ssm S o a er C t h y D th y . — — False D awn Con feren ce of Fiume Ban Paul auc — on s er rial in Z a re — The R h M t T g b Friedjun g — v — Fran o u il Case Cu aj S p o . lmi s ria arn i la— he li l a a a o T a an eme I , C I E n D t , t t t - e — i Bosnia Herc govin a Conclus on .

THE whole south of the Dual Monarchy is ih

. The Of habited by Slavs Kingdoms Croatia ,

Slavonia , and Dalmatia , with the Duchy of - — s Carniola , Istria , and Bosnia Hercegovina the e , comprising a population of about seven millions , belong almost exclusively to one race . Whereas in all other countries of the Monarchy (especially in Hungary and Bohemia) the different races are

- represented in varying percentages , the non Slav l s popu ation in Croatia , Slavonia , Bo nia and H ercegovina amounts only to about 55 per cent 138

140 The Southern Slav s Of the

m e quite i possibl , and provided German and Magyar propagan da with a more manageable field of Operations . In both spheres unremitting efforts were devoted t o the task of eliminating the Southern Slav element , stifling Slav thought , l and transforming the Slavs into s aves . But the Southern Slav is endowed with unusual tenacity the most zealous efforts on the part Of the Govern e his ment wer frustrated by dogged resistance , and they merely defeated their own ends . German r a lack of culture were

kultu and Magy r ‘ held in equal abomination by the Slav nations upon be n the whom they were to i flicted , and ruth less spoliation to which they were likewise sub

d - jecte engendered a deep seated animosity . The N r r S me o the n lavs , who possess or practical c the o business capa ity than S uthern , did not a to be e llow themselves conomically strangled , an d even contrived to hold their own in this the ma r re S r e espect whe as outhe n Slavs , b ing inly r r an ag icultu al people , found themselves the helpk ss victims of Austrian and Hungarian one of the rapacity . Dalmatia , loveliest spots in e f or the l n Europ , has ast century k own no ’ r x p ivilege e cept that of paying taxes , and Austria s mal - administration Of that country has become S re proverbial . Croatia and lavonia fa little

er e 6 er . bett . They hav to pay 5 p cent Of their t revenues o Hungary . This tax figures under ” the c al r head of ontributions to mutu inte ests , chiefly represented by the railways and the postal ‘ Dual Monarchy 141

The system . net annual income from these 2 o Kr two sources amounts to 5 million . , but of this Croatia never receives a penny "The net profit all goes to Hungary who brazenly employs it to subvention the Magyar prope a Cr The di gand in oatia . con tion of Carniola and Istria is almost as deplorable as that of the Dalmatia , and in Bosnia and Hercegovina Austro- Hungarian Government has for thirty- five years built villages after the pattern of Potem ” edification of r kin , for the foreign jou nalists , to or while the people have been left starve , sink into poverty and ignorance . The numerous foreign“ tourists who have travelled in these ’ beautiful countries have seen nothing of Austria s of the work civilization , as they are kept to a f or beaten tracks speci lly prepared them , and they only see the country like a carefully staged panorama on the films of the Royal and Imperial State Cinematograph "But had these travellers caught a glimpse of the abject misery of the r people , thei pleasure in these beautiful countries e would have been spoilt , and they would hav better understood why the inhabitants are rebel ling against the blessing of Austro- Hun garian rule . It is much easier to understand why the political horizon in the Southern Slav corner of Europe is always clouded if one is given a clearer view of the Chartered ri hts as t o the actual g , opposed osition e the S r a the p , h ld by outhe n Sl vs in 142 The southern Slavs of the

Monarchy ; but this View is n ot usually obtained through the ofli cial chan nels of Vienna and e t di to e all a e charters Budap s Accor ng thes , nci nt of e are cr of er and lib rty so many s aps pap , the t r the actual law merely right of he st ongest . The Hapsburgs did not come as victors with the rights of a conqueror to the Southern Slav prov in ces e ca l of e r . Th y be me ru ers thes count ies in e of e s se e virtu voluntary tr atie , and they them lv s the e r issued manifestos and bulls , in which int g ity and independence of the Southern Slav countries r r e are incontestably gua anteed . Centu ies ago , whil the Hapsburg dynasty was endangered by constant r the wars , and especially du ing Turkish invasion , e e f ul thes guarantees wer faith l y observed . But with the altered conditions of affairs the Southern Slavs had to wage a bitter struggle f or their rights . Of all this group Croatia- Slavonia alone still the ree of retains slightest deg autonomy, while the countries belonging to Austria have been

r of e e of l - dep ived very vestig se f government , and only appear to be distinct dominions in the e r Stat by thei mock Landtags , whose decisions are ; almost invariably disregarded . Croatia n to r Slavo ia, which belongs Hunga y , has to this day at least theoretically maintained her political i e e independence. Croat a was onc mor guaranteed this independence by the agreement between e d 1 th hers lf an Hungary in 868 . When e Haps burg Empire was reconstructed in 1 867 the

144 The Southern Slavs of the

or m h T e whether joint autono ous . important Croatian seaport Fiume was declared a corpus ” adn exae rex separatum , and thus constituted

a joint open port . I shall presently show how e of Hungary kept her sid the bargain .

A Southern Slav patriot has said that no greater misfortune has befallen t he Southern of Slavs, than to pass under the dominion civi li ed to e the z Austria . Had they been obliged shar of r fate thei brothers , the Serbs and Bulgarians , they would certainly have tasted all the misery

of the - l Turkish yoke , but to day they wou d be i e e free , as an ndep ndent Stat with a right to

their own national and intell ectual development . The one thing Turkey has left untouched in the — Serbs and Bulgars t he heart of the people is the very thing that Austria has sought to

destroy in her Southern Slav subjects . Turkish captivity has steeled the hearts of the Slavs she has e oppressed , but Austrian captivity canker d e f them and mad them e fete. In many respect s this pessimistic view is The r e of the r S f or justified . st uggl Southe n lavs e r e national life has pass d th ough many phas s , For and has exhausted itself in many more . . centuries the Southern Slav st ood under the protection of Heaven militan and his motto ” him was For and e f or Faith Fre dom , with faith r e was always first . All his cultu e consist d in Dual Monarchy 145 imaging the Chris t as the Otac i voyskovodya illyrskyh Kralyeva (Father and leader of t he The r armies of the Kings of Illyria) . Holy C oss r of was transformed into a standa d war , and his enthusiasm f or this false ideal led himso f ar

ba tiz ed a - r astray, that the p rch enemy was nea er his own un ba tiz ed to him than p brother, and th r e C hurch dearer to him than his count y . But these traits do not origin ate in the character was of the Southern Slav . He educated into them and impregnated with them from without , and al his e r ways by gr atest enemies , the Ge mans or the Turks . The Germans made a national r u mission of the C usades , and the Turks us ally went to war on religious grounds and called their armies the Hosts of the Prophet . Following the e exampl of the Turks , and imitating the Germans in their appropriation of the Deity , Slav Chris tianity was infected by the fanaticism of the of an d e Church Rome , becam synonymous with

