The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
EXILE TO SIBERIA.

olDerl8, she began TO SEND her criminals
and prisoneIs-of- to that country.
At first, the exiles who crossed the
Urals were few in number, but, as the
empire grew, the number increased
rapidly, and it is estimated that since
1854 nearly two million persons have
been exiled. This method of Furnishing
offenders against the Russian law,
which originally was simply rude at
tempt to settle a new country, and was
practiced in lieu of the sentence of
death, which had been abolished, has
long been regarded by many humane
people as cruel and barbarous. Sym
pathy for these convicts, banished from
home and friends, has lately been
freshly stirred by publications which
have called attention to their condition
and sufferings.
Although we do not defend the sys-
tenn, especially that most Objectionable
feature of it, the power held by every
village community to condemn any Of
its members to perpetual exile, pro-
vided the district judicial authority
approves, it is but just to remind our
readers that Russia is not the only
country which Furnishes it's convicts by
banishing them. Transportation to
the South Seas was, till a comparative
ly recent time, common punishment
in Great Britain. Moreover, France is
still sending thousands of her criminals
yearly to New Caledonia, and not q
voice is raised in condemnation Of the
act. Yet there are features in the
French treatment of her transports
which are far worse than any in the
Russian, and which, if generally known,
would justly arouse horror and indigna-
tion.
It is mistake to suppose, as many
| persons do, that the Russian posses
sions in Asia are either wholly ice
bound wastes or arid deserts. On the
contrary, there are in Siberia vast
tracts Of rich land, with climate like
that of our middle states, and capable
of supporting fifty millions of people,
instead Of the few hundred thousand
which they now contain. 1t is this
consideration which may lead the Rus
sian government to act favorably on
the recent unanimous recommends
ton Of the administrative council Of
the penitentiary department. This is,
that transportation to Siberia as pun
ishment for crime be totally abolished.
The recommendation is said to have
been made with the previous knowl-
edge and tacit acquiescence Of the czar.
There is probably no richer territory in
his dominions than southwestern Siber-
la, and, now that the railway has
brought it into close connection with
Europe, he doubtless feels that its
development ought no longer to be
checked by keeping it mere vast
prison-yard. For the experience of
more than century has proved that
neither the political suspect nor the
cvln "a. rss,-.--.-1 4daKes a useIuI eo,e.a
list.
Another consideration is the necessi-
| ty for a stricter control over the politi-
cal prisoners than can be exercised
under the present system. According
to a very recent official report fifty
per cent of the exiles could not be
traced less than five years after they
had crossed the Ural Mountains. %
With the completion of the proposed
railway across Siberia, even the very
slight control now exercised would be
impossible.
Then there can be but little question
that the Russian government is sensi-
tive to the criticisms which have re-
Gently been heaped upon its peniten-
tiary system, and that it desires to be
freed from the odium which this sys-
tenn has justly brought upon the en-
pire of the white car. The punish
ment proposed to be substituted for
exile is confinement in prisons for
common felons, and in fortresses for
''politicals." The arbitrary power of
Punishment now enjoyed by the COM
munes is to be annulled. Incorrigible
criminals are to be sent to the Island
of Saghalien, on the eastern coast of
Asia.
1t is sincerely to be hoped that these
reforms will be brought about, and that
Siberia, instead of being simply con-
vict-prison, will become, like Australia,
the home of great, free, and prosper
GUS people. But Russia is very con-
sentative country, and several previous
attempts to abolish exile to Siberia
have failed. Only when the czar has
issued his decree, as his, father did
when he freed the serfs, will the reform
be Youths Companion.
TUE CDPAT MAN