XII. 



THE KACES OP THE DANUBE. 



IN the famous Eastern Question, which so long 

 has disturbed the peace of Europe, may be noted 

 two aspects of a process which, under great va- 

 riety of conditions, has been going on over Eu- 

 ropean territory ever since the dawn of authentic 

 history. The formation of a nationality that 

 is, of a community of men sufficiently connected 

 in interests and disciplined in social habits to live 

 together peacefully under laws of their own mak- 

 ing has been the leading aspect of this pro- 

 cess, in which the work of civilization has hitherto 

 largely consisted. But along with this, as a cor- 

 relative aspect, has gone the pressure exerted 

 against the community by an external mass of 

 undisciplined barbarism, ever on the alert to 

 break over the fluctuating barrier that has warded 

 it off from the growing civilization, ever threat- 

 ening to undo the costly work which this has 

 accomplished. Though the enemy has at times 

 appeared in the shape of unmitigated tribal bar- 