' ’ an d the con dottz erz militancy spirit of the . The r of r hea t the nation g ew vitiated , and the Illyrians e t i callously negl cted heir lovely land , wh ch ought t o e who have been a Garden of Eden . And thos were so liberal with their promises of Heaven of and constantly cried , Thy Kingdom is not this world were well pleased that these things so f or s r should be , they coveted the lo t Empi e of the Southern Slavs for an earthl y paradise of r o thei wn . Unf ortunately this dark page in the history of 146 The Southern Slav s of the

Southern Slavdom foll owed directly upon one of the most brilliant periods in the intellectual of r development Southe n Slav culture. It was a period when the national culture of the Southefin r e of Slavs put fo th som its most vigorous , fairest — an d sanest blossoms the time of the Bogumili beloved of God whose work of enlightenment spread from Bulgaria over the whole of the Slav mili The Bo u re r o e South . g we st ongly opp s d to of the e e the poetic glorification Crusades , b caus they grasped the fact that the extolling oi such an ideal can never open the mind t o heretic culture - the culture based on free choice according to — con scien ce which was eventually to undermine the foundations of the sacrosanct Roman Empire the r a true e and lay fi st solid found tions of cultur . The Bogumili taught that true culture is not e e r spr ad by crusad s , but sp ings from Christian , human contemplation . They deprecated personal of of worship , and replaced it by a worship ideals ,

S of . a d r pirit , and thought Wyclif , Huss n Luthe are always quoted as the foremost apostles of the h eretical cul ture . But in the Hungarian Crusaders h i Bo the Bogur il found bitter enemies . gumilist an d activity in Bosnia Croatia was stifled in blood , t o and the people , who were beginning protest against the lying cult of Caesarism wedded t o of Papistry, were simply butchered in the name th - e Cross . The blood baths on the fields of l Bosnia fi led the people with consternation , but u ili m n Bo ms ot . r could stifle g True , its prog ess

148 The S outhern Slavs of the where Bogumilismcontinued to thrive and

of . flourish , found the way true culture Among these exceptions were Marko Marulié (Marcus Marulus e; ) , a Spalatine nobl whose works were translat ed from the L atin into all the prin cipal u Ill ricus European tong es , and Flavius y , whom , r s one after Luther , Ge many consider of her greatest teachers . In their souls these men were merely Bogumili and nothing more . With of them we may also class John Ragusa , who l ed the whole Council of Bale against the Pope and proposed to negotiate cal mly and justly with the Hussites and Manichees . Just such a r ma St Oss er own man was Bishop y in our day , of a man whom I shall presently speak further . Their liberation from the Crescent put an en d to the period of religious militancy among the

Southern Slav people . The warlike element is perhaps of great historic moment . It certainly fended the Southern Slavs over the abysses of Turkish barbarism to freedom in the Christian of sense the word , but by no means to national the freedom . When Turkish invasion was rolled w the back and the everlasting ars were over , symbol of the sword was exchanged f or that of the plough , and God as God was no longer adorned with weapons , but imaged in a nobler th of eace e . spirit as highest conception p And , e u t o e e as the peopl acc stomed themselves p ac , e e a a and onc mor c me in touch with the soil , r e or r new spi it grew up within th m , ather it " D ual Mo narchy' 149 was the re- awakening of an old spirit that f or a while had been silenced by the clamour of weapons— the spirit of love for the homestead N ' and the community . ationalism stil l slum n ation al bered but , like a guardian angel , the t ue r r r on g watched ove its slumbe s . Th ough storm and stress in spite of travels and inter e w f ore1 n - e r r e cours ith g sp aking me cena i s , this has ai language rem ned pure and unalloyed . This was the seed of the future from which sprang the great awakening ; f or so long as a people r e o prese v s its language it p ssesses a Nationality . er the r Lib ty of conscience , and t ansformation the rr r re the of wa io into a husbandman , we also n the of the eo begin ing of a change in souls p ple , r r which , while g oping its way back towa ds its own e the essential beauty , b gan to feel hidden w hi r e t o rid of Wounds it n , and st ov itself the f u . e e e the canker The old b auti l mod of lif , patriarchal family feeling and the bond of union the ni ere re ore the e in commu ty w st d , and g ntle, mi plaintive elod es echoed once more in farm n d e r and field . A this r generation g ew and expanded until it brought the revelation of al i and the o e nation un on , patriotism , finally l v ' t f or all that belongs o the Slav race.

“ f r ' ully developed . They had found thei soul : N t and knew what they wanted apoleon , 150 The S outhern Slavs of the treated most of the people he conquered without u c e m ch onsideration , was fill d with unusual admiration for the Southern Slavs that came th under his rule . By e peace of Schonbrunn ' er 1 1 80 he or (Octob 4th , 9) acquired Triest , G z , ar of r Carniola , p t Carinthia , Austrian Ist ia , the r e al l Croat seaboa d with Fium , and Croatia s outh of the Save . Napoleon united all these r e wth count i s French Istria , Dalmatia and ” a one i l r Ragus into Prov nce of Il y ia , and thus fot * one short moment fulfilled the dearest wish l of a l the Southern Slavs . Illyria was organized as on e military province divided into six civil provinces ; Maréchal Marmont was appointed Governor and in the name - oi Napoleon carried out r r th sweeping refo ms th oughout e country . Trade and industry were signally improved and

T use of liberties . he German as the official language was abolished in the schools and law courts and Serbo- Croatian introduced in its a place. Speci l attention was devoted t o road mi e u a a the roa s ere k ng and d c tion , and C t w permitted to edit their own newspapers in the Croa e u e ee n ered t tongu , which wo ld hav b n co sid hi t the gh treason under Aus ria . Although French rule was only of short duration (till 1 8 1 7) it did more f or the Southern Slav lands in

. hree years than Austri a did during the cen tury that ol wed the e f lo . But main thing was that this rul aroused the national thought so effectively

152 The Southern Slavs of the

pas sed from their idealistic literary campaign to i more tangible activ ties . By the prohibition of the Illyrian name the motto of the poetic pro “ a an da d of p g was lost , and it became the uty the patriots t o lead their politics into less senti

mental paths , and enter upon a campaign of cold “ f e reasoning in place o poetic s ntiment . This was all the more necessary as the national cause was greatly endangered by several new regula r tions . Following closely upon the p ohibition of the Illyri an name came an order for the introduction of the Magyar tongue in the Croatian

