Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-20
THE RUSSIAN EXILES,
George Kenuan's Second Lecture Greeted
By \ Vast Audiencs-A Story Of Terrible
Tyranny-Chat with the Lecturer

Tyranny-Chat with the Lectures
Afterwnrd.
A MOTHER great audience-Old City Hall,
large as 1t is, was crowded to the doors
evidenced the opinion in which George Kennan
| is held as a lecturer in this city. His subject
last night was Russian Political Exiles." a
lecture which is considered bis best and which
has attracted considerable comment through
out the country on account of the recent tragic
incidents Of Siberian exile life which have
/ reached these shores. Among the audi
ence were noticed many of the most
cultured people of the two cities,
quite a'number of whom had attended the dis
course of the evening before; also not a few who
| were evidently Russians, from the manner in
| which they took quick note of many portraits
| displayed and points scored by the speaker.
The lecture was copiously illustrated by pict-
ures Of prisons, maps, and portraits Of exiles
Mr.. Kennan had met in his travels; and, al
though twas not enlivened by the humorous
and entertaining digressons embodied in the
| one of the evening before, was listened to at
tentively to the end. 1t has often been said that
it is difficult to hold an audience of any kind
| with reading, lecture or play that contains
| nothing but the sad or pathetic sides; but that
is what Mr.; Kennan did last night, and the ap-
| plause with which he was greeted time and
again showed plainly enough how it pleased his
audience.
Nh. GEORGE WELsHoNs did the introduc-
tory work in a brief and entertaining man.
ner, and Mr.. Kennan began his discourse,
which he read rapidly from notes. He alluded
to the death Of the Gar Alexander II. and the
events which led to that consummation. Many
attributed it to nihilism, in their ignorance,
serming every phase of Russian character
identified with the socialistic movement of that
country as belonging essentially to nihilism.
SNEAKER than 4l0 NJ ha haS
known political exiles OF all types, each of
which he defined, but had never met a mi
hilist" pure and simple. They are not homo
geneous, as some in this country believe, but
exist in every branch of society. They are not
''terrorists" from choice, but are such from cir
cumsrance. It was the condition of the polit-
ical exile and their treatment by the Govern
ment which made them such.
Mr.. Kennan then described the route to and
appearance of the inhabitants of the Siberian
prisons and towns, which are familiar to the
public through his articles on the subject in
recent issues of the Century.
AT first he did not like the exiles with whom
he met, but after time was convinced that the
people who were considered dangerous enough
to be sent into exile were usually bright and
intelligent men and women, whose very intelli-
gence and culture had brought them under the
ban OF the Government He then showed types
of character taken from photographs of exiles,
including philosophers, scientisLs poets and
nOveltsts, whose portraits indicated the highest
degree of culture. Some of these had repeat
conditions to Mr.. Kennan. and they emphati-
cally asserted that, If the Russian Government
would make the slightest effort to grant the
people freedom of speech and ameliorate some
of the harsh laws they would gladly lay down
their arms and do anything toward advancing
the interests Of the country and its institutions
But it appeared that the Government would
not make the slightest attempt at doing this
They persisted in appointing uneducated
officials, who rode over the lower classes rough
shod. grinding them down to misery. The in
n farNA rrrE
the Lords Prayer in the belief that 1t was q
public document was cited.
SUCH beings as these sent men and women to
the mines Of Kara to serve sentences of
exile, which were seldom lived through, for
crimes which oftimes existed only in the i'm
agination Of their judges. Acts such as these
were sufficient to create nation of terrorists. |
Mr.. Kennan then stated that it was |
his purpose to show, II possible, to |
everyone the conditions existing |
in a nation held to be civilized. He had been |
asked since he came to Pittsburg If there mad |
been any change for the better of late, to which |
he could emphatically answer, "No," and re-
ferred to the 1ogging to death of women pris-
oners OF Kara, quoted in the newspapers of the
past week, one of whom he knew very well
mot the slightest Improvement has taken
place" continued Mr.. Kennan. 81 am contin-
ually receiving information from different
sources. Within week or two have received
place at one Of the Siberian settlements noted
by the press. 1t seems that it all came about
from mistake. party Of about 20
y1rls, were ordered to be removed to point
near the coast of the Arctic Ocean, a place
that is nothing but a wild and daeary waste.
where, from personal experience. know the
thermometer ranges from 400 to 500 below zero.
They demonstrated, and division of soldiers
we're sent to the building occupied by them to
>rder them to move. A slight resistance
vas the result, and the soldiers fell upon
hem and bayoneted six to instant death and
nortally wounded three. They then received
hurried and farcical trial, which resulted in
he hanging of three and the sentencing to life
imprisonment of the balance.
BEFORE one Of those who were hanged died
he hastily scribbled the following message,
Vhich he left in the hands Of a fellow prisoner:
am not afraid to die; but let my death count
or something. Send information to Kennan;'
nd intend to obey that adjuration to the let
er, and, il can by any means possible,
etter the condition of those poor wretches, I
will bring me more happiness than |
wore the purple and imperial diadem of the +,
Ear of all the Russias." I
FrER the lecture Mr.. Kennan was ones ,
toned in regard to the report from PhiIa- !
elphia, which chronicles the organization OF a .
ociety, the object Of which is to send petit :
on to the Gar asking. in the name of civiliza- !
on, for mitigation of cruelties practiced in the
iberian exile system. He said:
"Yes, know of it The society was or !
anized when was in Philadelphia last, by the {
.ev. Mr.. MeVickar. made several addresses; 1!
ut, aside from whatever indirect effect public {
pinion may have, do not think it will accom- 4
lish much. A society Of the same kind exists =
England, which devotes itself to the publi- \
ltion of all the news which it can get from c
iberia. hoping to create movement by that "
eans" n
do you know of any society of the kind in =
le city, or in contemplation
mo, I do not. Although have met quite a
umber of Russians here, who were refugees Ell
ne of them an old, white-haired gentleman
no was in the audience tonight, who has a ii
sry interesting history-I would not n
ire to give his name for the same =
ason that suppressed the a.
lmes of seven of those whose portraits b
Iowed tonight. There is no knowing how or t:
what means the Russian Government might d
cure those names and cause the owners trOu- a,
e In the future"
Mr. Kennan left late last night for Cincinnati p