RUSSIA. 



tian faith. Russia, it was said, had no occa- 

 hinn tu encourage such enterprises as were 

 referred to. Sin- hud no foreign enlistment- 

 act, as Kngland had, yet she could show that 

 Kii-hui'l had not always strictly fulfilled the 

 obligations imposed by the existence of that 

 act. The Knglish were concerned with ab- 

 stract constitutional rights, the Russians with 

 national sympathies. The excesses of the 

 in stirring up partisan feelings had been 

 punished, as was shown by the suppression of 

 the (rrcuhdanin and the Russki Mir for their 

 extreme utterances; but a policy toward the 

 press which would suppress the voice of the 

 nation could not be demanded. Organizations 

 for armed expeditions 

 and free soldier -bands 

 would not be permitted. 

 In September the Czar 

 went to the Crimea, 

 where he remained two 

 months. He was accom- 

 panied, during his so- 

 journ there, by the Czar- 

 in;i, and the Minister 

 PrinceGortchakoff. The 

 fortifications of the 

 Crimean coast from 

 Kertch to Sebastopol 

 were strengthened, and 

 additional posts were 

 established, so, it was 

 represented, as to pre- 

 vent Turkish ships from 

 landing and smuggling 

 weapons, and diffus- 

 ing incendiary agencies 

 among the Mohamme- 

 dan populations of the 

 peninsula. On the 9th of November the Czar 

 was at Moscow, on his return from the Crimea, 

 where, in reply to an address from the citizens, 

 he made the following important speech : 



I thank you for your sentiments respecting the 

 political situation, which is now more clearly defined 

 thun before. You know that Turkey has yielded to 

 my demands for an immediate armistice, to end the 

 useless slaughter in Servia and Montenegro. In this 

 unequal struggle the Montenegrins, as heretofore, 

 have shown themselves real heroes. Unfortunately, 

 the same cannot be said of the Servians, notwith- 

 standing the assistance of our volunteers, many of 

 whom shed their blood for the Slavonic cause. I 

 know that all Russia joins me in warmly sympathiz- 

 ing in the sufferings of our brethren and co-religion- 

 The true interests of Russia are, however, 

 il.'un-r to me than all. My wish to the uttermost 

 is to spare Russian blood. Therefore I have striven, 

 and will still strive, to obtain a real improvement of 

 the position of the Christians by peaceful means. 

 In a few days negotiations will commence at Con- 

 stantinople. My most ardent wish is that we may 

 arrive at a general agreement. Should this, how- 

 ever, not be achieved, and should I see that we can- 

 not obtain guarantees necessary for carrying out 

 what we intended to demand from the Porte, i am 

 firmly determined to act independently. I am con- 

 vinced that the whole of Russia will respond to my 

 summons, should I consider it necessary and Rus- 

 sia's honor require it. Moscow will lead the van by 



its example. May God help us to carry out our 

 sacred iuiion ! 



This speech was warmly applauded by the 

 populace, and awakened a general and enthu- 

 siastic echo throughout the empire. Town 

 conncils, diets, trade-associations, merchants' 

 guilds, the clergy, and all classes, declared 

 their readiness to second and fulfill to the ut- 

 termost all the demands which the Czar and 

 the empire might make for the protection of 

 the interests of Russia. The speech was also 

 regarded throughout Europe as one of great 

 significance. About the same time orders 

 were issued for the mobilization of the army, 

 and appointing a day for calling recruits from 



CKONSTADT. 



all parts of the empire, except Siberia, Arch- 

 angel, and Orenburg. Six army corps were 

 ordered to be made ready for service in the 

 provinces of Odessa, Kharkov, and Kiev. The 

 command of the Southern Army was given to 

 the Archduke Nicholas Nicholaievitch, broth- 

 er of the Czar, with Adjutant-General Nepo- 

 koitschitzky as chief of staff, Prince Marsalsky 

 as commander of artillery, Major - General 

 Depp as chief of engineers, and Prince Barklai 

 von Tolli-Weimarn, Lieutenant-General Radet- 

 zky, Baron von Kruedener, Prince Worozoff, 

 Prince Schackoffski, and General Wannoffsky, 

 as commanders of the several corps. In connec- 

 tion with the orders for the mobilization of the 

 army, Prince Gortchakoff issued a circular to 

 the Russian representatives abroad, explaining 

 the measure, in which he said : " The Czar 

 does not wish war, and will, if possible, avoid 

 it. He is, however, determined that the prin- 

 ciples of justice which have been recognized as 

 necessary by the whole of Europe shall be 

 carried out in Turkey under efficacious guar- 

 antees/' Lord Loftus, British embassador at 

 the Russian court, reported of an audience that 

 he had had with the Czar, November 2d, that 

 the Czar said he had sent the ultimatum to the 



