Page:The Science of History and the Hope of Mankind.djvu/58



Slavonian ambition more than the pagan's intolerance. The conflict between the East and the West, the hatred of the European towards the Asiatic, the spirit of crusade against the Oriental religion, which were the mediæval reproductions of the classical anti-Persian enthusiasm, have in recent times given place to the desire for security and protection of the national autonomies of European powers against the encroachments of modern Russia, and the recognition of the safety of Turkey as the concern of combined Europe.

In fact, most of the non-Christian and Asiatic states that have been still preserving their independence in modern times are to be regarded as buffer-states; and the expediency of extending helping hands to the