~ law courts . When the Croatian counties pro tested in Vienna that Croatia was privileged t o own choose her official language , and that no one had the right to interfere with this pri

vile e f . g , they met with a brusque rebu f Up to now the Government had hardly dared t o e att mpt the Magyarization of Croatia , but now they decided to enforce it in spite of the newly The awakened national consciousness . Croats ar t o now realized that it was a case of w the knife . The Hungarian Government proclaimed that all countries and nationalities subjected to the f e o e r o . b n c own St Stephen must made people , one e on e e state , and be taught to sp ak languag — in t o short , they were become Magyars . They were determined to break the national resist of ance the Serbs and Croats by force , or pre f erabl rr " e r e y, by co uption In this nte pris Dual Mo narchy 153

A Magyar party was organized in Croatia with a' view to reconciling the people to Magyar demands , but , unfortunately , it consisted chiefly

- _ of adventurers and social riff raft the work of

Magyarization made no progress , but only of further incensed the Southern Slavs . One the consequences of this hatred was that in 1 848 the

Croats and Serbs enthusiastically followed Ban , ellacié the r J in campaign against Hunga y .

After the conclusion of peace between Hungary and the Crown the Croats were rewarded in a truly Austrian fashion f or their assistance in putting down the rebellion : once more they were handed over to the tender mercies of Hungary . This ingratitude roused a perfect tempest of the indignation , but at same time the Southern r Slavs finally learnt their lesson . Hencefo th one they would look for help to no but themselves , and they resolved that the coming struggle must be fought to a finish . The Southern Slav leaders knew very well that nothing could be done by

propaganda , but that their first must be to establish a footing from which they could conduct a constitutional campaign . They formed a strong Nationalist party in i - matin e co D al Croat a , which operated with the and Slovene parties , laid down their programme on r a o a b o d nati nal basis , and organized a cam ai n he p g of passive resistan ce among t people . 154 The Southern Slav s of the Of course the success of these labours was largely due t o the fact that Hungary was weakened by the revolution and inclined to be somewhat on less aggressive . Croatia , the other hand , was

- fresh , strong , and self reliant . Of course the results were not apparent at once , but the agree ’ ment of 1 867 was a consequence of Croatia s united stand . This agreement by no means al l satisfied the aspirations of the Southern Slavs , but it gave them the required footing against of Magyar oligarchy . Upon the conclusion the con stitu agreement , Croatia received her first tion al Ban , who was henceforth to be responsible t o C atia rli me t the ro n P a a n . Unfortunately the King made this appointment upon the recom men dation of Hungary , who saw to it that the

first Ban , Baron Levin Rauch , should be a mere exponent of the Hungarian Government . Contempt of the constitution , and corruption , were the first - fruits of the agreement under

Hungarian influence in Croatia , with the result that all Croatian patriots— including those who had helped to conclude the agreement— passed t over to he Opposition . This Opposition Worked on rigidly constitutional lines , and , as more con stitu radical parties arose , they formed the tionall Con y correct , though barren , Croatian s t tuti n al i o party . Space forbids me to enumerate all the means by which the first constitutional Ban strove t o carry out his orders from Buda pest By suddenly imposing a new election law

156 The S outhern Slavs of the

in the Rakovica di strict . It was put down by s hi s a trong military force , and Kvaternik lost i t l fe . The October manifes o , in conjunction with f the rebellion in Rakovica , a forded Andrassy (then Minister of Foreign Affairs) a pretext for opposing every form of Slavophile policy and ascribing both the manifesto and the rebellion to Russian influence . The policy then inaugurated remains in force t o this day . Brutal Imperialism is rampant in Croatia, and the Agreement has become a ” of e mere scrap paper . But oppression b gets e the opposition , and during th se critical times Southern Slavs found not onl y their greatest 1 88 tyrant but their greatest patriot . From 3 t o 1 903 Count Carl Khuen- Hedervarywas Ban of of Croatia , and the twenty years his administra tion have been the blackest period as regards l n mi ~ o en o o c p itical , and p ersonal thraldom . Countless Magyar schools were scattered thr ough out the country to promote the denationalization of the people ; espionage and Secret Police

flourished as in Darkest Russia . The archives of C r o f the State , with the onstitutional Cha ters v Croatia , Sla onia and Dalmatia , were incorporated i last w th the State archives in Budapest , and , but n ot least the A reenieut itsel was al si ed b , g f f fi y the pasting of a slip of p aper over the specification of F iume as a Corpus separatumadn exaz rex convertin g it into a corpus s eparatum adnexae Hun a m ria re r r g , whe by this impo tant C oatian Dual Monarchy 157

r e a e er seapo t b c m exclusively Hungarian prop ty . But thi s same period also witnessed the labours

~ of the greatest of all Southern Slavs , the bene of factor and father his people , Bishop Josip

Juraj Strossmayer.

— Bishop Strossmayer (1 8 1 5 1 905) was the most

generous benefactor of his people , their greatest of patron science and art , and the very in car o He nation i their political programme . was the first to break down the local artificial barriers — between Serb and Croat the first t o preach the Y ou oslavia gospel of united g . Labouring in a period when all national effort wasmsuppressed in every possible way, when Slav sy pathies were o accounted high treas n , he rose to a position of himto unassailable eminence , which enabled

’ set the mark of his powerful personality like a leitmotive on the whole nineteenth- century history of the Southern Slavs . Born of peasant o “ st ck the and , like all gifted Slav boys , destined for sma r Stros e i church , y began his patriotic activ ty . ll t ul while he was sti a student and you hf priest , Ill st by joining the yri movement . His excep tion al abilities were soon noticed in connection th m with e national move ent , and Vienna and Budapest awoke to the dangerous possibilities a of his personality . Determined to put n end 158 The Southern Slavs of the t o his patriotic labours they appointed him the of court chaplain , and trusted that society the court with all its splendour and gaiety would dazzle the handsome young priest , and wile th f him away from e service o his country . But St rossmayer made a most unexpected and highl y diplomatic use of his position . He brilliantly succeeded in deceiving his surroundin gs as to e his sympathies , and when barely ov r thirty he secured his appointment to the Episcopal See of Djakovo . Hereby he also became Vladika of Bosnia and Syrmia , and shortly afterwards was created governor of the Virovitica district . ’ At this point Strossmayer s life- work for his people began in earnest . Holding a most dis tin uished g position , and with the vast revenues of his bishopric at his disposal , he opened the

flood- of gates his activities , and Vienna and Budapest saw with horror and amazement the St ross a er mistake they had made . my assumed the leadership of the Nationalist party ; and in e the Parliament , where he took his s at in double c of apacity bishop and elected deputy, he showed h m ll i self a bri iant orator, a subtle politician , a n d an astute diplomat . He was the incarnation of a keen , but determined and wise Opposition . He al so became an intellectual leader of his people and accomplished more than anyone else before him . He founded the Southern Slav of Art Academy Science and , which in the very terms of its foundation embodies the intellectual

