New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
TOLSTOI FEARS A FAMINE
lie ARGUES THAT ALL RUSSIA rs N
DANGER FROM LACK OF BREAD

Moscow few days ago, upon the present aspects n
the famine in his native country which has created con-
siderable sensation not only in Russia but also IN
other parts OF Europe Containing vanog. sps
yestions and appeals, the article Is valuable ana
,,ustxorthy commentary upon the unfortunate oOndtoe
of the Cars country.
Has Russia enough bread" asks the Count, n
,ss, until the ne xt harvest Some people answer a.
question in the Affirmative and others In the negafv.
hut no one can answer II definitely and finally. But
the question must be answered, answered POSITIVELY
truly and at once, before the beginning OF the vnt,
Terrible indeed, is the thought OF our fate, should
heeve those who think that Russia has sufficient hress
for her hungry subjects and find next spring that sacs
,s mt the case II Is terrible indeed % tink Of a
co,template the consequences OF such an m
.onseaueDces OF such MISTAKE would b fearful
,,e destruction Of millions Of starving people snd-s
worst OF all caIainites-the fury and bitterness d ns
neopls Tho St Petersburgers are always sppnsa
tbe overflow of the Neya by tho thunder OF cannon
but the present hunger IS much worse thsn the fc<s
OF the Neva, 1t threatens all Russia ba
what are You saytngi Russia has eD0ta
hrcaA, write and cry certain people, sS
.bo indoleH,t believe them gladly. such staterens.
h,,ycver the result Of certain comblnstons and ~
aeaion must not be believed. the matter Of nca
far-reachng Importance. The danger which thressnr
this country In there Is not en0urh bread for "
starving people IS tremendous that the fancy canns
uIcure IT, II + crime. insanity. 10 co0ent Ouneivo
with these groundless assurances. Docs such eans1
however exist Is II probable that The bFeaf wn hs
last?
As answers 10 tlcSe questions. wish 10 submit tie
remarks which follow. In tho first place, the famine
I., attacked one third Of Iu-s.a. that bid which hs
alyysys nouilshed almqst all Russia. k'dugs. NoL
Morrow. all the Northern & gvernments and even ls
districts which have not been tOuclcd by tho famine
bavo never fed themselves upon their oTn bend oat
have been obliged 20 purchase IL nom those dstnco
which row med foreign bread II we assume that each
pon needs ten pools OF bread, and that the nunbsf
O, Starving persons Il 10000. .0Oo-slhoush the number
hos been placed at even 000O-wo shall Deed uoe
than coo poods for the sustenlncs Of tie 5s
sian peop,e. We must adj to this enormous quantity
the bread necessary 10 sustain Oh 80 districts which toe
mcrav purchased what they needed In the stiohen DIS
ticts All told at least 100000, 600 pools wiz 70
necessary.
"Thc crops failed I'm the most fruitful third Of Rus
sa the third which sustained the other twothrds ~
tho country. For these reasons. Il j. prbsbe ua
thcro will be lack Of bread everywhece. Tbs Is The
first fact for consideration. The second fat ios con
sderation Is that the nelgboring counties have aS
suffered from bad crops, and much grain Das sraV
tren exported TO foreign countries. The urr nct w
consideration Is that this year Russia has M suck
bread saved from last year Russia j. IN The oond1ca
n Egypt according 10 the Biblical nalrotlve Th ne
exception that we have no WIS., joseph. AEHh, N,sN
IN need OF money. both the Government and phvse
persons During the last seven years We had suhdfH
b,ad but money grew scarcer year BY year 80 t'st
the beginning Of the present autumn. AZ the bread had
been sold In The famine Of $40 there large sup
plies OF old bread In tie country TIE landed ppprenr
the merchants and even the peasants bad beaf n
stock. But this custom seems 20 have been aban-
doned and the classes not In the fortunate eoo'
dtOn OF those in 1910.
