Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-19
TIE CONDITION OF kugslA.

predicts the outbreak in that country of
revolution which may exceed in disastrous
consequences all similar events recorded in
history. While such prediction as this
is of necessity little more than conjec-
| ture, it has been evident for some time
that Russia was drifting towards anarchy.
The fact that the revolutionary activity
which is observable has seemed hitherto
to be confined to the middle and upper
classes by no means justiies the conclusion
| that the masses Of the Russian people are
unprepared to join in movement for the
overthrow of the existing system. In
studying this case we can have no safer
| guide than the great French Revolution,
and when we turn to the records of that
CONFUSION we shall find that the develop
ments in Russia are taking a very similar
line to those in France about 1889. The
Revolution in France was prepared by
men who never would have moved in the
matter had they foreseen the consequences
of their action. Il began in the higher
classes, with the adoption of sentimental
theories about the rights of Man and the
Social Contract, as excogitated by Rousseau.
These fanciful theories gradually filtered
through the various strata of society,
changing their form and significance as
taey passed through duller brains, until
they reached the peasantry in the crude
shape of vague belief that all dues, obi
cations, rights and duties We're to be
abolished.
1t is true that there was in France a
class Of men whose influence upon the
revolution was very great, and whose type
seems absent in Russia. We refer to the
country lawyers, naturally the enemies Of
the aristocracy, and possessed of just
enough intelligence and knowledge of
theoretical law to inspire them with con-
idence in their own governmental capacity.
These were the men who made the disas-
trous Constitution who tore down one
after the other every safeguard against
| eAttCuy WIN SASvuiS ~ INC ioA1OA ahe
masses to take into their own hands the
entire government of the country; and
who produced that reign of terror which,
among all its evil results, must be credited
with the one saiutary effect of deeimating
the ranks Of these pestilent pettifoggers.
In Russia there is no such numerous and
active class of small lawyers, but it does
not follow that the Russian peasantry are
the more likely to prove wise and conserva-
tive when the revolutionary leaven begins
to ferlhent and spread The natural con-
sequence of per6uading densely ignorant
men that they are the real soyereigns of a
country is to suggest to them the practical
test of this theory, and they can think Of
no better test than the reputation of all
law.
This is what happened in France. For
years that country was in condition OF
anarchy. Not only was every department
independent, but the districts cut loose
from the departments, and the towns and
villages from the districts. Brigandage,
arson, murder and massacre were the
most ordinary occurrences. The authorities
were mere puppets in the hands of the
people. The military we're no longer
under the orders of the nominal State
authorities. Long before theso-called Reign
OF Terror began, genuine reign of terror
had been established throughout France.
The French masses were emhruited,
ignorant, besottod but they thought
they understood what the Rights of Man
meant, and they proceeded to apply these
theories in the most practical way. The
Russian peasants are quite as ignorant and
embruited as the French peasantry were
at the close OF the last century, and there
fore it must be expected that they will
make similar mistakes. What really hap.
pens to country when such revolution
as that of France breaks ont, is relapse
to a state of nature. Every semblance
of civilization disappears, and the IN
derlying wild beast which is the found
alton OF human nature reappearS in all its
ferocity and ugiiuess.
The Russian masses are now discern
tented. The emancipation OF the serfs
gave them just enough freedom and eleya-
ton TO enable them to see how far they
were from being in satisfactory condi-
ton. Their restlessness has been iucreas-
ing ever since, and also their inclination
towards gross and debasing indulgence.
The Russian clergy have never been agents
of civilization. They are in some respects
privileged class, but they possess neither
learning nor sound morals, and the ex-
smples they set are evil rather than good.
There is nothing IN the influence of the
Church to check revolution or to modify
its radical tendencies. The masses have
very little to lose by any change. 1t is
true that there has existed popular
veneration tor the Gar, bus there was
quite az strong popular regard for the
King when the French revolution began,
and that did not prevent the constant
violation of all laws by men who as con.
stantly asserted that they were serving the
King while defying his ordinances. Moth
ing can be inferred against the probability
OF revolution from the existence of such
sentiment, therefore The mainsprings of
all such commissions among the masses
are ignorance and suffering, and when
these influences are present everything is
possible.
In Russia the Government has already
fallen back into blind despotism. The
Gar is virtually prisoner. Repression
by militarism seems to be his only remedy
for every abuse. Corruption has Slapped
the strength of the official classes, and
rendered them as odious to the people as
the farmers general were to the people of
France century ago The unofficial
aristocracy are impatient, disguised and
ripe for rebellion. Nihilism is scotched,
not killed The Car refuses to grant his
subjects constitution. Perhaps he has
in mind the consequences which followed
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