XI. 



THE RACES OF 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 variety of 

 conditions, has been going on over European territory 

 ever since the dawn of authentic history. The forma- 

 tion 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 making — has been the leading aspect of 

 this process, in which the work of civilisation has 

 hitherto largely consisted. But along with this, as a 

 correlative aspect, has gone the pressure exerted 

 against the community by an external mass of un- 

 disciplined barbarism, ever on the alert to break 

 over the fluctuating barrier that has warded it off 

 from the growing civilisation, ever threatening to 



