Christianity and Patriotism
Royal Family were joyfully echoed in the hearts of all the Tsar-loving Russian people, and that since the Russian people have the same reverence for the Holy Virgin, they can reckon on France for life and death. All sorts of generals, telegraph clerks, and grocers made almost the same protestations. They all congratulated someone on something or thanked someone for something.
The excitement was so great that the most unusual things were done, but no one noticed their unusualness; on the contrary, everyone approved of them, was delighted with them, and as though afraid of being too late, hastened to do something of the same sort so as not to be left behind the rest. If protests were uttered and even written and printed against these frenzied proceedings, pointing out their senselessness, these protests were kept out of sight or shouted down.[1]
- ↑ Thus, for example, I know of the following protest sent by Russian students to Paris, but not printed in a single newspaper:
An Open Letter to French Students.
"A group of Moscow law students with the University Inspector at their head have recently had the audacity to take upon themselves to speak in the name of all the Moscow students, in reference to the Toulon celebrations.
"We, the representatives of the league of students' associations, protest in the most emphatic manner, both against the assumption of authority by this group, and against the exchange of greetings that has taken place between it and the students of France. We, too, look with warm affection and deep respect upon France, but we look upon her with those
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