Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-14
THE CARS DOMAIN.

An Interview with Gen. Young, Our Consul
General to st. Petersburg The Autocrat's
Satety-The Possport System.
The Washington Critic of Friday prints
an interview with Consul General Young,
VINO has just returned to this country
from st. Petersburgh on three months
leave of absence Following are excerpts:
Being inquired of whether there was
much activity in Russian military circles,
Gen. Young replied in the affirmative.
There Is" he said, constant and I'M
tlrlng work going on among the Russian
army officers. perfecting the troops in
drill and equipment, and they are max
ing wonderful progress. The Russian
army Is as complete military organize
ton to-day as the world has ever seen.
All branches of the service have the most
modern arms and are thoroughly drilled
IN their actual use."
DO you think Russia wants India?"
90 not; do not believe that she
would for moment seriously consider
the question of fighting England for
Inula. 1he reason for her attitude on
the Afghanlstan frontier? Ii is simply
because she wants to let England know
tnat she must not interfere with Russias
Her position IN regard to India is simply
menace to England. She holds Eng
land IN check by the implied threat con
Yeyed by her activity between Merry and
the Caspian sea. As for Afrhanistan.
Russia does not want the country either.
If she did, all she would have to do wouId
be to take it. She could do that very
easily. What Russia is working for on
the frontier is the friendship of the
ameer. That potentate is now England's
friend, and Russia is undermining that
country's influence with him: that is all
she is now working for in that direction.
She does not want ConstantinopIe and
Will get 1t In time. Russia has between
fifty and eighty thousand men between
the Caspian sea and Merry, and can handle
them rapidly. Those troops are simply
perfect; why, they have in their ranks
tailors bakers hatteos, weavers; in fact.
men of all trades, ready at any time when
called upon to so to work at them. 1t is
Is the same way throughout the Russian
army. By this you can see how thorough
the service is"
Are the Russian people discontented?H
mo; as rule they are a cOntented
people and love their emperor. NihiIism
has, think, been stamped out, There
are no more anarchist troubles in Russia
| "
preston that the car is afraid of his
life and goes about surrounded by a cor
don of guards, and is, in fact, prisoner,
is all moonshine. He goes around st.
Petersburgh just as it pleases him. He
Is, IN fact, seen much more frequently on
the streets than the president of the Unit
ed States. He gets into his carriage with
the empress and drives out to the regi-
ments that are Away maneuvering and
holding sham battles. He will leave the
carriage, jump on his horse and dash
around among his troops, giving orders
and taking personal part in what is going
on. He will then reiOin his wife and
quietly return to the city. Often he lives
for a couple of weeks with the empress
IN little house among the troops and is
no more attended than the colonel of any
regiment he is magnificent man, physi-
cally, six feet three inches in height, and
does not fear any man or devil. His
soldiers adore him. He is particularly a
family man, and is always to be found
with his wife. He seems to be devoted to
her and to his chiI,dren.n He is Roman
on, course. The RomaDOfS are a
splendid people, as a rule, and he is a
particularly splendid man"
How are Americans treated in Rus
sia?"
'Better than any other class of for
eigners. They are given facilities that
are extended to no other people. They
are always politely treated, although they
have to submit to the strict police sys-
tenn of the country. No one, no matter
from whom he may have passport, can
get into Russia unless that document has
been viewed by Russian official This
cfr hnf th-,,
member that every Russian within the
empire must also have a passport, and
must be ready to produce it when called
upon. Thus if a man is under suspension
all the authorities have to do is to take
away his passport, and he can go no
where. He is practically his own iailer.
Another thing TO show the caution of the
government: If foreigner enters Rus
STA to ransact any business or to enter
upon any sort of manufacture, he can
not do so until the authorities know all
about him, where he comes from, who he
IS, what he wants to do, what ho wants to
dot for, and, in fact, every little detail.
Men frequently go to Russia, think
ing that the business they have in
hand will be accomplished in four
or five days, and have found out
that those days will grow into weeks,
probably into months. Russia is emphat-
ically a government, and st. Petersburg
is perfect example of government. A
general of the Russian army governs the
city. His word in everything is law. He
is an absolute autocrat. He knows every
thing that goes on in that city. He
knows where every stranger is, where he
goes and what he does, and the czar
stands by him. The czar picks him out
because he is the kind of man he wants
and puts st. Petersburg in his hands to
rule"
Glow about the people, generality" was
asked.
'They are very good people, easy
to get along with, polite, and very
considerate of others. They are pro
gressive people, too. Russia has the fin
est artisans in the world. Russia's skill
ed labor is equalled by that of no other
country. What Russia's workers in gold,
silver, and inIaid work turn out is marvel
ous.'
'Is Minister Lathrop POPULAR"
''He is very popular. He has made
most excellent impression and we could
have no better man at st. Petersburg"