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of a State. But it is here that one puts the question: Do the Ukrainians desire to create a State? Have they a true national spirit?
In order to answer these questions it is well to cast a comprehensive glance over their history and, in particular, over all the recent manifestations of popular sentiment.
1. Before the Nineteenth Century.
The Ukraine was throughout the centuries the scene of conflict between various nations. It was through her lands that the tribes of Asia entered Europe.
Her natural mission was to guard civilised Europe against the continual invasion of these tribes, Tartars and others.
On the other hand, the peoples of the North and the East coveted the Ukrainian lands, the fertility of which was a mixed blessing for the inhabitants.
In this way the history of the Ukraine was fitful and confused, and the country met insurmountable difficulties for the construction of a State. Nevertheless the Ukrainian people during the centuries of their history succeeded three times, before the present reconstitution, in forming a State. In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries there existed the famous Grand Duchy of Kiev, which entertained diplomatic and economic relationship with Byzantium and with the whole of Europe.
After the fall of Kiev, due to pressure of the nomadic tribes, there was formed in Western Ukraine the State of Galich, of which the celebrated head, Daniel (thirteenth century), received the royal crown from the Pope.
Later on, in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which comprised the greater part of Eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians had the largest share in the administration and in the government.
It was after the personal union of this State with Poland (1386)), and after the latter had subjugated the Ukraine (sixteenth century), that the Ukrainian people revolted. The army of the free Ukrainian Cossacks waged numerous wars against the Poles.
