SERVIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA. 151 



for centuries had been misgovernment and harsh oppression^ not 

 far removed from the misgovernment and oppressive rule of the de 

 scendants of Mahomet. 



The Austrian occupation of Servia brought with it a subjection of 

 all her ancient liberties, for on the one hand, the defenceless and 

 helpless population suffered from the exactions inflicted by the vic- 

 torious armies ; and, on the other hand, from the execrable tyranny 

 and religious persecutions imposed by a conquering Power, whose 

 policy was directly hostile to the aspirations of a people who had 

 aforetime realised the blessings of political and civil liberty, and who 

 looked forward with high hopes for its full restoration. 



Moreover, other causes were not wanting to rouse the Servians 

 into action for the overthrow of the harsh rule of the Ottoman 

 Porte, and also to emancipate herself from the dangerous alliance 

 with the Austria-Hungarian Government. That alliance was a dearly- 

 purchased one, ever and anon made subservient for their religious 

 subjection to the Church of Rome, and these proselytising efforts 

 were directed, not only for the apostacy of the Servians that formed 

 an integral part of the Austrian Empire, but also against the Servian 

 nation itself, wherever brought by the fortunes of war under Austrian 

 domination. 



In consequence, therefore, of such an accumulation of real and 

 bitter wrongs, inflicted on their suffering race by their inexorable 

 conquerors, the Austrians on the western, and the Moslems on the 

 eastern frontiers, and patiently borne during the many centuries of 

 their chequered history, without any hope of united action or reform, 

 it was natural, nay, inevitable, that with their strong aspirations for 

 national freedom, that they should make a suprenie effort to throw 

 off the heavy yoke of their oppressors, and, rising superior to all the 

 insuperable obstacles before them, try to regain once more their- 

 ancient and dearly-cherished independence. 



Relying on their undeniable and inalienable rights ; confident, 

 in their unfaltering courage to be able to obtain them, the whole 

 nation of Servia, in the beginning of this century, united them- 

 selves in a solid phalanx, or, to use a familiar phrase, rose en 

 masse in the great struggle for her popular liberties, and for her com- 

 plete emancipation from Turkish tyranny and oppression. 



The difficulties which beset their path were overwhelming, suffi- 

 cient to have appalled the most resolute of patriots, and crushed the 

 most fiery patriotism into the dust ; but one and all having taken the 

 solemn oath, to die, rather than to place themselves at the mercy of 