160 The Southern S lavs of t he

r th requi e strong support from without , and, at e of e risk b ing accused of high treason , he entered l a into friend y rel tions with Russia , which should bring the big and powerful brother of the North nearer t o his down - trodden little brother in di the South . He succeeded in fin ng influential

friends in Russia as in other countries , and his nation is still proud of his friendship with the Tsar

" . Alexander III . , Leo III m, Gladstone , Crispi and Stross a er Gambetta . Before y entered the lists no one in Europe had taken the slightest interest Th in the Southern Slav problem . e slippery diplomacy of Vienna— which is only equalled in — duplicity by that of Turkey had for centuries successfully diverted the attention of Europe

from the Southern Slav peoples in the Monarchy , and the general assumption about them was that

of l - r they were a horde uncivi ized semi barba ians , fed by Austria at great sacrifice an d treated th The by her with e utmost forbearance . spectacles through which Europe viewed these

nations were made in Vienna and Budapest , and one o no t ok the trouble to bring an independent , th unbiassed mind t o bear upon e problem . Many Southern Slav patriots made desperate though vain efforts to bring even a grain of truth before the European public ; a Jesuit Vienna and a Judaized Budapest were t oo strong f or The of the e them . world thought more colourl ss al e and the o e anation Austrian cultur , borr w d pseudo- culture of the Magyars than of the ' f ’ ' Dual Mon archy 161

of S rs culture the lavs , which for a thousand yea has been the spontaneous expression of their national individuality, with a literature worthy of th of Not - e lyre Homer . only Austro Hun a the un ro g rian politics , but age itself was p o pitious to the Southern Slavs . They p ssessed n o importance for the European balance of power and one of of it is the bitterest ironies history , that for a very long time the Southern Slavs fought less for their own advantage than for the h of . t e interests Europe For, even as Southern Slavs were for centuries the bulwark against the e from tid of Ottoman invasion the East , they subsequently became an equally strong bulwark against the rising tide of Germanism towards the of East . With every fibre their being they kept the gate of the East fast closed against either — foe not only for themselves , but in the interests of European civilization . Strossmayer was the first who succeeded in

” re- awakening the interest of Europe in this u str ggle , and , even if his efforts were not crowned with immediate practical success , he at least con trived to cast a doubt on the complacent assur trossma r s S e auces of Vienna and Budape t . y was a a man with a tremendous person lity, and his word was invariably accepted . He was also past — master in the art of n ot s aying too much thus th of avoiding e appearance exaggeration . Even in his world- famous speech in the Council of the a can 1 8 1 un er P us when he o e V ti ( 7 , d i sp k E 162 The Southern Slavs of the in Latin for sixteen consecutive hours against the of doctrine Papal infallibility , he left some things was of unsaid , for he interrupted in the midst of his speech by the Archbishop Paris , who em braced and kissed him , and assured him that what he had already said was amply convincing . ’ Strossmayer s activity was pursued with ruth in an d less enmity Vienna and Budapest , , even as he was the best - loved man among his own

- of people , he was the best hated enemy the

Germans and the Magyars . They tried by every t o possible means minimize his power , and

~ m t o Ro e agitated in the Vatican for his recall . " al But Leo III . was not only the person friend f m o Stross a er of y , but also the friend the Slavs , and Viennese di plomacy failed in its object . en Then followed disgraceful intrigues , and deavours to represent Strossmayer as a traitor .

Among other accusations , it was alleged that he had exchanged incriminating telegrams with the

Tsar , in which he was said to have advocated the detachment of the Southern Slav provinces ’ Stross a er s in from Austria . my reply to these l sinuations was tru y characteristic . Several years after this alleged exchange of telegrams the Emperor Francis Joseph came to Croatia for m r o Stross a e the grand man euvres , and Bishop y was on e of the guests at the great reception w in Belovar, here the Emperor had his head quarters . The Emperor took the opportunity to sharply reprimand the Bishop for his conduct .

164 The Southera lavs of the

- went forward towards their goal . Khuen Heder ’ f or vary s bribery , intimidation , everlasting trials high treason , prison and the gallows , all these had only incited them to further resistance . When , sm Stros a er bowed with age , y finally had to r we the resign his active pa t in politics , saw people whom his spirit had inspired suddenly turn 1 0 upon their oppressors . In 9 3, the whole country

in on e - rose rebellion as man , and Khuen Heder ’ vary s power was broken . Even he had to ’ admi t that hi s twenty years rule of ruthless own oppression had merely defeated its object , that it had united the people whom he had sought t o weaken , and strengthened that which he had hoped t o destroy . ’ ma r to Khuen s Stross e e y lived see r signation , and his last days were cheered by a gleam of — — light which alas proved only illusory shed upon the path of his country ; yet as he closed z had his eyes for ever , he reali ed that he not given ai his all to Croatia in v n , and that the hour was not off e far when his ideals should b come realities . 1 0 He died in 9 5, but his spirit lives on in his people and his memory shines among them like r a guiding sta to point the way .

The popular rising in 1 903 opened new channels for the national struggle i t was also the prelude D ual Mo narchy 165

the m to hardest and bitterest ti e that the Southern Slav people have yet been called upon ’ to face . Khuen s successor was Count Theodore ' Pe acsevic j , n who a Croatian oble , was no great ’ t s sta esman , but at lea t a good administrative of ficial . He gave the dist racted country a t m brief i e of quiet , equitable government and , ’ deserves great credit for abolishing Khuen 5 of system corruption . Meantime the Strongly Nationali st parties i n Croatia had formed a — — block the Serbo- Croat Coaliti on a n d Co un t ’ ' ‘ Pejacsevic: found"it irnpossibl e t o ra1se a pro~

mr . Hungarian ajo ity in Parliament Shortly afterwards the Hungarian Opposition also rose fl t w r w an d i into con ic ith the C o n, the situat on m a r beca e involved both in Hung y and Croatia . The Hungarian Opposition applied t o the Serbtf Croat Coalition for support in their struggle an d promised that , if their party were returned , they ’ would grant all Croatia s demands as embodied r 1 86 in the Ag eement of 7 . Negotiations were carried on by Francis Kossuth and Geza Polonyi f Fran b Su il o on behal of Hungary , and by p as

