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4th April, 1905. 



Professor Johnson Symington, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E., 

 President, in the chair. 



RUSSIA: ITS PEOPLE AND POLITICS. 

 By John Horner. 



(Abstract.) 



Mr. Horner said at the present time, when Russia was ab- 

 sorbing so much of the attention of the world, it might be 

 considered not unprofitable to initiate a discussion with the object 

 in view of arriving at a better understanding of her people and her 

 politics, and of forming an opinion of the mighty struggle for 

 mastery in Asia with somewhat less of partiality. It was difficult 

 for them to look upon Russia in any other light than that of a 

 hereditary enemy, whose aggression would interfere with their 

 established rights, and it must be confessed that fears of such 

 aggressions were not unfounded, for Russian Foreign policy from 

 the time of Peter the Great had been one of expansion. Up to 

 the 1 6th century little was known to other European nations of 

 that great country ; its intercourse with them was thus of com-* 

 paratively modern origin. The various events relating to the 

 Russification of Poland and Finland having been referred to by 

 Mr. Horner, he showed that for the absorption of those countries 

 Russia was defended by reasons geographical and strategic. 

 Although they looked with suspicion on her southward march, 

 they must in full justice give credit to her for keeping alive the 

 spirit of Christianity in the Balkans. An impartial study of the 

 history of Turkey and her dealings with her Christian subjects 



