The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-19

Russian emperor, with an army OF 10000 men,
well equipped but poorly commanded, was baf-
ned icr four long months by osman Pashs
with an army OF 1900 men. Il Is safe
TO estimate the Russian army during
the war to have been ten times
greater than that of Turkey, and though Russi q
violated an International treaty, in which she
promised, in the winter of 1S77-78, TO advs nee
not further than Adrianopie and there await the
decision OF the powers, she nevertheless pushed
her armies to the gates of Constantinople. she
still failed to realize her cherished hopes She
played her game too late England and Germany
had become too strong to DEFY, and Russia was
compelled 70 humbly submit TO the decision OF
the Berlin conference. lt snow common by
WORD that no power ever came on victor with so
little gain a. did Russia In the last war with
Turkey. From that moment Russia was COM
pelled TO maintain an enormous standing army,
and consequently her annual expenses for that
purpose were immense, and her credit was not
of the best
The nihilists became strong under the lash,
grew strong because OF persecution The more
brutal the treatment by the Russian government
OF those who asked for nothing but eonstitu-
tional liberty, the mora did the best blood OF
Russia respond to the piteous appeal OF the
earnest reforners. Taking young man from
the Preside OF his home to the project OF police,
and there confronting him with fictitious
charge of nihilisIn and sending him 20 Siberia,
chained TO the vilest Of criminals, did By no
means suppress nihilism On the contrary, the
father, who would under other circumstances
have gladly given his life for the car, converted
all his property into cash and said to the nihil-
lists: stake IL and use 1t to ayenge my son." The
mother, sister and sweetheart, who only few
months previous were faithfully engaged in
ministering to the sick and wounded of the
cars army. became allies of the nihilists, and
did not hesitate TO conceal them In their own
bed chambers 50 a. to battle the police.
Every one has his goal. The nihilist believed
that he had reached his when he sent Alexander
III. into efernity without Q moments warning,
and he was justified In that belief. The sue
cessor to the throne, Alexander ILL.,, was known
to be reformer; in fact, at the very time that
bis father was killed he was political prisoner,
owing TO his fervent arguments with his father
In favor OF calling constitutional conventions;
but, like many another, after having obtained
power he renouncsd his previous beliefs Alex
ander Ill became worse tyrant than his father.
Nihilism checked itself. 1t saw the uselessness
OF killing emperorA II also saw the futility OF
madly defying an irresistible force and con-
cluded to be guided by the example of the
French, German and Austrian reformers-to ed
ucate the oppressed rather than TO destroy the
oppressor. This was not an easy task by any
means In Russia; but who ever knew Of q re-
former who stopped to consider whether his Ia
Not later than 1851 the nihilists converted
themselves into missionaries, and patiently
sought TO educate the Russian peasantry. In
Eastern Siberia they could make no headway;
there the native is born and reared Cossack
soldier. Western Siberia was entirely out of
the question; none but conviets and their guards
tnhabit that region. So, as q last resort, the
nihilists were forced to fight the lion in his own
den. The largest cities of Russia, where police
spies are fnnumerable, became their stamping
ground, and naturally they came into close con-
tact with the Jews, since the cities are densely
populated by them.
The worst enemy of the Jews will not deny
their susceptibility to education. No intelli-
gent man ever accused them Of eovardice, and
all admit their love of liberty. Naturally the
nihilists found the best disciples In the ranks
oil the younger Jews. The government OF Rus
sia was for time bafied. Apparently nihilism
had entirely died out: but an undercurrent--
general dissatisfaction among the people
soon made itself so strongly felt that measures
had TO be adopted 70 check It Taxes could not
be reduced; In fact, more money was needed to
maintain the standing army. To reduce the
army was out OF the question owing 70 the gen.
efaI armament OF Europe. Spies and money
were indispensable to create dissatisfaction in
India, battle England and get access TO Herat;
because with Russia once in Herat, the key to
India, England could be forced to allow Russia
considerations compelled the government to
raise enormous taxes. and these. added to the
quiet work of the intelligent nihilist, put the
car in an unenviable position.
Five years ago, when Russia was diligently
searching for means TO direct the public gaze
from her own detestable action. she cunningly
devised system of Jewish oppression, knowing
that by bearing down on the Jews she would be
pleasing the Greek Catholics She therefore
forbade Jewish children to attend the high
schools, aiming to kill two birds with one stone:
First, TO incite religious hatred and thereby Gre
ate what Is commonly called In England q CAM
paign cry; second, to keep the Jews in igno-
rance and thus hinder the nihilists In finding
intelligent disciples. Even that step was taken
too late. The peasanto of Russia had been driven
30 hard and so mercilessly that he needed no nj
hllstic teachings TO call attention TO his misery
DE was fully aware of his misery. The failures
OF crops in Russia did their share to create dis
content. In short, the situation became so crit
ical that nothing but extreme measures could
even temporarily prevent the general outbreak
tnat inevitably follows such Encouragement
Much has been said about the liberality of the
Greek church, but in no country is the chasm
between Jew and Christian so easily widened as
In Russia, and claim that the Russian govern
ment ex peis the Jews not because of any obiee-
non 10 them as citizens God knows they are
fuIly as good citizens for Russia as the peas
ton excltes the passions of the ignorant, semi
civilized Russian peasantry. 1t enables the
Russian tax collector to get his toll without
murmur. The peasants are told that the "Little
Father, who is pope and emperor alike, is now
doing everything in his power to better things
in general The Jews will be expelled and
their fabulous wealth distributed, and the peas
ants believe the story
Only recently received letter from a niece
OF mine living in hon, roSkoff. a village near
Warsaw, wherein she describes a new method
by which writs are served on the Jews by Rus
sian police officers. drum is beaten in the
principal thoroughfare of the village and then
the names OF those 10 be expelled are there read.
This is done with the sole object OF exciting the
passions OF the peasants and telling them that
they need not pay to the Jews their just debts.
1t plainly proves the intention OF the car to
pacify the wrath Of his down-trodden subjects
at the expense of the Jews
confess my inability to successfully present
Russian intrigue to the American people. 1t is
bred In so much corruption and INSCRIPTIONS
ness that the American can hardly realize IT.
/ have often asked myself the question land
wish some OF the American writers who are so
anxious to defend Russis's action would kindly
answer IT, why is ii not as just and proper for
the civilized world to demand OF Russia fair
treatment of her Jewish subjects az it was 70 al.
low Russia to fight Turkey on apretense TO
compel Turkey to fairly treat her
Christian subjects? Apparently no civilized
government cares to admit the Russian
Jews The civilized world 10 surely humanely
bound TO do something for them. 1t is highly
proper for US to protect ourselves against an In
fux OF undesirable immigrants, but il Is GER
tainly our duty 70 forbid power which wishes
to be recognized Is civilized to expel her sub
ieets without the least proyoeation- do not
advocate war: in fact believe we have reached