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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
finally the Baltic Provinces became the dumping-ground for
second-rate Tchinovniks, who ruled the land in a fashion
thoroughly uncongenial to the people. The native
inhabitants were regarded as undesirable for administrative posts
in the provinces. They had, therefore, to look out for
occupation in the interior of Russia. Many of them
distinguished themselves by superior statesmanship and talent.
Field-Marshal Baron Roenne won the Battle of Poltava for
his sovereign, Peter the Great—a battle which decided the
life-and-death struggle which Russia was waging at that
time with Sweden. Osten-Sacken and Totleben worked
miracles in the campaign against the Turks ; the names of
Fersen, Dibitch, Witgenstein, Munich, and Toll are written
in the annals of Russian military successes ; Osterman,
Nesselrode, Sievers, Korff, Reutern, and Bunge benefited
Russia by their able statesmanship.
No doubt the sons of the Baltic Provinces have contributed
to the greatness and power of Russia. They have served
Russia to the best of their ability, faithfully and loyally,
identifying their own interests with those of the Empire,
but whenever the spirit of Moscovian aggressiveness and
intolerance became more virulent they were treated harshly,
unjustly, even cruelly. During the present great war the
persecution of the Baltic stock of Teutonic descent was
going on in face of the fact that none of them refused to
fight for Russia, that many won high distinctions for valour
on the battlefield or died for their country, and that whenever
they had a chance to do so they served their country with
all their power and energy. Whatever may have been
their worth in the past they have always upheld order, law,
and organisation, and in this respect their services were
invaluable to Russia. But as soon as war broke out a
veritable campaign was started for depriving them of office,
and men were thrown out of employment who were the
mainstay of the administration and industrial life of the
country, for no other reason than that they were of Baltic
origin. It was a case of " cutting off the nose to spite the
face," for Russia was thereby sacrificing one of the buttresses
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