SLAV AGAINST TEUTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144145, 15 July 1913, Page 7

SLAV AGAINST TEUTON.

The upheaval of Slavic patriotism and a racial spirit of unification has set tho beacon fires ablaze from Tzernagora to the Ural Mountains. Tho Germans saw this -when Nicholas of Montenegro defied Austria and Ferdinand of Bulgaria threw his sword in to tho scale when his claims upon conquered Turkey were being weighed by the Powers. A now war fund was immediately proposed by tho German Chancellor and tho whole country was set on the qui vivo. How powerful this Slavic movement is and what a new impulse it has received from the Balkan victories may bo judged from what tho St. Petersburg, correspondent of the Daily Telegraph (London) says in describing a Slav demonstration of a recent date. We read of tho scones in tho Russian capital: “It was the first time in Russian history that tho authorities swerved from the written and unwritten law and allowed a national manifestation to be organised systematically and legalised it in advance. They thus contributed to summon from the vast depths of popular passion unruly spirits which they may be unable to control by law. “Scores of thousands of representative men of all classes, particularly the military, generals, and officers, members of the Duma, and of tho Council of the Empire, dignitaries, professors, students lawyers, doctors, and engineers, swelled the ranks of tho opponents of the Government. The manifestation ended with tho expression of deadly opposition to friendship or conciliation toward Austria and to a policy which alone can ward off a European war.”

The enthusiasm extends far beyond tho streets of St. Petersburg, we aro told. The execration of the people is directed against Austria, whose policy is hostile to tho Balkan Slavs. To quote further: “The country is ablaze with excitement. The minds of the politicians of every colour, including the Constitutional Democrats, aro forced to consider tho tormenting problem of tho Slav against the German, to which in ordinary times hardly one in a thousand would pay even passing attention. The tide of popular passion is rising and may at any moment annihilate the paper harriers 'sot against it fay men wlio, though well meaning and straightforward and loyal, aro not born to rule a storm or ride a whirlwind. There is no sustaining genius on tho side of peace. “Tho root of tho movement is twofold—namely, sympathy with their Slav brethren abroad and a desire for a radical, perhaps a revolutionary, change at home. Tho latter clement may be largely unconscious, but it is operative. This compound movement, wliieh may ho termed anti-Austrian for shortness, is fast possessing itself of a force which without exaggeration may bo called dangerous.”

Tho pan-Slavs of Russia aro in full sympathy with their brethren of tho Balkans. They would drive Austria out of tho Slavic. provinces and institute war to the knife with Teuton usurpation or intimidation. Yet they also are partly actuated by tho idea that the movement they are instituting may bring about great changes in Russia, too, and the same thought strengthens the determination of the Government to stand firm.

“With tho victories of tho noo-Slavs tho almost potent influences of tho discontented classes and individuals are acquiring fresh confidence and fateful intensity. The most weighty consideration that now militates on the Government side and militates for' European peace is the growing conviction among tho Monarchists that if the Ministers once allow tho reins of power to slip from their hands, as they aro now on tho point of doing, eager demagogues may snatch them up who would be more intent on domestic changes of a subversive character than upon succoring King Nicholas or winning Scutari for Montenegro.”