New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
RUSSIAN PRISONS.

RUSSIAN PRISONS
Prince KrapOtbines disclosures respecting
Russian prisons have called forth temperate
protest from DR.. Lansdel, the English clergy
man who has made special study of the sub
iect. He repels successfully, in The Confem-
poralV RerieW, the Socialists contemptuouS
references to his work. " Through Siberia" AS
serting that he has not depended exclusively
upon his own observations but has taken note
of the existing literature upon the subject.
He also disposes ef1ectually of Prince hIapot-
kine's startling assertion that two honest ana
capable prison TeiOrmers, whose praises had
been sounded by the English bOOk-writer, were
Immediately dismissed. lie asserts that while
they were transferred from the districts where
they were doing useful work, they were neither
dismissed nor degraded, but promoted and hon
ored. Having resented the imputations that
were cast upon the credibility of his own ac-
count of Russian prison-life, he confines his at
tention TO the fortress of Peter and Paul OF
which Prince Krapotkine gave so revolving
description. This fortress prison was in
spccted by DR.. LaHsdell last summer, and he
found neither in the Troubezkoy BastiOn nor
in the Courtne the torture-chamber the sub
terranean cells, the walls dripping with damp,
the pools of water on the floor, nor any OF the
horrors and denominations recOunted by the 30
cialst Prince. His own observations were sub
sequently confirmed by the confidential state
ments of a Russian who had been imprisoned
in the fortress for three years.
A foreigners inspection of a Russian prison
is necessarily restricted in scope lie can only
see what he is allowed to see, and special pre-
variations may be made for his visit. DR.. Lans-
dell was told that he could see everything and
choose Lis own time to do so, and he took the
Minister o. the Interior AT his word and went as
soon ~ permission was accorded him; but the
application to visit the fortress had been made
several days before. The first cell into which
he peeped was occupied by Nihlist. who had
been arrested for constructing Il mine under
one of the streets of st. Petersburg. The prs
oner was not in irons, nor ravng with insanity,
but apparently in excellent health, lying ut full
length on his bed, reading n book and smoking
n cigar. If DR.. Lansdcl could have entered
the cell and talked with the prisoner he might
have learned whether the comfort which he
seemed to be enjoying was the ordinary routine
of the prison or a special indulgence designed
to affect the English book writers Judgment.
This he was not allowed to do ; on the contrary,
he was asked 10 creep mp on tlp-toe and look in
without disturbing the prisoner. The fact
that the visitor WAS not conducted To the cub
liettes or dismal underground chambers of th"
Alcxci Ravelin Is not indlsputablc evidence
that those gloomy places have been abolished
and the statements of the prison oiliclalsIespect
ing the diet hours Of exercise, nedlth ana pily-
ileces Of the inmates of the fortress are 10 be
accepted with reserve. They may have shown
him every thing and told him all that there Was
to tell but such evidence II obviously tainted
with suspicion. A. for the Russian who was
imprisoned in the fortress for tlIco years, his
experience wa, acquired twenty years ago, !
when Alexander II had set out in The path of |
Liberalism aud many prison reforms had been |
effected. The events OF the last |
decade have tended to chill the enthusiasm cf |
practical refoImers. and the prisons have been |
conducted very much as every hing else has
been in Russia, in a slip,hod and corrupt way,
by incapable and Iapacous officials.
Dr. Lansdell does not contend that Russian
prisons are what they might be- or ought to be.
He al nits readily enough that there are many
abuses which should he reformed, many prisons
which should be pulled down altogether; but
insists that they should not be painted any
lIdCktf iuaH arc tnlitNidlll NicH tloHc
who escape from them are vindctiye and prcju-
diced witnesses against the State. Undoubt-
edly the prisoners tale OF horrors, rs it Is re-
counted in the Nihilist sheets printed in Swift
erland 10 often grossly exaggerated and some
lines deliberately invented But the truth re-
,pectng the Russian prisons will never be
1lurted out by officials and governors of for
Iesses, nor will it be brought under the eyes Of
visitors so good naturcd and credu
Gus 40 DR.. Lansdell. The prisoners will have
O tell it, if it be told at ALL Such recital as
ime Koutouzoii's, in Prince KrapotAines
,aper is an indictment against Russian meth
IDS of administration which DR.. Lansdell does
lot attempt to answer The indlsnities SUI.
cred, the denominations witnessed by this
choo teacher on her enforced journey from
me town lookup TO another on the road from
It. Petersburg to the PIussian frontier, are not
o be dismissed as on idle Socialist tale. 1t
eads like naked truth, not like drcssed-up
teton.
PHYSICAL CULTURE ~ COLLEGES
The subject of physical culture is attracting