Morning journal and courier., 1890-04-08
slbsr,.n Cenvicss.

siberian Convlcts.
To the Editor OF the JoUnNAL AND COURIER:
Various writer's and philanthropists OF late
have been greatly disturbed about the cars
administration of Siberia in regard to con-
viots, labsr and punishments.
The allegations now made remind me of
the sxcitemsnt in England and in America
early in 1880 on the basis of reports from en-
thusiasts from Russia as to cruelties practioed
upon oonvicts, and 10 high did the fever rage
that the Royal Geographical society of LON
don sent out one of its trlsty members to
visit Russia and 60 to Siberia and report
thsrefrom, as part Of tho duties of his mis-.
sion.
The then emperor or GEAR was Nicholas.
OF him this delegated gentleman in . book
he published on his return to England says
a. follows:
with unlimited power and every inducenaent to
sack his own pleasure. the emperor devotes his
From early dawn iii he afternoon he ID engaged
in public affairs, and the moral STATE Of the people
the prisons, aimsnoysss and similar institutions are
tnhappily for The country the ariatocrasy arc no.
ms Be 70 sesp him in snoFsnce Of he inner
people and counteract 80 far as possible his efforts
dstermnassn On his part to probe deeper than he
does would excite among the mobiles q conspiracy
which would In all probability end in the loss of his
Il is the power of an nliberal aristocracy tina,
prevents Rus.ia from rising to the elevation she
The dsspotism of Russia rests with this
aristocracy, whose power to oppress through
the faulty system and machinery of govern
ment 10 greater and more far-rsaching than
the power of the czar to inaugurate reforms.
The crusltysofi Russia, 30 far as cruelty exists,
rests upon their aristocracy, who hold q screen
the middle Glasses to the end that the ozar
shall not come in contact with them, and yet
he strives to reach their Utmost wishes and to
bend his energies to their relief.
Among the incentives to keep up this L.
norance of the car a. to some of the oppres-
sions practicsd IL that of debtor noblemen to
the middle GLASSES, who, SO far as they can as
noblemen, live on the people by not paying
their debts. -
"Ths czars of Russia are goods the
language used In one of the letters received
years ago from one of the American
engineers, who assisted in building the czars
railroad from Moscow to st. Petersburg.
| Another correspondent said: 1--WE have 6
census every fifth year. At this time every
male who has attained twelve years OF age II
endowed with seven acres of land by the
government, the tax on which thereafter wa
only three rublss per annum to wit, 81
cents"
Did any one ever even hear of such govern
mental philaptrophy in the United States
or was there ever exercised by It any ap.
Proclamation to iti even down to this day.
NOW AS TO SIBERIA.
The same members of the Geographical
society of London speaking of Siberia said:
When We hear Of Siberia we think o.
English Botany Bay and the mind adverti
to hard labor and Calling chains, but reliable
informstion-from either locality, and {
knowledge of the facts which the two
nations are acting upon-are 90 far beyond
the comprehension of 'sight-viewers' thai
they know little OF nothing personally con.
corning what they are writing about.
When labor and chains are applied to 9
sentence either or both can be applied, but
| when they are not, then neither can be, an
| If they are not, then 1t may be doubted
whether Punishment to Siberia is very
heavy punishment to Russian nobleman
| merchantmen or serf.
At Tobolsk there are many noble families
many merchants, and more surfs, and they
| all are educating themselves to unite oul
| social ways and extent to each other sym
| pathy which at homo 10 unknown.
And. he adds: found In Tobolsk az
| many sources of Amusement a anywhere In
Russia except at Moscow and st. Peters.
burg.
That provisions are cheap and many
| condemned families live in luxury and al
such reduced expenses, Compared with
home, that many of them are retrieving their
Bonded fortunes.
And yet there are some disgraceful pun.
| ishments-like as there are some equally dis
graceful crimes-the exercise of which pun
ishments, rarely comes up to the outrage
which brought the punishment upon the Of
| fender.
That the law melted out In Siberia-knowe
no distinction In man or woman. All are
| upon par, and to some extent are treated
sliks-for like crimes.
/ Among other illustrations this geographic
cal investigator from the Royal society Of
London In his closing remarks says:
There are instances of punishment rec.
orded, INFLICTED upon ladies of high rank, ever
to the application of the lash.-
He describes the thong used and closes by
saying that when ladies are induced to be
come conspirators for men against the gov
ernment-even to the assassination of the
emperor-then the ladies must accept of thu
punishment. which they know the law de-
msnds when they psrpetrats the act which
may cost the emperor his life.
Finally, this gentleman says: "Some MAY
think my account of Russia and Russian
Siberia 10 too favorable, or Is not favorable
enough, but neither fear criticism or cor
reotion, nor will I hesitate hereafter Il
modify my conclusions and opinions, when
see cause to change them"
And lastly he says: "There are numerous
cases where the term of exile has ended, ant
"Siberia is delightful place to reside in
at Tobolsk, and that place Is whore most o.
them reside, who are not put In the mines t.
work."
OF my own knowledge, through CORE
spondsnce which commenced whom Majo
whistler with his corps of engineers wa
building the railroad from Moscow to st
Petersburg for the emperor, Nicholas,
know how It was with that country then anC
I have to some extent kept up with the gen
erAl progress since and am surprised at tn,
ignorance of our would-be humanitarians
who without knowledge condemn the CA
for that which he does not do or for tina
which he cannot control, for he cannot con
troll The atmosphere which aristocracy com
pels him to breathe.
All the GEARS of Russia, from and includ
ing Nicholas, have been men who loved theil
people, and they have desired and hav,
strived to lift them up to higher grade O
manhood, but while the machinery Of gov
eminent remains unchanged and the aristoo
raoy hold the balance Of power, the nihilistl
| will flourish because aristocracy says dom
| pIamo 10, 20 IOE Tue oWpoEOr, ~ 10 III
man. And the emperor IL carrying his hear
for the people in one hand and his life fo
them In the other, not knowing but his bee
will blow him through the roof Of his castl'
or his suburban chatsaux the next time b.
gets into either.
It 10 not pleasant to read 30 much of at
tack on the present car by those would-b
philanthropists who had better invsstigat
wrongs and oruelties nearer home, and some
times within their own states and houses.
B. MOVES.
Happily Welded.
Yesterday morning at the Church of tn
Sacred Heart Michael Lynch and Miss Ros
Farrell were Joined In the bonds of matrimo
ny. The wedding service was performed b.
Rev. Father McKeon. The bride was attire,
In China cream silk. The bridesmaid wa
Miss Nellie Farrell, sister of the bride, ant
the groomsman John Lynch, brother of tn
groom.
There WAS wedding breakfast rendered t.
the bride and groom ut the brides parents
residence, 208 Lsmberton street. The brid
and groom left for their new home in Indian
/ veatardav aftsrpoou The hyidaya v,reaaut