The Washington critic., 1888-03-10
A NEW VIEW OF RUSSIA.
Nathaniel Page Says Some Startling
Things About the Czar's Autocracy.


Nathaniel Page Says Some Startling
Things About the Czar's Autocracy.
Hon. Nathaniel Page of Washing
ton returned recently from long trip
through Europe. He is q historian
and political economist, and he
studied the social and political phases
of the countries he travelled through.
He said to a Mail and Express re-
porter that Russia interested him
very much and furnished o wide field
for study.
Russia" he added, "can only be
governed by an enlightened aitoc-
racy. In America much sympathy
is expressed with the Nihilists, but
close study of the conditions of the
Cars vast empire will convince any
one that the people are not capable of
governing themselves. 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 q
monarchy. There are about eighty
five different tribes in the empire,
some more fierce than the others, but
all Of more or less Tartar blood. They
can be held in subjection only by di-
rect power. Imagine the right Of suf-
frage conferred upon fierce tribe of
Tartars. 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 not educated to any
form of government except that of
despotism. We think q great feat
was accomplished when 1000, 900
slaves were freed in this country, but
it was nothing compared to the liberia
ton of millions of serfs in Russia.
According TO the ratio of increase,
Russia will double her population in
50 years, and so will Germany in
about that time. But France is des-
tined in the course of time to fade
from the map and her people to be-
come an extinct race. You rarely
ever see q Frenchman have over two
children in his family, while the Rus
slams and Germans have nine and
often fourteen. Then, too, the Rus
SLAMS 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 one inch. The noblemen in
Russia are large, magnificent physical
specimens
GLOW is Russia prospering
"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 dreary part OF
the country, with nothing but mud
huts in sight. All the noblemen be-
tween the two cities desired the road
TO be built through their estates, and
the result was the Car drew q 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 observatory was
erected not long since in Moscow and
calculation of the distance between
that city and St Petersburg revealed
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 contractors have moved away,
and some, perhaps, are dead"
Suppose Germany invades Rus.
sia ?"
"It will be aninvasion 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 Pc.
land from the Gar. Now, that is a
fair and beautiful country. The Poles
are magnificent and chivalric race.
Russia, however, can make 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 car
initiate our struggles. Americans are
treated with more consideration in
the Empire than Germans, English
French or Austrians."