The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-12-06
journalism in, Russia..

English writer's, we'll acquainted
with Russian customs, are furnishing
to the free press Of their own land
details concerning Muscovite journ-
alism, which are exceedingly inter
,estipg at, this, distance. .....
Let as suppose that some adven-
turous man proposes to start d news
paper, say at st. Petersburg. His
press is bought, perhaps paid for,
and a supply of paper, scissors and
paste pots on hand. This is trihing
prelude. ID" In America Or England,
ithelnext' thing done would be the
issuing of the sheet. Not SO in Mus
covy. There the candidate for journ
alistic fame must, to begin with, file
at the Office Of the Governor Of the
province a bond, signed by twelve
solvent, respectable and loyal citi-
zens who are responsible morally,
physically and financially for his
conduct. lie must file also a police
certificate of his good, moral charac-
ter. With these for,nalities attended
to he can secure license from the
Governor and local censor to carry
on newspaper for year, but only
for that time, as he must renew his
petition and license each year. In
addition, he must make a deposit
with the authorities of 5000 rubles,
and 1000 rubies additional for each
thousand subscribers to his paper.
When the paper is brought out, it
cannot be sold until a literary cen
sorship sits upon and decides that it
contains no matter, native Or foreign,
hostile to the Government. In case
OF dereliction, the unhappy editor
must submit to fines, imprisonment
a fqgging by the knout, or, in flag
rant cases, to "a prolonged residence
in Siberia, which is the living grave
of Russian freedom of speech.
We are told that "tho Moscow
Farol has been fined seventeen times
within ayear, and that it is extraor-
dinarily lucky is shown by the fact
that less than forty six papers in St.
Petersburg and forty two in Moscow
have been compelled to suspend in
the past seven years, because the
fines paid by them to the Govern
ment far exceed their income. AS
for the editors: they fare even worse
than their papers. A good editor
in Russia seldom. lasts over a year.
At the end of that time he is phys
ically broken down with whippings
and imprisonment, and even, if not
banished to Siberia, is too much Of a
wreck to do any writing"
Any one might suppose, from this
vexacions exhibit, that the profession
of journalism would die ont altogeth
er in Russia. The supply of edito--
rial aspirants is pretty fair at all
times, the chief requisite being the
tenacity of their backs instead of the
fullness of their brains. Men 90
down into deadly coal mines the day
after hundreds have been engulfed
with them. Widowers and widows
tempt fate second time and it may
be ofiener. Want, privation, folly
and "pure cussedness" are growths
that never perish" from humanity;
and so when one crop of Russian
editors goes to Jail, Siberia or the
grave, another crop steps into the
deadly breach to take the chances of
All iron destiny.
At some future time, we doubt
not, there will be free press in Rus.
sia, but it will be founded upon the
bones Of martyers. Perhaps such a
toundation---terrible as it is--will
insure the blessing of perpetuity.
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