“Struggle, Struggle continually, Struggle to the end.”

 

The learned Hilferding, to whom Russia is indebted for his elucidation of the Russian Epos was one of the friends of Khomiakoff, the Aksakoffs, the Kiréeffs, and all the Moscow Orthodox and Slavophil circle. Hartvig was one of the friends of my brother Alexander Kiréeff (a keen Slavophil at a time when Slavophilism was still under persecution). This diplomat also stood firmly as a guard of Slav interests, especially Serbia’s, as he foresaw her heroism, at a time when his Department as is well known, was not distinguished by any partiality towards the Slav world.

The never-to-be-forgotten Baron Boodberg (of the Committee of Petitions) rendered great service and protection to the Orthodox Russians. His name is always uttered with affection and gratitude by all who knew him closely. And Orest Muller, the indefatigable Slavophil, A. Beyer (the Academician) who opened our eyes to Russia’s enormous wealth in fisheries, and Vostokoff, whose name originally was Ostesken, a fact which fortunately did not at all prevent him from becoming one of the founders of Slavonic Philology. And Theodore Petrovitch Haaz, whom the nation called “The Holy Doctor.” It seems to me that we ought to bear in mind the contributions to Russian life made by these and other similar collaborators with German surnames, though Russian in spirit, before we condemn them and their work collectively, too hastily. To do so would be not only senseless but also unjust, and in all fairness it is absolutely necessary not to think of it, especially as we live in a Christian world.

One day coming across the names of the so-called “Arch-Enemies of Russia,” I found among them people, neighbours of mine, who had become quite Russified. Some of them can scarcely understand German. Many of their sons have already laid down their lives on behalf of their Country side by side with Russian warriors. Yes, and it is a sin to forget combatants like Totleben, and several others of my friends, who completely merged themselves with Russia in their steadfast desire to do her service, not in words but in very deed. This union must of necessity manifest itself in a tenacious co-operation for her prosperity, and her advantage, both moral and material—in a word, her great future. Russia on her part has already shewn more than once that she is not Austria, amazing the world by her ingratitude.

But let us turn to the German “Neymetz.” The study for example, of Leibnitz, or Emmanuel Kant, or Göethe, or Schiller, in the original, is as beneficial for us as it is to make acquaintance with the music of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, or Bach. One could hardly call a man well educated who was ignorant of such great names and their creations.

This reminds me how once the well-known Professor of the University of Oxford, Max Müller, at whose house I was staying, perplexed me. The conversation turned on the necessity of learning the Latin and Greek languages. “This is not sufficient,” exclaimed the master of the house, “Can you then really call a man completely well-educated who has not also studied the Sanscrit language, and Sanscrit literature?

Is not this then evident?

But, Alas! the Germany of the time of these great people seems to have ceased to exist since the year 1871, as if by a sudden command of the devil. Something horrible and incomprehensible has replaced her, which manifests itself in deception, falsehood, and acts of brutality. Yes, of this it is hard to let one’s self be persuaded, but whether one likes it or not, still it is the case. Contemporary Germany—or to speak more correctly, Prussianism, is linked with two names, her Sovereign Wilhelm and the philosopher-corrupter Nietsche.

The last-named has already come to an end in a mad-house. People in England are fond of speculating about the possible end of the first-named. And indeed is it possible to consider as normal, a man who has challenged to war without any reason, Three Great Powers with whom he was naturally allied, countries, it is true, small enough in regard to population, but very far from small in spirit, namely, Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro? Later on, too, mighty Japan united herself with them.

Punishment, severe punishment, must be the consequence, although talk about this is still premature. Well, we shall live, and we shall see. Great is the evil that this Monarch has brought upon his Country, but not less is the evil which he has inflicted on Germans who live in Russia, and it is even hard to tell how to check the evil, which William is doing to the peaceful Germans, who are living under the Russian flag in Russia, and who have blood-relations in that country and who are even closely bound to her by allegiance and oath. These ties, uniting them with Russia on account of religion, have always rightly been considered as indissoluble. And as such they must also remain in the future. Indeed this is not “an empty sound,” but a sacred duty. Indeed, on taking an oath God is called upon as “Witness of the truth.”

