Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-08-05
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY AUGUST 5. 1882.
Russia,s, Pressing Need.

Russian patriots are bitterly complain
ing that "there are no men in Russia"
In truth, hardly ever before has there
been such sterility of able public men
in Russia al now. Though young and
able-bodied, the Gear himself gives the
first example of total inability, of deplor-
able lack of craftsmanship, and OF
shameful weakness. Such a master, OF
course, can neither comprehend nor sus-
tain by his authority able and energetic
public men, and SO they have disappear
ed from view for the time being. An old
Russian gentleman, who well recOllects
the iron rule of Gear Nicholas, and who
took an active part in the reforms pro-
mulgated by Alexander ii, the Liberator,
said to me:
"There where eagles were accustomed
to soar crows are now sitting. The places
that belong to men of genius are filled
with deplorable mediocrities. The men
that ought to command are replaced ev-
erywhere by servile cOurtiers. My
friend, if YOU asked me to show you our
great men, l should take you to our GEM
eteries. The country of Peter the Great
is now but barren Carbon.
In the Cars government there is not
a single man able to suggest any policy
that would benefit the huge empire.
There is no minister who could carry
out reform of any Importance. The
Cars government of to-day does not
rule, it only exists, and there Is no power
that could breathe new life intOit. Ev-
en- the daily sermons of the Moscow Ju-
piter, Mr.. KatkOff, of the Moscow News,
on the text of "the signal weakness of
the governments authority" fail to
brace up the shattered and disOrgdnized
bureaucratic machinery of the Gar.
The Russian press and Russian liter
AZURE of to-day also lack men of talent.
Among 600 Russian newspapers there is
none that excites general interest in the
reading public, for there are no original
and vigorous writer's. The GOlOs and
the NOvOe Vremia, the two most widely
circulated dailies, which count about
10000 subscribers each, fill their col
umns with mutual denunciatiOns. The
GOlOs speaks of its rival as "a journal the
name Of which is never mentioned
among decent people," and the NOvOe
Vremia never tires Of denouncing the
GOlOs for its constitutional tendencies"
which are equal to treason, and also for
its slack of patriotism and com mon
sense" A satire of DObrOlubOff, written
over fifteen years ago. is perfectly appli-
cable to the Russians OF to-day:
Glory to us! We stand in muddy pond,
And OF it every day we grow more fond.
OF the poets there Is none worth read
ing. The Russian muse keeps silent
since the death of the great poet Nekras-
off in 1878. The great novelist TOurge-
neff is hourly expected to die, and anOth-
or novelist of not inferior talent, though
less known abroad, Leo TOlstOi, has set
himself to reveal the mysteries of the
Book of Revelation. And the younger
generation as yet gives no promise.
Recently the Holy Synod was forced to
declare in public that there are no men
to fill the vacancies in the churches
throughout Russia and to preach the Cos
pei: Formerly only graduates of theO-
logical seminarieS were ordained as
priests, but during the last two decad es
it has become rule for the best students
to give up theology for law or medicine.
Thus the degeneration of the Russian
Clergy has been brought about, and now
1t is recognized fact. In answer to the
petitions of many bishops, the Holy Syn
cd has decided that, in places where no
graduates of theological seminaries can
be found to fill the pulpits, the bishops
may Ordain worthy deacOns. The spread
of sectarianism and materialism in
Russia has been ascribed to the low de-
gree of education of the Russian priests.
What will become of "HOly Russia"
when there are manv priests who have
no theological education at all?
Investigations recently made in the
various state departments have revealed
the fact that there also there are no men
of sufficient honesty and ability to fill
responsible posts. To his horror the
Gar has found that there are no militia
~ officers loyal enough to guard him.
But, in truth, there are among the
Russians plenty of able, honest and
brave men worthy to fill any post of pub.
lie trust; but such men keep far away
from the corrupt administration of the
Gar, and nothing but the restless wave
of q popular revolution can bring them
to the capital. But If they should come
there will be no Carbon then, either
fertile or barren.