PUBLIC FEELING IN RUSSIA.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3000, 26 September 1878, Page 3

PUBLIC FEELING IN RUSSIA.

Berlin, July 17.—Extreme excitement has been caused among the Russian Panslavists by the result of the Berlin diplomatic debates. The reduction of their San Stefano preliminaries to the more moderate proportions of the Berlin Treaty of Peace is an event unpalatable, it would appear, to the representatives of national feeling in Eussia. With certain wellknown laws and directions regulating the language of the Russian Press, a considerable portion of what is thought and felt is, as a matter of course, kept out of print; but enough has been allowed to transpire to give an idea of the state Of public opinion at the close of the war. The most interesting utterance of the kind is a speech by M. Aksakoff, the well-known Slavophil leader at Moscow. A privileged person from his connexion with the Court, and a man repeatedly distinguished by marks of Imperial favour. M. Aksakoff on more than one. occasion has ventured to give utterance to national aspirations which few would have dared to express. In the present instance, the champion of Slavonic unity, irritated by the concessions made on the part of his Sovereign, even before the close of the Berlin deliberations, delivered a speech at a meeting of the Moscow Slavophil Society, which has since been a principal topic of conversation in Eussia. The subjoined abstract will acquaint your readers with the general tenor and purport of this glowing address :—

■ "Are we to credit the telegrams issuing from Berlin in all the languages of the world, to all quarters of the world ? Are we to believe that Russia is making concession after concession ? That the painful intelligence of our acquiescence in foreign demands is correct? Blushing with shame we are struck dumb with astonishment at what we hear. Can it be true that victorious Russia allows herself to be degraded, to play the role of the defeated party, now that the accounts of the war are being wound up and the sum total is drawn ? Is it possible to imagine that the votes passed by Congress will be sanctioned by the Russian Government ? Have we been beaten by the '(Turks? Hare we sustained a worse discomfiture than the one suffered by France at Sedan? Are we the party routed, and has the Turk gained the upper hand ? Nothing of the kind is the case. All that occurred is this : Lord Beaconsfield has frowned, and stamped the ground with bis foot. Ruesisn diplomacy hits been frightened by the angry ebullition of the great foreigner, and isinaking concessions. Has anybody else been frightened by the British Premier ? Certainly, not. With the confidence which is a sure indication of strength, Lord Beaconsfield has given our diplomacy to understand that he regards it as his business to prevent the recurrence of Russian victories in Turkey. In other words, Lord Beaconsfield has had no hesitation in telling us that Congress is neither more nor less Jthan a conspiracy against the Russian people, and that Turkey must be upheld, no natter what the Balkan Christians may suffer. Now it stands to reason that the notion of aa anti-Russian conspiracy, in which the representative of the Russian Government to take part,-is almost too absurd to be contemplated. And yet it seems to be a fact. The Balkans, the alleged insuperable obstacle in the way of our troops, having beenpromptly surmounted by our victorious columns, that mountainous ridge is now to be converted into a really impregnable line by English engineers, assisted by English money. The invincible mountain fortresses to be constructed are to be garrisoned with Turkish troops, a bond fide barrier being thus erected between ourselves and our national adversary. TSTe do not know what to say ab the incredible conduct of our diplomatists in yielding.to'this inpoeaible demand. Rare stupidity must have combined with excessive servility to cause them to consent to such a proposition. The greatest enemy of Russia and the dynasty could have devised no scheme more prejudicial to the throne, the peace, arid the quiet of the country. The worst Nihilists are those who overtook the axistence of a Russian nationality, ignore orthodoxy, and make light of our historical traditious. Delinquents of this sort are quite as dangerous to the public weal and as devoid of patriotism as any Bozoluboff, Zasulitch, and their accomplices. Like these they are strangers in Russia, and speak to us in a foreign tongue. Like these they are foreigners in this country, despising the conditions of our existence and repudiating the most sacred principles of our national life. However different in manners and doctrineß, those that do not recognise the necessities of our foreign policy are of the same breed, with those intent upon subverting our domestic institutions. But whatever may happen at Congress, whatever insults may be heaped upon Russian honor and nationality, we rely upon the Czar. The anointed and crowned protector of these realms, he is the appointed avenger of bis loyal people. If bis subjects are enraged at the intelligence wafted to them from the West, what must he suffer who is responsible for it all to history ? Has he not designated this war as a holy task set us? Has he not solemnly declared to the deputation welcoming him back to Moscow oa his return from Bulgaria that this sacred war will be continued to its legitimate end ? It is .true' bur monarch's heart is too tender and too humane to decide for a renewal of bloodshed without cause; but by yielding to the foreigner, by staining our national honor, and burthening our national conscience with sin we can never hope to evade war. Daily insulted and affronted by the intelligence pouring in from Berlin,- our people are provoked and incensed bj^ond measure. There is Btilltime for our diplomatic spirits to mend their ways. Sill we hope and tmst that the end of the dii.lomatio labors will be more; satisfactory than the beginning. Our hopes cannot be disappointed. The Czar's promise, that the sacred task will be finished cannot be broken. The duty of faithful subjects requires us to hope on. In these anarchical days in which it is attempted to separate throne and nation, and erect a barrier between the Czar and his people, it is doubly enjoined upon faithful subjects, to keep up their courage. It is hardly possible that our well-meaning frankness can be misunderstood and our outspoken honesty, silenced by ■ leading personages." Since'the above was uttered the hopes of M. Aksakoff have been disappointed. His well-meaning frankness, has been silenced, and his outspoken honesty, has been cautioned against repeating the like dangerous sentiments. With"the Treaty of Berlin signed and settled, it is no longer Eussian diplomacy, but the Eussian Emperor that is responsible for what has been done. .