The Washington critic., 1890-02-17

committed suicide. 1hnt rcnugd ana /
sensitive woman should have suffered |
such fate merely for political Of |
fense, and that the horror of the occa-
sion should have been heightened by
the awful method of escape adopted by
her three fellow prisoners, were events
sufficient TO arouse in all hearts pity,
indignation and wonder.
The relations of the United States to
the Russian Government have always
been of the most cordial character, aud
they haze been long and evenly main
tanned. The eople of this country will
never forget that in its hour Of sorest
trial and direst danger the friendship of
Russia remained staunch and true. Still,
no sentiment of friendship on our part
can suffice to condonc the barbaro1s
treatment which has been described in
this case, and If the facts alleged re-
ceive confirmation the methods of the
Russian Government will not fail to
awaken the severest condemnation of
the American people.
But is this dispatch really worthy of
belief? 1t is to be remembered always
that such stories from the exiles of far
of Siberia necessarily reach the outside
world through tedious, difficult, cir
cuitous and dubious channels. They
come through persons who have every
opportunity and motive to eXaggerate
and misrepresent This particular tale
rests almost solely on the authority of
Scrgius Stepniak, Russian refugee in
England, believed to be in the pay of
the English Government, an avowed So
cial Anarchist, and one eager at all
times to vilify the Russian Government,
At first thought it will be natural to
suppose that Russia, which has of late
years made such remarkable progress
in the arts and methods of civilization,
and which has been sedulously obser-
want of the obligations of national
comfy and good will, would be careful
TO refrain from any measures likely to
be repugnant to the enlightened sense
of the civilized world. The proposition
| tDuJ l'lC OOhlldll - OhO OuoO lCoto
almost wholly on the statements of po-
litical agitators who live by furnishing,
as occasion demands, the timely fuel
which sustains their agitation.
That reports in regard to Russian
prison life, coming from such sources,
are to be received with considerable
suspicion is shown by the fact that
Russian citizens of the United States
who are well.informed, Indignantly
deny that the prison system of Russia
is exceptionally severe, or that the al
legged barbarities which are periodically
described by interested and prejudiced
raities are justified by the circum-
stances.
Altogether the story from Kara needs
impartial confirmation.
IT is TO DE REGRETTED that a baby actu-
ally died of starvation In its mothers arms.
while she, homeless and penniless, wake
the streets Of New York at midnight. But
the feetiug sentiment brought out by such
an occurrence is oyeraid by the satisfactory
results of the bench show. The distribu-
tion of premiums was liberal, ranging from
$40 down, and among the special awards
of prizes were cups valued at $500. The
large number of. dog sales from 800 tC
$4,000, effected by various wealthy men ani
women, shows an increased appreciation o
thoroughbreds. The relative value o
babies and dogs must, of course, be deter
mined by the obscure parents of the one an,
the aristocratlc breeders of the others.
EVIDENCE WAS furnished by THE CRITIC
yesterday that the celebrated Joe Mulhat
ton, who out-Tom Ochiltrees that fame
, prevaricator of the prairies himself, is il
Missouri, and has his imagination with him
He has again challenged the admiration O
' the world, this time making train run S
fast that it melted the wheels off. This
5 fully equal in its way to the story Historic
e Munchausen relates in his travels of tn
n freezing of the sound as it came from tn
! postmans horn.
THE GREENBACK PARTY is character
t istically square on its feet and level In II
head when 1t advises the Government
' issue $40, 900, 900 in green money and spen
|
Capital.
| HoUsToN WILL SOON be the best paved cit
In Texas.-HtustOn Post.
And this is no ordinary boast, for Texa
G It has been said, we believe, is the plac
u that is paved with good intentions.
= AS SENATORS Ingalls, and Chandler al
so anxious to have the race question settle,
why would it not be in order for them I
send Peter Jackson South as a settlin
{ emissary with extraordinary powers
A NEBRASKA MAN has raised beet mor
than three feet long. Around some WASH
Y iDgton hotel lobbies they can be found 81
d feet long and, paradoxic al as 1t may seen
C invariably short.
y To THOSE DELUDED mOrtals who pltrol
i ize the Louisiana lottery we commend ii
d perusal of an editorial, republshed in al
IS other column, from the Philadelphia Pres
- THE BEST SIGN under heaven
IS That the summerll soon arrive,
g Is "Chicago League, IL;
h "The st. Augustine's, g."
4
A RUBBER manufacturing company hi
placed patent hat upon the market.
is intended solely for club men-and NOR
y ing wear
A CHICAGO ANARCHIST has a scheme f
v, mutual banking. Your Anarchist alwa
II has scheme for everything but mutu
~ work.
, THE scALPs OF the District employees
; not rest as serenely upon the submits
y their cranlums as they did
e. ~--