e - n delegat of the SerboCroat Coalitio , These r negotiations resulted in t he ' Resolutiort of Fiume i t olitiCal (October , wh ch s ipulated for the p co- operation between the Hungarian and Serbo o advan Cr at parties , and secured considerable he tages t o Croatia in the event of success . T Resolution of Fiume was inevery way a master e ” piec of policy and diplomacy , and was in all 166 The So uthern Slavs of t he

of Su ilo its details the achievement Frano p , who was the popul ar leader in Croatia at the time . In the election of 1 905 the Coalition won a one brilliant victory . Not Government candi e dat was returned , and the small Opposition ” consisted of partizans of Ante Staréevic s one - time

idealist , patriotic constitutionalist party, which e however, since his death , had pass d under the

control of Jewish solicitors , and was so com

- t mitted t o a purely Austrian Christian Socialis Hun a ri a poli cy As t he g n Opposition had like

wise scored a victory , the Croatian Cabinet was composed of representatives of the Serbo- Croat P e acsevié Coalition , with Count j retained in t office as u conditio sine qua non . Croatia enjoyed a short respite and began to look forward

to better times . But her hopes were once more erfidious doomed t o disappointment . The p

Magyars once more failed to keep their word . So long as they n eeded the Serbs and Croats they of l were full love and brother iness , but when

they had gained their point , they discarded the f hi o . mask false friends p Francis Kossuth , having become Handelsminister (Minister of 1 0 Trade) in the Hungarian Cabinet in 9 7 , intro duced a bill on the control of the Railways which was the most flagrant and outrageous infringement of the Agreement as yet attempted . It provided that thenceforth the language used on the

- railway system , even in Croatian territory , was t o Hun arian be g , although it had been specially

168 The Southern Slavs o f the

f or our e showers of stones . It speaks well his c ag i that he was not affected by th s reception , and even introduced himself t o the Parliament with

. great pomp . His reception in Parliament was on e r of g eat demonstration hostility , so that he

n ot a - e could even read the , Roy l H

i . hi s f had to fly the build ng with Ministerial sta f , and Parliament was officially dissolved the same e day . Baron Rauch form d a Government party of r i a , ‘ venal upsta ts and d scredited ch racters secured the support of the n ow thoroughly i li demoral zed constitutiona st party , and Ever thin e ordered a new election . y g was don i to intim date the electorate , with the result that ’ n ot e of di on Rauch s can dates was returned .

This Parliament . was dissolved without even Ran ch having been summoned , and embarked on a reign of terror which can only be compared t o the that of Germany in Cameroons . He organized the J ewish~ const itution alist party into bands which went by the name of the Black

. r was Hand Thei motto For the Emperor , ” f or r and Croatia , and their weapons were murde c to use and assault , whi h they were allowed with r e impunity against thei Opponents . At the sam time an organized judi cial persecution of the on hi Serbs was set foot . But even t s tyranny could not break the national resistance.

At this juncture a n ew contingency arose . was a to The Monarchy prep ring . annex Bosnia r e a s e and He c govin , and a uitabl pretext had to Dual Mo n archy 169

o be f und . The Government accordingly invented Greater Serbian a itati on The the g . heroic struggle of the Serbo- Croat Coalition was rept e sented as being the outcome of a Greater Serbian agitation , and Baron Rauch was commissioned to unmask this widespread criminal con ”

. of 1 08 z spiracy In the summer 9 , to the ama e of the e ment and consternation people , larg

of - numbers Serbs , chiefly priests , school masters

' an d busin ess ofli cial men , were arrested , and the r Press triumphantly announced that a ho rible , widespread and highly treasonable propaganda had been discovered "The preliminary investi ations - rd 1 0 g lasted a long time , and March 3 , 9 9 , saw the opening of the proceedings against the ” traitors who had conspired with Serbia f or t he detachment of all the Slavonic South from th the Monarchy , The trial lasted till October s , when all the accused parties received very heavy

sentences . Immediately afterwards the Austrian Fried un historian Dr . Heinrich j g stated in the Neue F reie P resse r of Viennese , that the leade s the Serbo- Croat Coalition were also implicated r Su il o in this conspi acy, especially Frano p , ’ Gr a s Boi idar Vinkovic g Tu kan and , and that his accusation was founded on documentary

- evidence . Hereupon the whole Serbo Croat Fried un Coalition took proceedings against Dr . j g The of hi for libel . result t s case , which was

in e r . fought Vi nna , caused a Eu opean sensation It was conclusively proved that all the documentary 3‘ 170 The So uthern Slavs of the

ce a ain st the Coalition both in the Z a reb eviden g , g en ese trials had been or ed b order an d the Vi n , f g y Baron Aehrenthal the Min ister or F orei n of , f g A airs an d Count F or ach the Austrian Arn fi , g , r de Fried un m bassador in Belg a . j g hi self con fessed as much in court . The consequence of ex ose this unparalleled p was , that the King Emperor had to rescind the sentences already * passed in the Zagreb trial . Meantime , however , the desired object had been gained , and Bosnia Hercegovina was annexed contrary to the will of all the Slavs .

But , with scandalous details incidental to ’ the annexation , Baron Rauch s mission had been h ’ brilliantly fulfilled . Soon afterwards Kossut s perfidi ous Government was turned out and ’ Croatia s old oppressor , Count Khuen Heder vary , became Premier . Khuen , however , was a c personal enemy of Rauch , and oc asioned his msi To a recall . In his place Nikolaus von é was appointed Ban of Croatia— a most eminent

- and highly respected Croatian scholar , but

politically a satellite of Khuen . He did his

best to restore order , and to this end negotiated

- u ilo with the Serbo Croat Coalition . Frano S p

protested most emphatically against this . He had already had exhaustive experience of Magyar erfid p y, and had no desire to see his people once th again walk into the trap . But e Coalition

’ This tri al has been d es cribed at len gth in Seton W atson s a mi ra e o o The Sou la thern S v ues tion d bl b k , Q .

172 The Southern Slavs o f the

- to conciliate the Croats . The effete Serbo Croat e th Coalition was once mor cajoled , and, for e third time , it entered into a disastrous compact n with Hungary . This time o e of the couse quences was the expropriation of the Croatian

- . f a d o r . se boar in favour Hunga y Moreover , the present crisis found the Coalition helplessly committed to the Government .

the people had stood rm . The dire ‘ But fi suf ferings of recent years have begotten a new and healthy movement , which includes the entire youth of Croatia . The younger generation has lost faith in political parties , and begun to go its own way al ong the path which leads r r away from Hunga y and away f om Austria , t o back union with their scattered kindred . aimthe l of r a Their is estab ishment a g e t , free an d independent Southern Slav State . At the head of this younger generation stands a man f s — u o magnetic per onality Frano S pil o .