But not only Is general famine probable, mary
signs seem TO point 20 its certainty. Day w
day we have seen that bread is and more an
cult to purchase In the District OF Dank0f, where
/ now am we can buy rye. The pessans can
get no -four Yesterday saw two peasants who had
travelled twenty miles and visited all the mills ana
grain stores, in the hope Of getting two pods
-four but they were unsuccessful This Is no lsoate
instance, as similar tales be heard anywhere
1t IS san possible to purchase -four at whohas
in the city. IL can be bought at retail houses only
market and on market days. II The purchaser
is unable TO go 10 market at the proper time. he can
not buy bread anywhere. Docs this not prove thas
there is q bread faminel The decree. forbddng tns
expectation OF grain have confused all pTccs' WA'
Is, the prices 10 longer indicate the quantities gram
sold. The prices az present are not staaonary' h4
they are only temporarily lower account d ue
DEGREES These signs all indicate that Elssa mas n'
| sufficient bread.
which should have forced 10 adopt every means
prevent the threatening danger. | refer 10 tie pans
which has taken possession Of society; pan,c N"''
carries with il fear OF impending evil ana prc'os
mcn from acting in a rational manner Ths pane
also evident in the DEGREES issued at first onp "
reference 10 the export Of rye, and Later IN reieF"
TO other kinds of grain, and In the action of the VV'
ornment concerning money contributions O. u'e wv
hand, and the taxes on the other II way f'rso'ta
4 q tl..t tha tnft taNa Nv ha
creased the wsnt in the villages. The poor peaanp
always In debt 10 the money owners. When me wv
ernment requires taxes from the rich man. he o2prse'
and ruins the poor The panic shows itSei q"
In the lack Of harmony in the various branches oi w
Government We see what we have seen IN Z, e',, =,
panic one runs 10 the right the other runs -
! left. The panic shows Itself also in the splr' '"'
lack OF activity Of the people, ,,.ou, .sj
"Thousands OF peasants proceed 70 h,s's ne ,ssy \,
other largo cities 60 obtain cmpiOyment bht te'
in vain. They return 81 the country villages Srs
70 make other trips to the e-s Is mar ,,acs n1, s
OF the complete insanity which always al'a,SS sns
people during panic These signs mean h",s. h",.s...6s
we cannot help feeling fear rhe enemy the e0v s
enemy, Is IN mont of Us. and We cannot aD ~ e hsr,
| do not fear him. because We know taat he = ss no
and more stil we know that ge fear mhl, NC .s -
know his powers, above all things We da,e s.ly ~
main IN this condition Of uncertainty. tsPe1sis tsP.m,is
we men OF tho pen, we learned ones uhc ~ ~ oi qs
nj any time how rould they be better employed w.
In helping 70 prevent this Impending MISERY 80 mach
therefore, necessary for US 10 eompGss pSnne @ ard
| how much bread there Is now IN Russia y =. m al
be not sufficient bread In Russia. Is our usy
bring tho necessary quantity from foreign ,ro
That T. rs much our duty as IL was that Of ne W.
peasants 10 travel twenty miles in the se,ryh oi
our conscience will not be Quot until we nav; s, "a
over our whole neighborhood and done all thas N
can do 10 help the suffering. The peasant " "a s1 oi
/ of bread confined himself to the neighDorno" .pi
| pankoN hut we must look 10 india, Ameitoa -
| Australia We must know. however. eAaeW pu,
| much bread we need. and how much we ha,e "a
thase ouostions must be assured exactiy, ,ss ans
nod in an uncertain manner. Ilhui, ,,srr.
can prevent the spread OF the panic, Inc S,t "A
ment nigh. gatfer the neccssar, lniormaton " s,ya
would he better think, for private persons osa,s
committee TO examine into the true state o. la1 cdo
lf we discover now that need 50oO0OOu lV, lV0,no "a
600 or even 200 900 600 pools OF bread. t y ss ny
terrible as we could purchase he necessary aS'"'Ma Mea
In America aud pay for them IN sta's I.t IN view,
and that their efforts are useful. Without ths IA
the hands viii not be moved 10 work. W ~ ~ Two
have ths feeling we must learn In tho course " hcrs
or three weeks how much bread We need ana "'''
we shall re- IT," 49, ,..... ,o n