Ivan Franko’s publications on slavic issues in “Kurier Lwowski”

Abstract

Ivan Franko’s publications on slavic issues in “Kurier Lwowski”
 The article deals with the series of texts by Ivan Franko on the subject of panslavism, or more specifically the Slavic question, published in 1888 in the several issues of “Kurier Lwowski”. Franko presents his understanding of the contemporary political situation and speaks about panslavism in this context, relating the trend to “the flashes of the national feelings” of the Slavs. Penetrating the essence of the movement, the writer and publicist emphasizes the presence of two different currents in it: centralism (Muscovite) and federalism. The Ukrainian writer is sympathetic to the latter that provides for the opportunity of uniting the Slavic tribes in order to defend their common interests and includes the principle of mutual respect and preservation of each national unit’s traditions. The writer supports his position with such authorities as Mykola Kostomarov, Mykailo Drahomanov, and others. Franko writes a lot about the role of the Slavophile Brotherhood of Cyril and Methodius, founded by Kostomarov, and similarity of its program to the posterior Drahomanov’s one. Following the thoughts of historians, Franko emphasizes that Slavic peoples feel the need for “arranging the mutual relationship” because they share common interests. The most important issue for the Slavs, according to the writer and journalist, is the freedom of every nation, now limited, in particular by “tsarist despotism”. “The Slavs can create power — not dangerous to the world, because there is no need in threatening anyone, but sufficient to secure each national individuality and the greatest freedom of national and cultural development”, writes the author of the series. Franko dedicates the final series of texts to the Slovaks and the Czechs.