Wilhelm, having declared that a man can take an oath to Russia with impunity, while not losing his privileges in Germany, and having even legitimized the so-called Dual Allegiance, has shewn himself as The Arch-Enemy of Russo-Germans, by having mixed up the ideas. In truth one ought to make a distinction between the primitive Russian citizens, although also of German nationality, who have been living for 300 years on the confines of Russia, and those Prussian and Austrian newcomers, who accept Russian subjection merely fictitiously, while (as it were) in reality they serve their own fatherland to the detriment of Russia. As is well known, this immoral law about the Dual Subjection slipped through a short time after the Germano-Franco War of 1871. But it was cautiously allowed to lie dormant and kept secret. This was natural.

And so the Dual Subjection and Prussian duplicity quickly united, but it was kept in the greatest secrecy, like something shameful. The importance of such a measure must be borne in mind when we have dealings with strangers of foreign nationality. The German Government itself fully recognizes the harm of the Dual Subjection. I will produce one eloquent fact which is authentically well known to me.

A talented Armenian had made an important invention in the steamship line. In Russia he could find no encouragement, and at home his many years’ work was bound to come to nothing. In his distress he rushed to Berlin. There they appreciated him without delay; but they were unable to purchase his invention, in consequence of the discoverer being the subject of another country, for in Germany there exists a wise regulation—to have business dealings only with their own people, so as to keep them always under heel. My poor Armenian, after great hesitation and grief, became a German subject. The German Government bought this invention, having fully satisfied the discoverer of it, but only after he had officially become a German subject,—but under no other circumstances would it have done so.

Unfortunately, soon afterwards, owing to all the shocks and anxiety that he had lived through, my poor Armenian became ill mentally and became impoverished to the last extremity. In one way or another he again obtained some means, took to his work again, and crossed over to London. But there his “Dual Subjection” brought him nothing but trouble. The Germans counted him as in every way a Russian, while the Russians looked upon him as a German: neither one nor the other would give him any assistance, and once more he went out of his right mind from grief and hunger.

But the Wilhelm of to-day, following up the question of Dual Subjection, tried to complicate all ideas: he took this question up again greedily, even extremely cynically, as if he would like to avenge himself on his fellow country-men for their desire to pass under the Russian subjection, having prevented Russia from looking upon them with trust and sympathy. Is not this an action of the worst kind of enemy? People would have lived in peace, but it was made impossible! Steps were taken to set them at loggerheads.

Yes, one of my friends was right, an experienced judge, who had only just arrived from Lvoff, who asserted that Wilhelm was in reality leading his Country to “run amuck,” trying everywhere to sow enmity, bribery, trouble, and mischief. Of this Russia, as well as England and France, has now become convinced. This conviction has consolidated, unified, and united them to an unprecedented extent against a war—rightly called by them a “Self-Accusatory” War.

What then remains for us to do? What is to be our relation to the Germans? We must of necessity bear in mind, that there are spies and traitors in all countries: there are also Russian Germans who always tend towards their “Fatherland,” and who are ready to forget their oath. About such as these we must needs keep our eyes open, chase them and punish them mercilessly with all the severity of wartime, but at the same time we ought in every way to abstain from all wholesale thoughtless disgrace of any kind whatever; but Russian Germans form an enormous class of society in Russia, and are closely united with our rights obligations, bequeathed to us by history. How can you avoid taking this into account? One must not belittle the importance to us of the old German culture, but with unlimited repugnance it is our duty to be strangers to that inhuman mode of conducting War with which in this campaign Prussianism has blackened itself for centuries. A really cultured nation ought to manifest its culture most of all in the heroism of War, but the Prussian ways of Wilhelm and Nietsche have separated from all ideals, and turned the War into a colossal atrocious butchery, the violence and pillage of Tamerlan. Once more there arises the question:—

What is there left for us to do now?

But is it not clear that Prussianism deserves stern chastisement, and radical cure of the unlimited madness of greatness? Prussia must settle down into its modest original frames.

I do not dare call to mind the boundaries of the year 1815; but a final paroxysm has issued forth from the results of the victory of the year 1871. These then, as it seems to me, are the results, and it remains to bring them to nought. Such measures would constitute the First Part of the programme.

As to the Second Part—presently—on another occasion.

But what is there that we must needs do both at once, and later on? The principal thing is: Not to slumber, and to distinguish between enemies and friends. To guard everywhere Russia’s interests and her good name, to her unfading glory!

Yes, and speaking generally, when it is a question of defending one’s self from an enemy who is making an attack on one, it is necessary “to Struggle—to keep on struggling—struggling to the very end!”