ARHIVELE OLTENIEI - Universitatea din Craiova

142Tudor Nedelceadisappeared” 23 . Eminescu noticed a similitude between the tone of the Russianpress and the Russian people which “has become daring even regarding theleader”, in this way showing the knowledge of the autocracy’s history andRussian mentality.This short incursion in the history and the mentality of this state isconnected with the history of his own country: “The Russian govern doesn’t feelsecure at all regarding the Romanians, which’s external affairs are totally unsafe,and, if Romania didn’t gave up the neutrality by itself [Eminescu’s underlining,n.n.], the greatest danger of the war would be the defeat of this neutrality” 24 .Insisting on the necessity of declaring the neutrality, Eminescuconsidered justified the fearing that resulted from the St. Petersburg newspaperif that “irresolute attitude Romania had”, “the evasive character of the Romaniandiplomacy is just a matter of chance or, if it is a reliable method, meant to makeour powerful neighbor’s endeavors fail” 25 .Bitterly he remarked that, inside the country, the financial crisis and thefighting between political parties affected the general interest of the nation,when “the southern army of Russia masses together in Basarabia”, where alsoarrived the prince Nicholas, “the leader of the southern army”, concluding that“by any matter, a state doesn’t prepare in the way Russia does – only for keepingthe peace” 26 .The Conference from Constantinople from 29 th / 11 th December 1876 –9 th / 21 st January 1877 proved to be a fiasco, from which Russia took profit:“Accused by the entire Europe that its only desire is to conquer and that thepreoccupation for the Christians is just platonic, a facade meant to hide its realintentions, Russia desired to prove to Europe that the Turks promise a lot andwill gave nothing, that they will trick the Great Powers with some reforms in awritten form, and when will be asked about any kind of guarantee for them, theywill simply refuse to give any. Russia started to show proves, the cause of thesouthern Slavs has become a European cause, the stubbornness of the Turks iswell known, and when the Russians will declare war, they will wash their handsas Pontius Pilate, because they would have proven that the Turks are the guiltyones and they will have to be exterminated” 27 .Eminescu registered another opinion, according to which this conferencehad no other purpose than that of gaining enough time to “delay the momentaryanger of the Russian people, to make them feel in time of peace the difficultiesof the war”, but these are nothing but simple words and “the words can not23 Ibidem.24 Ibidem.25 Ibidem.26 Russia [“While inside Romania …”], in “Curierul de Iaşi”, 9, nr. 128, 24thNovember1876, p. 3.27 [“The final protocol of the Conference…”], in “Curierul de Iaşi”, 10, nr. 4, 14thJanuary 1877, p. 3.