The Southern Slavs in Dalmat1a Carniola and Istria fared little better than then; brothers in

Croatia and Slavonia . I have already alluded of t o the economic neglect Dalmatia . In o G r se p litics , e manization was practi d in much s e as r in the am way Magya ization Croatia . ; Dual Mo n archy 173 Dalmatia unfortunately does not enjoy inde en den ce on p , even paper , and thus her oppression u could wear a perfectly constitutional g ise . The ” of r Dalmatian Sabor, like that Ist ia and Carniola , is an assembly quite at the mercy of V the iceroy for the time being , who would never of dream convoking it , unless he had made quite sure that no inconvenient resolutions would be Sab ors passed . As a rule these enjoy pro of longed periods rest , and the people are only represented by their delegates in the Viennese Reichst rat ai . There these delegates cert nly make a brave fight , but they are too few, and their voice is drowned by the huge German o the majority . Because of this and also thr ugh of fault the Slovene Roman Catholic party , i Carniola has become strongly German zed , especially as regards the administration of the schools . But the Dalmatians and Istrians are a sturdy , progressive people , Slav to the back al l bone , and attempts at Germanizing them have proved as futile as the beating of waves B upon the shore . eside the German danger , this people al so has the Italian danger t o contend For u with . opportunist reasons the A strian Government has always favoured the Italian ' i 2 . n element (4 per cent . in Istria and per cent

Dalmatia) and granted them concessions , which have given rise to the most absurd anomalies . For ‘ instance , the election law in Istria is so t 6 er : framed , tha 9 p cent Slovenes and Croats 174 The S outhern Slav s of the

to send fewer delegates Vienna than 4 per cent .

Italians . The same injustice prevails in the ri Pa sh Council election law , but in spite of this li the Ita ans would never secure their majority , if special Government regulations did not compel all ofli cial s and State employees to vote Italian . If to- day Italy i s apparen tly able to claima sphere e est in Ist ia this is the outcome o a ch n ce o i n t r r a f , f state o a airs arbitraril created b the Austrian f fi , y y

e n ment. Gov r As an instance of this policy , I will state that shortly before the outbreak of the war the Government seriously contemplated the foundation of an Italian University for a population of souls , while strenuously opposing the foundation of a Slovene Uni versity for Slovenes and Croats in Carniola and Istria . Of course this al policy made the It ians aggressive , and they continued to extend their sphere of interest u l uarn ero nti it actually included the Q Islands , although these islands do not possess on e single these ver i slan ds are the Italian inhabitant , and y most s acred ossess ion o s the S ther Sl av p f ou n . THEY ARE THE ONLY SPOT IN SLAV TERRITORY W HERE THE OL D SLAV TONGUE IS STILL SPOKEN BY THE O PE PLE . This fact is amply borne out of by publications the Southern Slav Academy, of and also the Russian Academy , which sends its scholars year by year to these islands to study t he the language . In province of D al matia the populace have themselves dismissed the Italian

176 The Southern Slavs of the it has been purely inr self- defence and for fear of having to pay with their national existence d mi an of f or the amity ad ration centuries .

Nowadays , the Italians themselves admit that Dalmatia and Istria are indigenously pure Slav ru countries . Probably the present st ggle has ’ also revealed t o them the true value of Austria s favours . r n In Bosnia and He cegovi a , Austria pursued of th the same heartless policy . Out e three religions of on e people she made three nation alities , and then fostered dissensions between

- . e al them . Her policy was esp ci ly bitter against the the Serbs , who are in the majority and also more highl yr educated element of the population and therefore more able to give effective support t o of r n t the just claims Serbia . Aust ia was o in the least interested in the prosperity of the country, and merely created an intolerable chaos by her political intrigue in a lan d that had al ready f e of su fered b yond endurance . Her evidences civilization exhibited before Europe were pure - humbug , and the annexation of Bosnia Herce govin a - one of the most flagrant acts of injustice ever perpetrated on a nation ; If the present war is decided in favour of the — Allies and this is the prayer of all the Slavs it will become necessary to settle the Southern

. can l Slav problem once and for all _ This on y be done satisfactorily by respecting the principle o ' e a n f of nati nality, and by a just d limit tio o the Dual M on archy 177

r . i rr r va ious national zones In d sputed te ito ies , uarn ero such as Istria or the Q Islands , a refer endumought to decide .

The Slavs have been tortured long enough . For centuries they have guarded European of Ottoman Islam civilization against the inroads , which has always been synonymous with bigotry , be con barbarism and sloth , and should never Arab Is amr Hi d sl l o n u I amt o founded with , , the of whom whole world science , art and i ph losophy is eternally indebted . Austria and are of Prussia the natural heirs Ottoman Islam , and the Southern Slavs have made a heroic stand

ai - P russi an Islam ag nst this latter day .

Civilization owes them a debt of honour , and it is only their due that Europe should give them justice . EP IL OGUE .

R ED A BU I TRE SURES .

BY D IMITRI MITRINOVIC. J '

EAKING SP generally, the Southern Slavs are

- divided into Slovenes , Serbo Croats , and Bul arian s g , but of these three branches only the

~ Slovenes and Serb o Croat s are racially identical . of In speaking a political Southern Slav State , a state which would in the future dominate the whole of al the B kan Peninsula , it would be wrong not to include the Bulgarian nation . How

- ever, the Serbo Croats form the principal cultural

unit among the Southern Slavs , and after them

- come the Slovenes . The nucleus , the life giving element of the Southern Slav family and its culture , is formed by the Southern Slavs of Serbia ,

Old Serbia , Montenegro , Bosnia , Hercegovina , a Croatia , Dalmatia and Serbi n Hungary , or , to give them their collective name , by the Serbo — . r Croats The Se bo Croats , and more especially the Serbians proper (Serbians of Old Serbia and ~ Serbia) , have always led the vanguard of Serbo Croatian political life the two greatest cul tural of e achievements the Southern Slav rac , to wit , 178

1 0 8 The Slav Nation s

' A universal conflagration and a breakin g- up of the old d thi r or er of ngs was necessa y , ere Europe learned to value millions of human beings more of o highly than the principle a bygone generati n , ld or the pathos of o age . In the future we may hope to see a just Europe which will not look n upon the Serbia s as a nation of regicides , but as a people revolting against secret treaties with r v the Hapsbu gs , and upon the Southern Sla s , not f m re us as traitors , but as a democratic people g f . o to be destroyed When the Slovenes Istria ,

