Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-05-07
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
Russian Incentives to War.

The deeply indebted state of Russia is
often referred to as likely to deter that
GOvel nment from great war: and if
Russia were civilized power and
amenable to Western Influences, there
might be force ia this consideration.
But az matter of fact the demoralized
state of Russian finance operates as an
incentive to war, and this is largely be-
cause the condition of the country is al
ready so bad that war can hardly make
it worse, while the pacific influence ex-
ercised by organized industry and COM
msrce in other countries are in Russia
far too feeble to affect the general stu
alton. Some interesting illustrations
of the Russian feeling On the subject
have been furnished recently by the st.
Petersburg correspondent of the Journal
des Debats, who observes that "a nation
in the aggregate generally reasons like
its individual members" and proceeds:
"NOw the first idea of every Russian.
when he finds himself financially en-
tangled. il to give way to fatalism. deny
himself nothing; and shut his eyes to
the future. If demonstrated with he
will say, In my situation 1t doesn't sig
nifty what / do" And this, according
to the Debats correspondent, is the tenn
per of Russia about a war. COnsidera-
tiOas of finance are met with 0ptimist
assurances as the sacrifices the people
are prepared to make. Ii it is pointed
out that money is required TO make war
the answer is: "We have arms and pleD-
| ty Of food; and in any case our soldiers
are iaursd to suffering" And this cor
respondent suggests that the indurance
| e nl,,nc 10 lan
ted to he much greater than that 3f a
more highly organized society simply
because there is so much less delicate
industrial machinery to get out of order.
An illustration is taken from natural
history which seems pointed. The ten
acity of life in one OF the lower organ
isms is usually far greater than in the
higher forms. The cOmplex organism
of man yields much more quickly to
lethal injury than the more simple 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 at
taeks which would cORvulse and para
lyze a more advanced power. War, for
the Russian masses, moreover, threatens
but a small increase OF suffering. Life
|
keeping, and the prospect Of having ii
shortened little on the battlefield 10
not very alarming. In fact, the Rus
slams have some of the reasons for pre-
ferrIng war which in the French RevO-
luton raised up those ragged, gaunU,
and indOmitable armies that Overran
Europe. Any people for whom war is
rather an escape than curse are to be
feared, and especially when commanded
by Government in which the sword
exerts the weightiest influence. Such a
people, so led, are apt to become sceurges
to all their neiyhbOrs. They are melted
by the same potent causes which sent
the nOmad races, the Goths and Huns,
swarming from their forests and marsh
es and sterile plains down upon the na-
tiOns which had acquired property, and
with it the desire for peace.
The poverty, the bankruptcy, Of mod
ern Russia is more apt to drive her to
war than to restrain her from it. This
poverty too may well suggest the thought
that there is rich treasure beyond the
Himalayas. And The general feeling
that in some mysterious way great
war would sponge off the slate and open
a fresh account has also its influence.
National wealth is to some extent a
guarantee for peaceful foreign policy,
but an impeeunious nation is naturally
inclined toward brigandage, and be-
comes the more warlike the less Ii has
at stake.-Ne,U York Tribune.