| Show HAS RUSSIA A DESTINY the role now played by th the russian people people in the affairs of the world is exceedingly remarkable readers of the press dispatches cannot fall to notice the anxiety with which all eyes in the old world are directed toward st petersburg even the british lion roars with less confidence when the bear lifts his heed head what Is the destiny of russia what Is the mission of the lc r race ace in the corid if an educated russian were to answer these questions he would say that in his view the latin and teutonic jc nations have had bad their day dav and have failed to establish a civilization adequate quate to the needs of manki mankind 09 he would admit that they have haire accomplished great things in literature art science and the development of wealth wearth but would assert that the exaltation of material interests above the he spiritual ones is a source of human misery he would state further that the mission of his people is to regulate the world and establish a universal brotherhood this Is said to be the dream of the millions who obey implicitly the man mandates of the czar they believe in their ruler as they do db in their god and they look forward to a day aven all the world will be under Sal lc control this is only another way of stating that the advent of the slav seems to imply the revival of the conflict between the old and new principles between despotism and democracy mo cracy superstition and reason it is true enough that western civilization has made much progress in russia but those acquainted with conditions there notice that even the educated classes remain first of all slavs slave they may profess hostility to the ei existing fisting government if they dare to speak at all on the subject but at heart they believe in the mission of their deop people le they may profess to be atheists but their e are very ry mash the same as those of the common were they called upon to face the world for the furtherance of their supposed national mission they would do so with the enthusiasm of the ancient crusaders the entire history of russia seems to favor the supposition that she at some future time has a destiny to fulfill from a small beginning she has risen to unparalleled power what at first wa sonly the consolidation of some insignificant barbarous hordes has become an empire of gigantic dimensions almost every year adds new strength to her powerful arm new wealth to her vast resources other nations have grown to maturity decayed and away within the period of her history but russia remains still growing that this is for a purpose no believer in s providence can doubt opinions may be divided as to whether the slavonic civilization ultimately will result to in calamity to the cause of civilization and liberty but it Is certain that should at any time an alexander or a na mil ascend the throne of the exam he would have at his command all atis means of spreading devastation over the european continent i |