Carniola , Styria , and Carinthia , together with

- the Serbo Croats , form a strong , prosperous and a r l be free , though sm ll State , thei culture wil t o l developed the fu l , crowning and unifying

Southern Slav life . of This growing civilization Greater Serbia , i Y ou oslavia wh ch may be called g , will gather up the scattered threads of the history of Serbian l art in the past . We shal then no longer speak ” ” of d Slovene painting , Croatian rama , Old

- Serbian tapestry , Serbian folk lore . The literature of on e and the same people will cease " ” to be broken up into f Literature in Ragusa , m ” Bos Dal atian Island and Coast Literature , ” ” r nian , C oatian , and Serbian literature . l ‘ All this , together with the national ife to the

' totalit o the Southern Slav State , will form the y f n ati n : o . The two zones of culture the Western European zone of the Croats and Slovenes, and the Eastern- Byzantinezone of the Serbians Buried Treasures 181

e : the thre religions Orthodox , Catholic and Mussulrn an ; the two forms of script : the Latin of li the Croats , and the Cyril c of . the Serbians ; all f of these , as well as a few di ferences speech , will onl y add to the wealth and originality of Southern hi Slav culture . When t s Greater Serbia or Y ougoslavia shall stand for the third great civiliza r tion of the Balkans (the fi st was Hellenic , the

. Southem second Byzantine) , the Slavs will become a new factor in European civilization the and politics , and great art of Serbian national the of Y ou oslav poetry, and work the g artist , ' ’ Mes t rovic l . , wi l no longer be buried treasures

Serbian music , literature and science , although e they hav existed and still exist , will only then

be known and recognized .

It has been the fate of the Southern Slavs to fulfil a mission in European history Serbia and the Serbo-Croat race constituted a bulwark f or Europe and Christianity against the invasion of r r Turkish barbarians and Islam . The ma ty dom of f or the Southern Slavs lasted centuries , it was a most humiliating thraldom to the barbarous of Mongolism the Ottoman Turks , and a hard , f incessant fight for the dignity o humanity . It was a period of indescribable suf fering from the of one of the barbarities a lower race , hardest

struggles f or existence the world has known . It was impossible to continue or to realizethe plans 182 The Slav Natio n s

i ’ Al l of the great Neman j c: rul ers . attempts at union between the peoples of Croatia and Bosnia were fruitless n ever in thehistory of Eurape has a r s o man centuries in suc n ation lived f o y h terrible p olitical imp oten ce an d disuni on as the Serbo ati n Croat an d Sl ovene n o . Italy at the time of the Renaissance , and Germany before the liberation , were , in comparison with the Southern

- Slavs , in a well organized and healthy condition . Thus it has come about that we have no of l Serbian history art , on y various provincial — histories Old Serbian , Macedonian , Dalmatian , of Bosnian , History Serbian art in Hungary ,

Slovene and New Serbian . The bitter enmity of Austria- Hungary towards al Serbia , which deepened steadily, and fin ly di of n became the rect cause the Europea War , began with the Russophile and Southern Slav trend of Serbian policy after the series of Southern e Slav Congresses , which took plac in Belgrade at

the time of the coronation of King Peter in 1 904 . ’ humili Serbia s new policy, after the suicidal and ’ ating pro- Austrian policy of the Obren ovic dynas ty

e raci al olic - had b en abolished , was a p y, pro Russian , ro- e p Bulgarian and democratic , which r stored the l the stabi ity and order of State , and led to the i a foundation of the Balkan Alliance in 1 9 1 2 . Serb re er ns e re gen ated , sought to co olidat a scatte d , provincial culture into on e great culture of a

or of . For Greater Serbia , all the Southern Slavs this reas on it has only quite recently become

4 18 The Slav Nation s

hi mn o Kossovo we f among these ac eve e ts , may fairly claim t o have contributed to the greatest of possessions human culture for all time . The life - work of the Serbian Monarchs of the ma ié Ne n j dynasty , who aimed at the inclusion of Serbia within the zone of the then- civilized

' o f ulfilm of e f ent owin nations Europ , failed its , g t o the fall of the Serbian Empire before the

The - e e of Turks . Serbo Byzantin architectur the convents and churches which abound in e f of Mac donia and Serbia, a fords admirable proof the results of this work , the most important examples being Studenitz a Decani and Graéan ica A few years later culture e r mad g eat strides in Dalmatia , but it was

not a spontaneous , national growth , but rather f Slaviciz ed the of spring of Latin culture , and savoured more of Venice and the Renaissance of than Dalmatia and the Southern Slavs . r Fu thermore , the artists , scientists , philosophers and writers of Dalmatia went to Italy and were

- to . lost their nation The poor , down trodden , uncivilized Southern Slav countries could n ot r provide thei artists with a livelihood . The e s r celebrat d mathematician , philo ophe and a r R BOSkovié to R P st onomer , oger , went ome , aris , a and London ; Nikolo Tom sso , a Serbian from i Seven co . , founded the Italian literary language ’ uli e L ovranic: e J j (Laurana) , an minent architect of e a r i and his tim , was Serbian f om Dalmat a , , at one time the teacher of Bramante ; and Franj o Buried Treasures 185

L a of uli e e r auran , of Palermo , a kinsman J j , a ned a high place in the history of art through his scul pture ; he was especially celebrated for hi s mbeautiful female portrait busts . In like manner any Serbians found their way to other countries . ’ r Krii anic For instance , Pete , a Croatian , was the first Pan - Slavist ; he was exiled to Siberia for his schemes of reform and European mpropa To ganda in Russia . this day the Dal atian ’ ships captains are not the onl y representatives of that country all the world over , but great scientists ' and inventors like Pupin and Nikola

Tesla . Whenever a part of Serbian t erritory became or independent , even for a short time found

tolerable conditions , an intense creative culture u e of the grew p swiftly , ven after the fall Empire

and during the time of slavery . For generations the of greater part the Serbians have lived , and r i still live , in slave y . The Serbians under Turk sh e a o an d the rul were liberated only two years g , liberation Of the Slavs of the Hapsburg Monarchy e th is only just beginning . In accordanc with e changes in the political fate of the Southern of the Slavs , and as the material conditions r of people ,grew bette or worse , the centres Slav

literature moved from place to place . This unfortunate disorganization and consequent im potence were the bane of Serbian or Southern Slav e r e f literatur . Ragusan literatu e the literatur o the m its a its Dal atian coast and isl nds , with 186 The Slav Natio n s

of original creations , and many fine translations — the Greek drama Homer , Virgil and Horace ,

Dante , Petrarch , Boccaccio , Tasso , Ariosto none of these counted in the later development Of literature in Croatia , Serbian Hungary , Bosnia or . Serbia As things now stand , Slovenian literature bears n o recognized relation t o Serbo i i r Croat l terature , wh ch has to a ce tain extent

