Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-05
RUSSIAN INCENTIVES TO WAR.

The deeply indebted state of Russia is of
ten referred to as likely to deter that gov
ernment from a great war; and if Russis
were civilized power, and amenable tc
western influences, there might be force il
this consideration. But as matter of faci
the demoralized state of Russian finance op
crates as an incentive to war, and this
largely because the condition of the country
is already so bad that war can hardly make
1t worse, while the pacific influence exer
cised by organized industry and commerce
in other countries are in Russia far too fee
BILE to affect the general situation. Some
interesting illustrations of the Russian feel,
ing on the subject have been furnished re-
Gently by the ST. Petersburg correspondent
of the Journal des Debats, who observes that
"a nation in the aggregate generally rea
sons like its individual members" and
proceeds: Now the first idea Of every
Russian, when he finds himself financially
entangled, is to give way to fatalism,
deny himself nothing, and shut his eyes
to the future. If demonstrated with he
will say, In my situation it doesn't signify
what do" And this, according to tho
Debats correspondent, is the temper of Rus
sia about war. Considerations of tinance
are met with optimist assurances as to the
sacrifices the people are prepared to make.
If it is pointed out that money is required
to make war, the answer is: 1--WE have
arms and plenty of food; and in any case
our soldiers are Injured to suffering" Aud
this correspondent suggests that the endur-
ance of Russia in prolonged war is calcu-
lated to be much greater than that of a
more highly organized society, simply be-
cause there is so much less delicate indus
trial machinery to get out of order. An
illustration is taken from natural history
which seems pointed. The tenacity Of life
in one of the lower organisms is usually far
greater than in the higher forms. The COM
plex organism of man yields much more
quickly to lethal injury than the more sim.
pie and rudimentary form of a reptile. Just
so Russia, because of her low state of vital
ity, her lack of important manufactures
and commerce, is enabled to sustain attacks
which would convulse and paralyZe more
advanced power. War, for the Russian
masses, moreover, threatens but small in
crease of suffering. Life with them is never
very we'll worth keeping, and the prospect
Of having it shortened little on the bat
tleiield is not very alarming. II fact,
the Russians have some OF the reasons
for preferring war which in the French rev.
olution raised up those ragged, gaunt, fierce
and indomitable ARMIES thai overau Europe.
ANY people for whom var is rather an es-
cape than curse are to lie feared, and es-
pecially when commanded by government
in which the sword exerts the weightiest
influence. Such a people, 90 led, ara apt to
become scourges to all their neighbors.
They are melted by the same potent causes
which sent the nomad races the Goths and
Huns, swarming from their forests and
marshes and sterile plains down upon the
nations which had acquired property, and
with it the desire for peace.
The poverty the bankruptcy, of modern
Russia is more apt to drive her to war than
to restrain her from it. This poverty, toe,
may we'll suggest the thought that there is
rich treasure beyond the Himalayas. And
the. general feeling that in some mysterious
way a great war would sponge off the slate
and open fresh account has also its influ
ence. National wealth is to come extent a
guarantee for peaceful foreign policy, but
an impecunious nation is naturally inclined
toward brigandage, and becomes the more
warlike the less it has at stake.-N. I. Iri'
hu,o