, 1888-03-29
A NEW VIEW Of RUSSIA.
A Critical Observer Says Some Startling
Things About the Czar's Autocracy.


Things About the Cars Autocracy.
Hon. Nathaniel Paige, of Washington,
returned recently from a long trip
through Europe. He is a historian and
political economist, and he studied the
social and political phases of the coun-
tries he travelled through. He said to a
reporter that Russia interested him very
much and furnished a wide field for
study.
"Russia," he added, "can only be gov
erned by an enlightened autocracy. In
America much sympathy is expressed
with the Nihilists, but a close study of
the conditions of the cars vast empire
will convince any one that the people
are not capable of governing them
selves. What the Nihilists seek to do
cannot be done, because the inherited
tastes and the environment of the people
make it impossible for them to under
stand any rule save that of a monarchy.
There are about eighty-five different
tribes in h empire, some more fierce
than the others, but all of more or less
Tartar blood. They can be held in sub
lection only by direct power. Imagine
the right of suffrage conferred upon q
fierce tribe of Tartarsl They would soon
kill each other off in their vain attempts
to see who should be the political ruler.
Then, too, the serfs have been freed and
they are lot educated to any form of
government except that of despotism.
We think a great feat was accomplished
when a ZOO, 900 laves were freed in this
country, but it was nothing compared to
the liberation of millions of serfs in Rus
STA.
according to the ratio of increase
Russio will double her population in six
ty-five years, and 80 will Germany in
about that time. But France is destined
in the course of time to fade from the
map and her people TO become an ex-
tinct race. You rarely ever see a French
nan have over two children in his
family, while the Russians and Germans
ave nine and often fourteen. Then, too,
the Russians and Germans grow up
great, strapping fellows, healthy and
strong, while the reverse is usually the
case with the French. Indeed, the French
army has had to lower its standard of
height n inch. The noblemen in Russia
are large, magnificent physical speci-
MEMS"
How is Russia prospering?"
1.-THE country is not as poor as many
imagine. The people eat wholesome food,
and naturally become sturdy Several
railroads have been built. The one from
st. Petersburg to Moscow is through a
dreary part of the country, with nothing
but mud huts in sight. All the noblemen
between the two cities desired the road to
be built through their estates, and the
result was the car drew a straight line
from st. Petersburg to Moscow, and left
them all some distance from the road. A
curious fact has recently come to light in
regard to this famous air line road, built
by the Winanses, of Baltimore. An OBJ
s%ervatory was erected not long since in
Moscow, and n calculation of the distance
between that city and st. Petersburg re-
vealed the fact that the contractors on
the road had charged for eighty miles
more than the actual distance. OF course
nothing could be done. Many of the con-
tractors have moved away, and some
perhaps are dead"
Suppose Germany invades Russia?"
at will be an invasion as disastrous as
was that of Napoleon. No army can
penetrate into the interior of Russia and
not be destroyed. The Germans will not
attempt it, but simply be content with
wrestling Poland from the car. Now,
that is a fair and beautiful country. The
Poles are n magnificent and chivalric
race. Russia, however, can make q
great fight. The Russians can use paper
money, as we did during the late war.
We conquered the ~Confederacy with
paper money and other nations can imi-
tate our struggles. Americans are treated
with more consideration in the empire
than Germans, English, French or Aus
TRANS: 'h-New York Mail and Express.