of a strong executive counteracting the centrifugal forces and the disintegrating elements of the Russian Empire. It may only express a belief in the value of the Monarchy, as a visible sign of political unity.
"Pravoslavie," or Orthodoxy, may only stand for the significance of a national Church in the life of the people. It may only mean the recognition of the importance of spiritual unity as the foundation of political unity.
"Narodnost," or Nationality, may only stand for the recognition of the democratic principle, for loyalty to a national ideal. It may only express a healthy distrust of the many alien races within the Russian Empire.
But although the Slavophile doctrines are capable of a liberal and democratic interpretation, and have actually received a liberal interpretation from noble spirits like Samarine, Aksakov, and Dostoevsky, such certainly has not been the interpretation which they have received from those pillars of reaction, Katkov and Pobiedonostsev. In recent Russian history, Slavophilism has only been too often a creed of hatred and intolerance, the creed of the Soiouz Ruskago Naroda, "of that infamous League of the Russian people," the oppressors