. r become unified The great Croatian poets , Pete ’ ’ Preradovié Mai uran ic Silvi Kran éevi c , Ivan , and je j are scarcely read in Serbia , owing to bitter political disagreements and the Austrian divide - m et i era p policy . For this reason , too , the Croatians scarcely knowthe greatest Southern ’ Slav poets such as the Montenegrin Petar Petrovic N e OS or the z a j g , Serbian from Hungary , La r ’ c i Kosti . The historian and philosopher Bo a Kn ii ew c and the metaphysician Branislav Pet ronijev1c are scarcely known in Bosnia owing to their being Serbians from Serbia , that is to

- say , from anti Austrian Serbia . Thus it is scarcely surprising that Southern Slav culture is unknown in Europe , when it is practically ’ Y ou oslavia Meét rovic unknown even in g ; when , the of Y ou oslavia immortal artist g , the architect and sculptor of the Serbian Acropolis , is unknown the to his own countrymen beyond frontier.

At present the nation is fighting for its very ife . . l Inte rmsi e t mumn r a a l n a d a a , when n tion has

188 The Slav Natio n s

odil the historian N o . At the time of Carducci _ r and Swinbu ne Bosnia possessed a typical poet , ’ Silvi e Kran éevic e j j , and at the present tim Serbia has in Borislav St ankovi a novelist w e A r ff orthy to rank with L onid n d ee . In Yougoslavia there are to- day splendidly edited revi ews particularly good theatres and opera 1m h at t e a o (as for stance Opera Z greb) , and go d univers ities with distinguished professors and n the r scie tific men . Assuredly Southe n Slavs ar mh h n e not to bla e if t e whole world as see this gifted and important nation through the of the o hi spectacles Viennese Press , a nati n w ch is worth more to thehuman race than the whole of a - orwas the out the Hapsburg dyn st , until y_

‘ f ar r o e w . . . In all thei the pres nt r o rt n p ve y and slavery , and without the help eve of l Serbia , they undertook a campaign of en ighten art exhibi ment in the European Press , organized e tions , and by concerts , l ctures , and translations made known their art and literature to the world . English literature has greatly influenced Serbo Croat literature ; and not only Shakespeare; o Dickens , Byron and Shelley are translated int n e Serbia , but , Buckle , and Draper hav “ Carlyle also exercised great influence upon Serbian culture ; and the most modern literature of Britain has found Worthy translators and admirers; of Swinf The poems Rossetti , Browning, Keats , e of burn and Walt Whitman , the novels Wells , and the plays of Bernard Shaw have been trans ‘ Buried Treasures 189

th . e u r e lated into beautiful tong e of the , Belg ad ” regicides .

To resume , it is not surprising that Western Europeans do not know Southern Slav civili z ation of , when many rich fields this culture stil remain buried treasures to the Southern

- Slavs themselves . The Serbo Croat and Slovene Gun dulié Ran in a Palm otié poets , such as , j , and ’ G or ic al j gj from Ragusa and D matia , compare favourably with the exponents of Western litera

- ture , and among modern Serbo Croat poets ’ ’ r c: N e os c: Silvi e Peta Petrovi j g , Lazar Kosti and j Kran éevié e j are great , ven when compared with the r g eatest . Yet it is not so much the artists e n ation and th ir individual works, but the , and the collective artistic worth of the n ational spirit h f t at is of priceless value . The music o the

e l . of Southern Slavs , more special y the music Old

Serbia and Bosnia , possesses great melodic beauty a d and emotional depth , n when it finds its modern exponent it will take its proper place in the history of music . This great art of the Serbian o nation however, is not nly absolutely unknown of to Europe and the rest the world , but even al n in Serbia, though universally know , it is cultivated little or not at all . The Serbian State , which Since its re- birth under Karagjorgje Petrowc has waged continual war for the liberty and n ~ the r not u ion of Southe n Slavs , could 190 The Slav Natio n s

devote itself to music , art and beauty and that part of the nation which remains under the yoke of the Ottoman Turks and the Hapsburgs felt

still less inclined to do so . The priceless treasures of popular song have not yet been artistically

exploited . Thus their own creation is a buried

treasure to the Southern Slavs ; in a sense , one

may even say, that there is no Serbian music . Europeans cannot value this beautiful and noble music because they do not know it ; neither can they value the national textil e art of Old Serbia , Dalmatia and Croatia , since it is F or e equally unknown . three consecutive y ars the Serbian Government has had t o arm the

State , and has had neither time nor money to turn the Southern Slav textile art into a modern industry .

- What the Serbo Croats and Slovenes , and even the of Bulgarians , do cultivate , and are proud ,

- al is the Southern Slav or Serbian nation poetry , the ballads and legends which the people have invented and sung durin g centuries of slavery . oe the e the G the , gr at citizen of universe , and the first to predict the foundation of a modern l universa literature , assigned Serbian national poetry a very high place among the literatures of the world , and many of the poems have already * been translated into different languages . Meétrovié To understand Ivan , the creator of

Vol . vi . S u ar 1 8 . , t ttg t , 74

92 1 The Slav Nation s

poetry and a moral in art . Without fear we may say that Serbian ethics are the most wonderful the in history of humanity . If it may be said of any nation that it is great and noble , it may of be said the Southern Slavs . Europe does not realize the monstrous injustice she has done these

’ barbarous peoples . They are rather a heroic

and mythical than a barbaric people . It is only Austria- Hungary who regards them as a nation of anarchists and regicides . What is the Serbian spirit P It has been twice e . Mes manif sted Once through a man , Ivan ' trovic , the prophet of the Slav Balkans , and again r th ough the whole nation , in the thousands of

- legends , fairy tales , ballads and songs which have been collected by Vuk Stef an ovié The of occupation Bosnia , then the national the catastrophe of annexation of Bosnia , and finally the Balkan War have already become own the subjects of poetry , and our time will see the latest and greatest war of the Southern Slavs sung in all its heroic reality .

Amon g En glish tran slations of Serbian po etry should be men ion e on e by Bowri n g ( 1 8 2 6 ) an d a by Ma ame t d “ th t d n Mi at ovi Koss o o Ser ian a ion a Son lo ie aw o é v , l E d L t j , b N t g of e mire on on s is er a ou the Fa th I b t ll E p ( L d , b t , The mos recen En glis e i ion of Serbian poe ry is en i le t t h d t ” t t t d r a es an d en s of er ia Voisl av P etrovié He o T l L eg d S b , by L on on ( d ,

n eat Britai n b W man Gr Sons Ltd London and Readi ng. Printed i Gr y y