Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-02
Russian Incentives To war.


The deeply indebted state Of Russia Is Offer
referred 10 as likely 10 deter that government
from a great war; and IL Russia were civilized
power, and amenable 10 western Influences,
there might he force I'm this consideration
But rs matter Of fact the demoraiized state
OF Russian finance operates as an incentive to
war, and this largely because the condition of
the country Is already SO bad tlat war can
hardly make II worse, while the pacific in
fuence exercised by C'ganized industry and
commerce i'm other countries are I'm Russia TAR
too feeble TO affect the gen eral situation. Some
interesting illustrations or the Russian feeling
on the su.JeSt nave oeen IuFhlshed recently
by the ST. Petersburg correspondent of the
Journal DIES DebdtS, who observes that "a nation
In the aggregate generally reasons like its in
dividual members and proceeds: Now the
first idea OF every Russian, when he ( 3ds him
self financially entauClcd, il - give way &c
fatalism, deny himself nothing and shut his
eyes 10 The future. II demonstrated with he
will say. in my situation II doesn't signify
what do And this, according 10 the Details
correspondent. Is the temper ri Russia about
"A war Considerations Of finance are met with
optimiSt assurances rs 10 the sacrifices the
people arc prepared to make. If u is pointed
oui that money Is required to make war, the
answer i: I'VE have arms and plenty 81 food:
and In any case our soldiers are Injured 10 suffer
ing. And this currcs pendent suggests that the
endurance OF Russia in prolonged war is calct,-
lated Ia be much greater than That OF a more
hlShly Organized society, simply because there
Is so much loss delicate industrial machinery
10 get out OF order. An illustration is taken
from natural history which seems pointed
ne ttiiitcllN oI iie In one al the lower organ
lsms Is usually far greater than I'm the higher
forms. The complex organism oi a man yields
much more quickly 10 lethal injury han the
more simple and rudimentary form ~ a reptile.
just SO Russia, because of her low state Uf Ne
tallty, her lack OF important manufactures aud
commerce, l. enabled to sustain attacks which
would conNulSe and paralyZe a more advanced
power. War, fer the Russian masses moreover
threatens but a small increase Of suffering
Lille with them Is never very well worth keep
Ing, and the prospect OF having q shortened "A
little Oh The battlefield l. not very ALARMING
In TACT. the Russians have some OF the reasons
for preferrng war which in the French reNo-
luton raised up those ragged, gaunt fierce
and indomitable armies that ovcran Europe
Any people for whom war is rather an escape
than curse are 10 hc feared, and especially
when commanded by government In " hich the
sword eNertS The wcighticSt influence. such "A
people. so led. are apt Ia 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 prop
erty. and with ii the desire for ne ace.
The poverty, the bankruptcy, OF n odern
Russia l. more apt to drive her To war tLan To
restrain her from IL. This poverty too NAV
well suggest the thought that there Is rich
treasure beyond the IimalayaS. And me gem
eral feeling that in some mysterious way "A
great war would sponge OF the >,ate and open
fresh account has also it's Influence. Ma
for a peaceful foreign policy. hut an irnpecuni-
eous nation is naturally inclined toward hri-
gandase, and becomes the more warlike the less