Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-07-28
LIRE m RUSSIA.
The ReinOrseless Power Exercised by the
Cxar's Police Onicisls.

The Renorseless Power Exercised by the
Cxar's FOlice Onicials.
There Is no power on earth 80 arbi.
trary. 80 omnipotent so omniscie MT
and so remorse.ess as the Russian Do
lice! ! shall have something more to
say about them in a future letter, but
stop here to advise every traveller
bound for Il nssia, Of whatever age, sex
or nationality, 10 take passport
properly Endorsed by the representa-
tive OF the Russian Government at
New York or Washington. 1t will do
no harm. and it may be useful to have
both; for the Russian police are of an
inquiring frame Of mind and lack con-
fdence in human virtue. With pass
port properly vised. strict obedi-
ence to all the regulations that are
plain and unmistakable. a discreet
tongue. and decent behavior, one
can be as safe and comfortable as in
any country on the globe and see much
and enjoy much that can not be seen
or enjoyed elsewhere. 1t has few
picturesque landscapes, no mountains
and no springs; but the people and the
palaces. the churches and the customs,
will revivify the most blase traveller,
and the gayeties OF both the summer
and winter seasons offer treat to
those who have exhausted Paris and
other social centers Of the world.
There need be no annoyanc from
the tyranny that Is constantly exer-
cised over both citizens and strangers.
there need be no test Of patience; it is
only necessary to submit, ami do 1t as
gracefully and politely as possible. A
visitor can see nothing without pass
or without police surveillance. He
may not look at q picture nor the
curiosities of the museum without hay-
ing gendarme peering over his
shoulder. II he is an artist he must
obtain the permission of the police to
make sketches and to go any where
he has got to have pass But all
these obstacles are easily overcome
and all the objects of interest can be
thoroughly enjoyed by an observance
OF the requirements and disposition
to acknowledge tho sovereignty OF the
police. Submission is all that is re-
CURED, and the rigid rules have been
made necessary by nihilism and dyna-
mite.
Every citizen must have a permit 20
live in the country. These permits
are issued annually upon the pay
ment Of a fee. If he wants to leave
the country or 60 from one town to
another he must notify the police. for
that branch Of the Government must
know whore each inhabitant Of the
vast empire sleeps every night. In
the provinces the rigid surveillance is
relaxed. but at st. Petersburg and
Moscow and other places visited BY
tourists there is constant contact
between the sovereign and the subject
that is disagreeable to both. The po-
lice grant permi sion to go and come
readily. There is no Interference
with travel nor with trade. Submis-
sion! submission! that is all. No one
can get ticket at a railroad station
nor on a steamboat without showing
a permit to leave; no hotel will enter
tain guest till he shows his passport.
One can not go anywhere or do any
thing without the consent of the au-
thorities. but it is easily obtained
and costs forty copacks for the stanA,
that appears on the document-about
fifteen cents.-W +. Curtis, in CHICAGO
NeWs.