The sun., 1881-01-30


from Vienna, it was admitted that proposi-
tions to that end had been made by Russia.
1t Is easy to divine the motives that would
prompt the Northern Empire to desire the
renewal Of compact which was regarded
| as n guarantee of the peace Of Europe. The
rcigning Car is far from sharing the an
tipathy Of his subjects to the Germans, and
would not, without great reluctance, see
himself drawn into collision with his rela-
tive, Kaiser WILLIAM. Hunted as he has
| been for years by implacable enemies, his
| dominant wish is to be suffered to pass in
| tranquility the remnant OF his days. Aside,
| however, from tho personal inclinations Of
| the sovereign, there are fiscal and econom-
ical reasons Of great weight which impose
| on Russian statesmen at this time thrifty
and pacific policy.
When, few months ago. the new Finance
Minister took office, he undertook with zeal
and vigor the almost hopeless task Of estab-
fishing an equilibrium between income and
expenses; of rcconstructlng the whole fiscal
system, and uprooting tho abuses with
which this, like every other part OF the
Cars Government, is infected. He made,
wo are told, in full session OF the imperial
council, such an exposure Of ugly facts as
has seldom been witnessed In that body,
and which extorted for the moment from his
auditors an approval of his plans. He pune
tured the sham by which tho last budget
had been made to show a surplus, point
ing out that irregular allowances, which
depend in theory on the caprice of the Gar,
and which amount in the aggregate to vast
sums, never figure in the official estimates.
Ho went on to prove that, rs first step to-
ward financial reorganization and the pre-
vention OF widc-rcaching commercial
catastrophe, it was Indispensable to reim-
burse the Russian Imperial Bank for ad-
vances made to the Government, and which
exceed, by tho way, 4o0,0oO,0o0 roubles. The
Minister did not propose to provide for that
Indictment by augmcnting direct taxes.
for the people could not bear the slight
est increase OF their burdens. The sole
means OF paying the bank was to
be sought, therefore, in retrenchment Ac-
cordingly, the military budget was to be
reduced, the civil list to be pared down,
and, above all, measures we're to be taken,
by the detection and punishment Of pecula-
: tion, to stop the enormous leakage which
l has always intervened in Russia between
the taxpayer and the treasury.
5 There is little doubt that the Car in his
4 curtalment OF his personal disbursements
and it is plain that renewal OF the former
! understanding with the German and Haps.
I burg Emperor5 would permit of a material
} reduction in the outlay for military objects
These sources OF outgo, however, are insig
C nifcant compared with the portentous loss
OF revenue incurred through official corrup
tion and cmbezzlcmcnt. But there is nC
: | 10 bnt olync N la ar
h rested by any measures short OF politica
I revolution which should result In the whole
t sale ejectment of the Russian bureaucracy
from their functions. We may expect to SEE
n Finance Minister ABAzA wrecked on tho
same obstacle which even LoRIs MELIKoPF
y although invested with a virtual dictator
/ ship, has found insurmOuntablc. When al
autocratic government has reached the stat.
+ OF decrepitude in which Russia now is, anc
! in which France was during tho last day!
G OF the old regime, not even such physician.
r as ToURGoT and NEcKAR can euro it, be
% cause it will not take their remedies.
: No doubt the Finance Minister could re
o pay the bank its advances. and perhaps es
/ tablish transient equilibrium in the Rus
: sian budget, il he could have recourse to til,
usual expedicnt OF autocrntic governments
namely, increased taxation. But it happen
that the difficulties OF the fiscal situation
n are complicated with n widespread famn
re in the agricultural regions, and that tn
10 people, far from being able to boar n hcavie
y, load, arc themselves entailing now dra
in upon the treasury. The calamitous effect
* resulting from the falling off in last year
ly crops have for Somc timc been constantl
le growing in extent and gravity, and now de
* | mand the most strenuous eXertiOns on tn
O. part OF the Government, II tho people G
large districts are to be saved from deaf
,x by hunger. The destitution has caused
le ! fright!ul mortality in tho provinces Of Sara
c. tor and Samara, and even tho German col
n onsts on the NOlga, who are among tn
lo most thrifty and well-to-do farmers
n the empire, are suffering from famine. $
IN far, the attempts OF the Russian Covers men
n, to cope with the disaster have proved eL
ed tirely inadequate. The edo r instanc,
Is prohibiting the export Of rye ,.I not reEul
@, in chcapening that grain, for IT. turned ou
ig that very little had previously been sent ou
IN OF the country, the principal consumer, Ges
g, many, having been cut of by BISMARCK
Y. new tarif, under which native ryo can b
~ | sold for less than the imported Russia
So article The futility OF the restriction upo
or | exports being soon demonstrated, the Go,
ernment resorted To direct assistance in e,
IL treme cases, approprlat!ng million
I'd | Ioubles to Samara and Saratoff. Even ha
as the whole OF this sum passed unpiiere
ct through the hands of Russian bureal
t. Gratis to the intended beneilciares-
y incredible supposition--it would hay
OF proved grotesqucly insufficient to rcmGd
OF or even pGliate tho almost universal wal
70 o. food In the districts specified. Tho proc
It. however, that tho Cars Government, whic
,e squanders hundreds OF millions on the cou
ld and army, could be shamed into the sen
blance of compassion for starving populi
on tion, called forth loud clnmors for ussistano
n, from every district which is suffering fro
at Il want Of tho pcccssnrlcs Of lirc, This cI