Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-13
IMPRESSIONS oF RUSSIA.


country, as well as in many others, con-
corning Russia, is undeniable The recent
work of the accomplished observer and
critic, the Danish publicist, Brandes, viii
go far toward correcting popular error in
this direction. DR. Brandes is a very
shrewd politician and critic, keen OBJ
server, and a bold and charming writer
No one has more plainly, entertainingly
or vigorously written of Russia. He as
sures us that the present condition in Rus
STA
SIS neither the result of a stagnation for
thousand years, nor of a uniform progress TO-
ward the better, which has been too slow and
much delayed, nor of 2 retrograde movement in
culture unlnterruptedly continued for long
time. 1t is the product of reaction now TWEEN
ty-hYe years old, constantly fortified anew by
instructions and attempts ct assassination
Concerning the Car, he says there is
no want of goodwill and earnestness on his
part. He declares that justice is done
everywhere and in all circles, to his char
acter. He declares that Alexander likes
to see honorable and upright men about
him, and that he was sincerely grieyed,
nay, angry, at the corruption and deceit
that during the last RusSo-Turkish war
extended even to the highest officers of the
army, and had SO large a share in the I'M
favorable progress of the campaign. He
is a man of honor; but not the great man
and leader who is needed at this moment
upon the throne of Russia, notwithstand-
ing that it is misfortune to any country
to need great ruler-but il is a greater
misfortune for it not to have zone when
needed. DR.. Brandes declares that the
present Emperor is splendid example of
yirtuous life. He is the first Russian ruler
for century-indeed, the first of all,
"whofurnishes an example of an occupant
of the throne of Russia, about whose rela-
lions to the other sex even evil tongues
have not had the slightest thing to report.
The men or the women who have occupied
it have, from all time. been renowned for
their erotic extravagances." Dr. Brandes
declares that the changeableness-
amounting to whimsiicality often-of
motive and action among the aris-
tocratic class in Russia, is unparal-
lei ID by that of any nation. The examples
he presents of this truth are not only num-
erous and romantic, but furnish the key.
notes and suggest much of the material for
dramatic sensational composition that will
delight The novelist and playwright The
Court runs riot with frivolity about the
most exemplary of Emperors, and is rife
with irregularities that neither react upon
the throne nor spring from it. We can
understand much better, in the light this
observer sheds upon Russian society and
character, the reason that has inspired the
Car TO severely punish Grand Duke
Alexis, even condemning him to Siberia
for term, for his VIGOROUSLY scandalous
conduct and the defiant attitude he as
sumed toward the public in his Illicit re-
lations with the beautiful Countess Beau
harnais. The recent Geographic dispatches
that attributed to the Gar political jeal-
ousy and anger in furnishing Alexis, were
probably incorrect, for according to DR..
Brandes, the Emperor is actuated in these
matters by his adherence of criminality
of relation between the princes and
prince:ses of the royal and aristocra,ic
circles. Within the royal family he at
least can make his power felt, however i'm
possible it may be for him to reform the
entire aristocratic circle Of Russia.
The review by DR.. Brandes of the polIt
zeal condition of Russia, of the insellectu-
ality of the empire which has its seat in
Poland, OF the prison system that furnishes
nearly all thatis commendable, ought to find
greatly wider reading among thinking
people than it is likely TO have in its pres.
ent book form, though Mr.. Eastman has
presented the translation in an admirable
manner. If newspapers would publish
occasional chapters from Brandes' book of
Russian observations, the general public
would find them the most readable, often
the most romantic and always most in
structive and entertaining of matter, and
great deal of popular error concerning
the largest nation of the earth would be
dissipated.