New-York tribune., 1882-03-01
THE CZAR AND HIS PEOPLE.
LECTURE BY Rx-MINrsrER FOSTER.

A LECTURE BY EX-MINISTER FOSTER.
fHs RUSSIAN PEOPLE GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH
POSITION OF wOAAN-THE COMMUNAL SYSTEM
Although the weather was very dsagreeable last
evening, largo and attentive audience gathered
IN Chickering Hall to listen to lecture given under
the auspices Of tho Young Mems Hebrew Associa-
Zion. on The Gear and His Peoples or the fresent
Condition of the Russian Empire" Inc lecturer
was John W. Foster late Minister to St. Petersburg.
He did not sneak much about the prosecutions OF
khs Jews as he wrote letter that subject which
Swas rad Mt the recent meeting held to ex-
press svmpathy for the Russian refugees.
Mr.. Foster is only forty-fve years old,
but being prematurely gray, has an older ap-
pearance. He is of medium height, and has digni-
fed bearing when on the platform, while hc is very
cordial in manner when in conversation. He read
his lecture throagh spectacles Several times In
the course of its delivery he was heartily appauded
Mr.. Foster was appointed Minister to Mexico nine
years ago by President Grant After being there
seven years President Hayes transferred him to St.
Petersburg. HIS resignation from this latter posi-
tion was offered to President Arthur last November
but his successor has not yet been appointed. The
lecturer spoke in the main as follows:
Russia land OF strange contrasts and apparent con-
PaS S Of IN the eon e
the temperate regions OF the south from the savage
Sss Se and to
many that have sepa5ated from q; from
sa, noSy cen dnteased att nto ,Se
masses the lower orders often elevated to the rank of
Empe embracing as IL does Snsha, the territorial nhe eS
lied by homogeneous people, sprung from one race.
many races and religions are ineSrcaby entTned
gether with but few coherng bonds OF unity We find
es iSe Roman Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew the
Mu.suman of Turkey and Tartary the Buddhist Of In;
% 'pi sm sn ali the anbeeveSs The Bible has
sssn Rs o ns p s
IN the ssvonic Congress held in 1867 panorama OF wax
Which the Empire composed; In the west were
seen the finns and Esthonians; IN the
the south the jews and the Poles; southeast the
Mussuman and the Buddhist in the extreme south the
Caucasian and Armenian merchant; while In tho
CENTRE towering far above the rest stood the Great Rus
n II tine Of f sas s
the diverse races OF the Great White Car.
strange nisD o1c The | system q government which
was finally evolved out Of the confusion Of the
70 understand correctly how This wide extended
Of ta elements % i asd 3 the II s to
Is occupied by comparatively homogeneous people,
ss. and nss, one sareas religion as ths kHss T5s
Empire has been compared to mosaic, whose centre is
0 or eoGer Of small and Vareaed
The sixty millions Of savonio Russians the great
framework border is made up TO the North of the
ana G S afs d baS % and
Mussemans Of Crmea; and to the West Of the other
ora saso 81 proynces The twenty or more ions who
make up the border or confines OF the Russian Empire
interest and no power to make successful revslt 80
long the mass 81 & sas Kss NaGn remains
as unity OF interest as great pride OF patrmony
and a. vigorous mission OF internal development and
Il stands the chief Of
of the great race DIVISIONS OF the civilized world
no attn have diyided in
italy or decayed SPAIN and the
the widespread and Slav race has only one
great leader IN the Car and both the Emperor and his
it s the key to much Of the history and policy Of the
1t would be useless in single lecture to attempt even
sketch Of the historical development OF Russia; but It
not be amss to refer to the three rec great aims OF its
aton and began to sodify the Russ people into one
oHn the s fns %
cnsd to an unfsvorabe estimate Of the foreign policy of
dis@embered sns and PROSTATE, Poland But it must
not be forgotten that the two peoples have
RaSssBitants RssBSia and r1a holy temple.
years Of doubtful warfare victory inclined TO the Rus
sians and they have enforced their triumph with un-
attn to reach SS and, free
SS% Ss S
And this brings US to the third and last great
se s1es Greek G Church and ay With the q
and in the East, This last only awaits its fun accom-
q ssd the q he
The world has been attracted to the internal condition
:. This the reign % fts the sro1ss
the history OF the Russian Nation and the condition Of
the 81 s nd az hs IS
peasant organization.
TIE POWER OF THE czAR.
The autocratic power of the Emperor is marked by
more than one Inconsistency. From his imperial cap
tai the Gar exercises to the east south and west
absolute sway than eighty millions of subjects
with not single earthly power to stand
bctween his sole will and law But
hard by his palace from the dome st. Isaacs may
seen to north the confines Of one of his provinces
. na} yeSired to oppose his sovereign power to tho
win inhabitants as expressed In their elective and
81 aenSIs,ion to the Empire In 1909 has always pos
eessed o regular constitution and maintains represen-
Uates s Own.arif and coinage and exercises other
devotion As Paul went through ancient Athens and
said that the people were too sqpersops 80 in Russia
They spend much time in outward ceremony attending
SSo % fast ssa Of I anS There s00ys IS
little attention paid to cGlture both OF na9s tns
Of their Religion not to do too much thinking Some Of
the priests in the monasteries and costers ana IN some
sS are His but
clergy sorry say is far different The priests DO
n s above hes s pS Se do
respect them, and naturally the influence Of the
}Se people to infdeity Sometimes IT causes them 70
seek form Of religion similar to American Protestant
come very popular IL leaders not e1iled, aud
made to suffer every form OF cruelty for their deeerion
seceders the Church Of the State is IA BY
Ezar defy All