Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-13

In the worlds story the prosperity Of one
nation Ia often linked with the bitter, grinding
needs % another. While the people OF the
United States are planning 10 send abroad a
surpIus Of 200 600 900 bushels Of one cereal,
alone, the people of Russia are even now, before
q harvest which must destroy nearly every hope
of life. starving upon grass boiled in water, and
parents are advertising their children ''for sale
in order not to zee them die befor their eyes
il is claimed that Russia has the best and most
abundant arabic land In Europe, with climate
peculiarly favorable 90 wheat growing, and n
population one Of the most laborious on the
face of the earth For all these advantages the
crops Caz set forth by q weII-informed Russian
authority in twenty-six provinces have been
destroyed or almost destroyed. while only in
the northern Canossus and . few other prov
incss and districts IL the harvest expected 10 be
above tho average. Famine comes to Russia
every three or four years. sometimes oftener.
A general and very severe famine occurred in
1850 In 1885 and again in 1886 there was fam
inc and this years famine. it is feared. will ex-
coed the terrible ones of 1910 and 1873 and all
other. Of record That Of 1910 began only after
the harvest failed: this Is already begun before
resping time The great Russian mass, i'll in
formed. s.olid, but quiet and industrious, with
ont reserve stores. live from hand to mouth be-
cause OF the fearful burden of As per cen. OF
their incomes imposed for taxes-not TO speak
OF interest to money lenders, brides to officials
and the like. When crops fail they perish as
90 many sheep or are supported by special
relief fund. now nearly exhausted by repeated
demands upon 10. To stave of starvation and
provide seed for next years crop will require
an enormous sum, the restitution being wide
spread.
Who il responsible. or what for this state of
thilgs? Obviously there is misgovernment OF
the worst kind. While many millions are annu-
slly wasted upon increasing military forces al
ready too large-an increase that bears corre-
spondingly hard upon tine peasants and other
poor of all the great countries of Europe-the
car closes the only high school Of agriculture,
to repress political disafec,ion among stu
,ieuts; Keeps the people in ignorance, retards
:he improvement OF country abounding in
natural resources. and squanders everything
upon a landed aristocracy, and dreams of con-
guest
A. Russia is not in danger Of foreign agrees
sion the military expenditures might be
duced by two-thirds. Reforms are needed in
the mode of agriculture by which. with corre-
spending bettermeni in other ways to be gained
by education and habits Of free thought and the
exercise Of some Of the powers of self govern
m.nt famine would he prevented and the
general condition Of the peasantry be vastly
improved
Two important results Of the famine must
not be overlooked: The effects on such reyoiu-
tionary movement as Exists among the educated
eitss, and the question Of general European
war. No people perishing for lack of food goes
TO war. Thus the woes Of the mujik may be the
BIZ ssing of the world. no thanks to The wisdom
or the clemeney Of the autocrat at St. Peters,
burg