Page:The Spirit of Russia by T G Masaryk, volume 2.pdf/590

564 great problem for men and for humanity; in Europe much attention is being paid to the problem of decadence and degeneration; the peculiar theme of French decadence and degeneration is a standing item on the agenda, and not in France alone. Universal in Europe is a lively aspiration towards rebirth. I consider that the Russian philosopher of history has every reason to urge upon his nation that the situation is serious, the task difficult; but he has no occasion to doubt or to despair of the future.

UROPE feels a lively interest in Russia and in the destiny of that country, as we can learn, not only from the daily press, but also from the numerous books written about Russia and from the attention paid to Russian literature.

For the nonce political interest predominates. European theocracy looks upon Russia as a natural ally. The holy alliance was the issue of this conception. The conception was shared even by such a man as Bismarck, for as champion of the Prussian monarchy he found tsarism congenial. Metternich had the same feeling where Austria was concerned. Precisely for this reason, European liberals and democrats have fought tsarism as their hereditary foe, and the social democrats adopt the same attitude towards official Russia. We owe to Feuerbach, the philosophic teacher of the Russians, the saying: "We have but two hereditary enemies, spiritually the papacy, and temporally Russdom."

A philosophic interest in Russia and Russian development is however displayed in the extensive European literature concerning Russia. This interest has become so marked that it is now possible to speak of the Russification of Europe as well as of the Europeanisation of Russia. Not merely has the political influence of Russia upon Europe continually increased since the eighteenth century, but Europe has eagerly accepted Russian literature and has thus learned to participate in Russia's internal problems. We have seen how Voltaire and Herder admired Russia; to-day we can enumerate Nietzsche, [sic] Maeterlinck, and many others among those who have accepted Russian ideas and ideals.

The sociologist and the philosopher of history can learn much from Russia.