The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19
A DEFENSE OF AUTOCRACY
Ingenious and Plausible Argument in
Support of the Cars Government.
A Constitution Not Practicable and Not De-
street.-The Administration of the Laws
and the Lack Of Education in Russia.

Mr.. Perry S. Heath, the Journals Washington
correspondent, who made . tour of Russia last
summer, has in the press OF the Lorborn COM
pany, Baltimore. a book under the title IA
Hoosier in Russia. which deals with the Rus
sian empire. its people. nihilism, Siberia and the
exile system, and other features of the empire OF
the only white Gar, which will undoubtedly at
tract considerable attention. One of the chap
tors is a defense Of nihilism, by Sergius NJ. Step
MAX, the world renowned Nihilist This is fol-
lowed by a chapter UNFOLDING Russia's present
form of government, her refusal to educate her
subjects, tho remarkable spy and passport sys-
TENS, and the system of exile to Siberia. The
chapter was furnished by Count Charles d Ar
maud, q native Russian, who participated in the
Crimean war, and was with General Grant at
Shiloh. Owing to the intimate relations Of
Count d. Arnaud with the Russian legation in
Washington, and the remarkably logical grounds
taken In defense Of the Russian systems. it 10
believed that the chapter was inspired by, il not
written at. the Russian legation. 1t is probably
the strongest defense ever made OF the Russian
form Of government, and is in part as follows:
Much of the information obtained by Jour
nalists, travellers and casual students while in
Russia is wholly misleading. Failing 20 under
stand the language. habits and peculiarities OF
the natives, they obtain their facts from So
Journers who have no sympathy with or interest
In the country; from foreigners who have taken
up their residence there and are as unapprecia-
tive and prejudiced as themselves; from the few
natives known to the world as Nihilists, who
get their inspiration from Bskounin, Krapot-
kline and other disciples. aud from still other
sources which are more insidious IN their
methods. and successful in their aims to array
fhA nonnla0 ~ ha world
against Russia by constantly crying oppression
and despotism. / refer to England, English
diplomacy, and the English press. They are
evidently moved by jealousy of the growing
power and approaching supremacy of Russia in
the political affairs Of the old world.
1.-THE United States has been my home for
over thirty years; 1 am an ardent admirer of its
Constitution and laws, and l did my share to-
ward keeping the States united by service In the
war of the rebellion. Yet with all my love of
the liberty inculcated into me by this expert
ence | fail 10 see any necessity for q change In
the form Of the Russian government 1t Is
thoroughly adapted TO the wants of the people.
Under it they have attained q high degree OF
civilization, power and prosperity. Both the
government and people hold the United States
in high esteem, so that it is not unreasonable TO
ask that Americans do not hastily judge them
by the vaporings of their enemies. who. though
actuated by different motives, all aim to injure
Russia in the estimation of travellers by appeals
to sentiment merely, in which the Gar Is
pictured as a savage desp6t, who delights 10 tor
turing his subjects, and has no care or concern
for their welfare. 1 have known the present
CZar-Alexander II-almost since his infancy.
and can assure You that he is one OF the most
accomplished. liberal and enlightened monarchs
that ever "a. upon a throne; . monarch who con-
stantly studies the welfare Of his people; . mon
arch who is mild-mannered, gentle and kind.
and wh6continually strives to ascertain the
needs Of his subjects, and even now stands ready
to adopt whatever system of government would
L. - A. p.A-.
For these qualities he is almost worshiped by
the people, all reports to the contrary notwith-
| standing.
Russia is much larger in area than the United
States. and has a population OF nearly one hun
dred millions, made up OF a great many different
races and tribes, speaking as many languages,
differing in habits. religion and modes Of life.
and 10 many cases having been enemies long
ago. Anyone acquainted with the history OF its
rapid rise and progress will readily acknowledge
that the Romanoff dynasty has built substan-
TALLY and solidly with disorganized and dis
cordant material, carrying the people forward
from the primitive to their condition to-day.
And all this has been accomplished under the
present form OF government. Yet the nihilistic
cry. which seems to be most effective now, and
upon which they endeavor to justify their
dastardly attempts upon the life OF the En-
peror, is his refusal to establish a constitutional
government. Americans may look upon such a
demand as most reasonable; but If they under
stand the situation, and look at it from the
standpoint Of a patriotic Russian. they will
readily see their mistake.
There is no demand among the great mass of
the Russian people for such q change. Suppose
a constitutional government had been estsb-
lished before the liberation of the serfs. Could
the much-lamented Alexander III, with a stroke
of his pen. have been able to free &c. 600, 600 OF
theml When We recall how much blood and
treasure were expended to secure the freedom
Of only 4. GOO, 00c of people in the United States.
We can form some idea OF what the undertaking
L UAn1d nue. hAAo - p-a Nh atAnA af
only a South, like we had. slavery extended over
the whole empire. and the Parliament would
nave been controlled by 1.-THE slave-owners.
The aristocracy and landed proprietors would
of interference. and they would have taken care
not TO allow their slaves to be freed. This great
act OF the so-called despotic government of
Russia ought TO outweigh nearly all the charges,
true and untrue. made by its enemies.
but there are several other unassailable OBJ
~jectlons to a Russian Parliament.
such q body, which must include representa-
tives OF all the classes. creeds and nationaiities.
would be a Babel of confusion and q Bedlam of
conflicting interests. Imagine q parliamentary
body composed Of Poles, Germans, Cossacks,
Tartars. Mohammedans. Greek Catholics, Rom.
an Catholics. T~urkomans, jews, Copts, and
scores OF other wholly dissimilar races and
nationalities, bitterly opposed. antagonistic TO
each other. Could such a body legislats for q
great empire like Russial Would the same
legislation answer for the Tartar and the Pole.
for the Mohammedan and the Roman Cathollcl
/ believe not; and I am confident that constitu.
tional government is not wanted in Russia ex
cept by q few idle dreamers and enthusiasts.
"Is will require very many years to educate
the Russians up to the proper appreciation oi
constitutional government, even at the rapid
rate of progress made under the Romanoh
dynasty. And until this education is accom-
plished GENERALIZATION of power is in the hands
of the Gear and his counselors; and the judicioui
exercise of the same is the only governmental
system capable of saving Russia from dismem.
berment and Disruption. The division
OF the empire into provinces ruled directl,
by a Governor appointed by the Car and
council selected from among the people thereo,
amounts to practical local self-government; and
the erection Of each of the many distinct nation
alities into separate provinces removes all the
dangers OF a clashing Of interests such as would
be sure to result from any imperial parliament
ary system. Another and by no means a lesser
advantage to be derived from this system Is the
gradual and healthy assimilation which Is going
steadily forward. and which will surely result in
breaking the tribal and racial barriers now oper-
atiug to the disadvantage of the country.
The criminal law of Russia. OF which we heal
go much unfavorable and unjust criticism, II
nothing more than the code OF Napoleon, with q
few minor changes. The charge that the admin
istrstion OF the criminal law is harsh and tyran
nical is a libel on the judiciary of the empire
which has been the first OF the great nations x
abolish the death penalty. There is no capita
punishment in Russis, except in aggravated
cases of high treason, snch as attempts on th'
life of the Car. But the impartiality will
which the law Ia enforced Ia proyerbial. Prime;