The critic., 1890-12-26
THE CONDITION OF RUSSIA.


correspondent Questions the Cor
rectness of Remnants Articles.
Editor critic: Dropping into the Arling-
ton Hotel few nights ago my attention
was attracted at the newsstand by little
book entitled "Thc New Era in Russia"
by Colonel Charles A. de Arnaud. pur-
chased the book and read it with such
keen interest and surprise at the rovcla-
tions therein that ! should be glad II You
would give space III TIM CRnIc for n few
remarks from me on the subject treated of
bythis work. | have been Il constant reader
Of TnE CmIlC for many years, and have
always found il anxious to do justice and
TO give the truth about every public matter
but also bold and fearless in doing that
justice and giving that truth The work
in question removed many impressions
from my mind which | had received of
late years about Russia, and doubtless there
are many other persons who, in this mat
ter, are in the same situation rs myself.
y few years ago had made upmy mind
to go to Russia and spend some years
there i'll business undertaking which
would have resulted in financial advant-
age to myself and associates. Just about
the time, however, that I was ready to
make final arrangements for my proposed
undertaking Mr. George kennGn's articles
on the administration of Russian justice
and the brutal, despOtic and infamous
manner in which the officials of that en-
pirc treated the people began to appear il
The Century Magazine | read them
carefully, believed their statements and
abandoned all idea of my Russian enter
PRISE.
was unwilling to visit and do business
in q country where the administration of
justice was n matter entirely within the
discretion of q brutal and corrupt bureau
cracy. was afraid to trust my life or
my money in country where law seemed
to be only the whim of tyrannical Off
cials, and where a man was liable at the
caprice of Il policeman, to he torn from
his bed at midnight and hurried off,
without law or Justice, to Il frozen wilder
ness thousands of miles away to be
etcrnally buried there amid nameless and
indcscribable horrors SO ] gave up my
proposed journey TO the Cars dominions.
But after reading Colonel de Arnaud's
work, "The New Era in Russia" have
experienced . great change of opinion,
That book has made. me revise my julg.
ment i begin to think was very crcdu-
lous and unsuspecting to accept Mr.. Ken
mans assertions without further eXamina-
ton. Colonel de Arnaud, in his work,
carefully examines Mr.. Kennan's asser-
tions and in brief space So lucidly and
forcibly shows their extreme improbable
ity, and further, by citing facts that the
reader cannot dispute, so skaters Mr..
Remnants stories Of Russian cruelty and
despotism that no man can read "The
New Era in Russia" without entertaining
the grayest doubts of the truth Of Mr..
Remnants alleged facts.
The whole matter is very serious one,
both from sentimental and from u
business point of view. The commercial
relations between Russia and the United
States mp to the date of Mr.. Remnants arti-
pIoo urara ,Df tba F,ianIlioet oh a nd
We're developing with amazing rapidity.
No other foreigners were received so
warmly and Hospitality in Russia as
Americans. In fact, Russia was the only
friend We had in the world. American
capital, energy and brains were eagerly
welcomed in the Muscovite empire. That
country opened field to US of incalcnla-
BILE value in the extension and develop
ment of business. The publication of
Kennan's articles had the effect Of greatly
repressing those friendly feelings. Many
men, like myself, abstained from going to
| Russia from absolute fear for their lives
| and means. And the Russians naturally
grew more reserved and less dcmonstra-
| tive in their welcome to Americans,
Now, sir. Mr.. Kcnnan, since the publi-
| cation of Colonel de Arnaud's work, owes
| duty both to himself and to his country,
| to answer il and prove that his assertions
| are true. Colonel dc Arnaud says they
are not, and proceeds to prove it, So the
| matter rests in nutshell. Either Ken
| mans statements me true or they are false,
| If they are true then he is in duty bound
to show where Colonel dc Arnald's state
ments are false. If they are false then
| he stands convicted before the world, either
| of possessing childishlv weak and un-
reliable Judgment or of misreprcsenting
facts. One thing is clear, Colonel de Ar
maud has made it absolutely necessary for
| Mr.. Kennan to come out and refute the
| formers positions, or to rest convicted as
a slanderer of friendly government,
| SUBSCRIBER.
| Washington, Dec. 20, 1890.