The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-05
RoMANsowsKI, O wcll-

cd similarly. He was mutlatcd In
horrible and uncomfortable manner"
Priests were dragged from the altar In the
middle of the mass and packed of to Siberia.
Women were bound to the trunks Of trees.
Ladies at Warsaw were shot down by sol
ders on the pavement of the church, while
kncclug around the altar, for refusing To de-
sist from singing the national hymn Al
Dunabourg. in Livonia. assassinatiuns. pill
Laying and incendarism were encouraged
by every one who would attack the Poles.
while these were logged and mutilatcd. and
nobody was permitted to approach them or
give them relief Wives were not permitted
60 see their husbands, nor mothers their
children. In one batch Of unhappy wrctchos
whose fate is thus described, were three
Judges, twenty-nino landed prOprietors, two
clcrgymcn, and an officer of engineers.
Young ladies were constantly arrested, fifty
at a timc and always at night. Women
were continually logged, and some were
driven insane ny the treatment which they
received. Sometimes ladies' of the highest
rank were whipped simply in order TO try
and force them to name the persons who
were the customary guests ut their fathers
houses, and to detail the conversations
which had been held there
Now, these are not sensational accounts,
but facts which can be supported by Of
fetal reports and tho narrative Of eye
witnesses Of undoubted vcracity. We
do not refer TO them TO create
any prejudice against the Russians on
tho contrary, our position is that
these facts did not warrant any other nation
Of assumed superior morality and civiliza-
tiou in flying at the opprcssors throat for
the purpose of establishing n hold on the
Imagination or gratitude of the POlcs We
repudiate altogether the doctrine that any
one nation IL competent to decide when it's
superior civilization iustities it in annexing
the territory Of another nation, with view
~ improving the system of government
The Nation enters into an elaborate COM
parisOn " Russian oppression as compared
with Turkish oppression, and decides that
the latter is the more distressing to live
under. This may be SO, and We should
have no objection to see the mldcr
Russian form, which would give a large por-
tion Of the population an opportunity OF Wis
iting Siberia established in its stead If this
,""uld be peaceably accomplished. What we
object To Is the cant which attempts TO
Justify religious var, involving the
slaughter Of these much condoled with
populations on the ground that the interests
of Christianity and civilization require it.
Unfortunately, as the latter is practised at
the present day, the two things are not
synonymous.
While we agree with the Nation that the
wholesale massacre and desolation, which
must be the effect Of fierce and bloody strug-
gle in the Christian provinces Of Turkey.
will establish a strurg hold on the imagine
ton Of the population we altogether dis
sent from the idea that they will feel graft
tude to Russia for the misery which she is
now bringing upon them, or that they will
find the rule Of king stork very much superior
10 that OF king log. The Jews who have tried
both are unanimous in preferring ~ live
under Turkish rule; and considerable
colony of Russians who He'd into Turkey for
refuge from persecution on religious
grounds, and voluntarily placed themselves
under Turkish rule, are now established in
the Dobrud-iha, and are terrified at the
prospect of their advancing countrymcn.
| 1t is to be regretted that in these enlight-
encd days such scenes should be possible as
are now transacted in the East, still more to
/ be lamented that they should take place
under the mask Of Christianity which Is
as degraded il it's practices as the civiliza-
ton it has produced Is hollow, and, most
sad Of all. that an influential portion Of the
| press Of this country should bc deceived by
| its false glitter In Europe advanced re-
| publican Thought is unanimous in regarding
| the progress OF tho Russian power rs Offering
| the greatest danger 10 freedom of thought
and political liberty. Mr.. FREDERIC HARM-
son. Prof BEEsf.Y, Mr.. CoSGREyE, and other
leading minds in England, who cannot be
accused of any clinging to the traditional
policy Of that country for they represent
its republican thought, have pointed out
| with remarkable force the danger to real
| progress If this crusade Of Greek Church
| bigotry and intolerance, and all that is most
enlightened IN Europe hogns TO dread an
invasion of the Slavs, a the Romans 81 old
regarded that somewhat analogous inroad
Of the Huns and Guths. This sentiment
is widely spread throughout the Euro
pcan party of action, and finds expression
in very striking artic by KARL BLIND in
the current number of t' No n americas
Rcotec. There is no phrase Of American poe
litical sentiment murr incomprchensible /,
the oppressed classes of Europe. who ar,
yoarnng for relici from the social ano
political letters in which they are bound
than that which seems 10 unite the sym
pnthies Of this rcprblc which they woulo
most gladly trust and rely upon with thai
colossal European deepotism which the!
have most reason 70 dctcst and dread
The great NAloLIoN said that Europe
was destined to become either Cossack o.
- Al. A..