The Evening critic., 1885-05-06
mTHE CRITIo,su TABLE.

In Stepniak's remarkable book, entitled
Russia under the Tsars," that Wig
orOus representative and terse ex-
FOUNDER of the Russian Lucrative and
revolutionary movement makes q strong
appeal to the sympathy of the English
people and points out the motives by
which the Imperial Government is aetuated
in its attempts to provoke war with
Great Britain. He says:
"Humanity is the chief, the main claim of
our cause for sympathy and support. But It
Is not the sole one. II was question OF pure
humanity when the bulgarian atroctty, when
the Bulgarian horrors wore spoken OF. IL was
question OF humanity when Mr.. Gladstone In.
terrupted diplomatic communication with the
King of Naples for the atrocity committed
against the Oarbonari. With Russia 1t is no
longer a question OF humanity only, but OF
general safety aud common interest. However
badly administered, however ruined, II is too
enormous body not 10 endanger by It's pres
ence other political bodies which surround
IT. II has an army OF million soldiers, who,
although dying from hunger and half clad, by
its courage on the field Is not Inferior 10 any
other in the world. Such an enormous force
left 10 the uncontrolled caprice OF a despot or
a courtier, is surely great Inconvenience for
human intercourse. To have such State for
O neighbor Is nearly as unpleasant as 70 sit by
an unfettered madmen at an evening party.
Nobody can answer for what ne Will do at the
next moment. Now, when am writing, an
absurd, useless, bloody Afghan war is perhaps
at hand. No Russian Parliament would have
answered. tue pEOpOblLlOn OLuorWlso Luhn Win
laughter. II Is wellknown desire OF des-
pots 10 get rid OF burning internal question.
II II pass over now who may answer for to-
morrow, when the need of such diversion
may be more stringent, or the ambition of
some bloodthirsty soldier more prevailing ?"
The peace which Mr.. Gladstone proposes
| to purchase will doubtless suit Stepuiak
better than war, for the longer tho restless
elements of Russia are kept without diver
sion, the sooner must the fabric of her au-
| tocracy fall. The book, however, ia one OF
intense and timely interest aud has Just
been published by Charles ScrIbner's Sons,
| New York. 1t can be had In Washington
of Mr. Robert Beall.
The latest addition to the American
Statesmen" series now in course of publica-
tion by Houghton, Mifllin & Co., Boston
and edited with great ability by John 7
Morse, jr., author of biographies of "John
Quincy Adams" "Thomas Jefferson" aud
John Adams, is life of samuel Adams
by James X. Hosmer of the faculty Of
Washington University, ST. Louis, Mo. II
Is handsome volume Of 430 pages with an
elaborate index, aud aside from the intrin.
sic interest attaching to the distinguished
subject Of the memoir, abounds In E,GtteI
Of valuable moment to the studepTof on
early and revolutionary hist9S. This
with other volumes of the Series, can be
had at Bealps. The Biographies now in
preparation are those Of Henry Clay by
Carl schurz and "Martin Van Buren," by
Mr. Dorshelmer.
An advance copy of "The Crest of the
Continent; Record of Summers Ram,
BILE In the Rocky Mountains aud Beyond, u
by Ernest IDgersoll, and published by r
Il. Donnelly & Sons, Chicago, has been re
eeived through the courtesy Of s. X
Hooper, general passenger agent Of the
Denver & Rio Grande Railway. 1t is
book Of over 300 pages, written in tht
clever, descriptive style for which th,
author Is noted, and profusely illustrated
many Of tho sketches being Of superio
artistic merit. It's tone is so far removed
from that Of the average guide book tha
it scarcely belongs to the same category
but is really a work Of genuine literary
excellence not only Of value to tho trsy