Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-09-24
THE RUSSIAN POLICE.
A Force Which is Notorious for Impositfo
and Extortion.

A Force Which is Notorious for Imposition
and Extortion.
Although the whole of the Russian
official system is not above suspicious
of corruption and bribery. the police
of all grades are notorious, both at
home and abroad. for barefaced impo-
sition and scarcely concealed extortion.
Their malpractices, as well as those of
officials in general. are dwelt upon by
every unprejudiced writer on Russian
interior policy. and have been faithful
~ exposed by Goyolin his satirical COM
edy, 1.-The Inspector-General," in
which he describes the CONSERVATION
among the corrupt officials of a prov
incial town caused by the unexpected
advent of the Inspector. While indulg-
ingin mutual determinations concerning
past misdeeds, which in a short time
must become known to the authorities,
a shrewd person evinces his apprecia-
ton of the situation by saying
to the chief delinquent: You steal
too much for your place" The
whole secret of success in
the police is based upon the idea so
happily put in words by the eminent
satirist. Provided police agent knows
just where to stop, ana does not ''steal
too much for his place." his superiors
wink at his venality, while the general
public find it to their advantage to pay
the blackmail without protest. To re-
fuse is to incur the enmity of the whole
fraternity, and sooner or later would
inevitably be attended with disaster, as
the Russian police have happy knack
OF manufacturing cases by the side OF
which the occasional plants perpe-
trated by our black sheep of the force
fade into utter iusignifcance. A glar-
ing example of such conduct has just
been brought to light at Warsaw. re-
sulting in the Punishment of a secret
police agent for preferring totally
unfOunded charge of Socialism against
DIR. Herring. Although in this instance
the culprit was brought to justice. it is
worthy of note that the unfortunate
victim has been subjected to his extor-
lions. and in constant terror, for three
year. Numerous cases have occurred
that have never been made public
through want of means or influence on
the part OF those oppressed by the po-
lice.
The Russian police force is divided
into two distinct classes-the political.
or secret police, and the civil or mu-
nic'pal police. The former division
pervades every class of society, and is
a most powerful instrument of oppres-
sion in the hands of an unscrupulous
minister. Throughout the whole of
the colossal Russian Empire and in
various foreign capitals its agents are
to + e found, while the most trifling oc-
currences capable of bearing a political
construction, or misconstruction, are
immediately reported on to headauar-
tiers. As these agents are not ALWAYS
known to each other, amusing mis-
takes are made, and sometimes high
police functonary is astonished to find
8 detailed account of his movements
awaiting his return to official duties
from a short pleasure trip in the prov
inces or abroad. Secret agents are
met with in fashionable drawing rooms,
in shops. and theaters, and in servants
livery. In each case their motive is
the same-to gain confidence in order
to betray. OF course, as in every other
calling. there are honorable men in the
Russian secret police, who would scorn
to Willingly do q base action; but the
nature of their profession. and the
methods pursued in tracking political