The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-16
IN ASIA.

Inc Russian government Is q strange
type of absolutism, using as its power
the methods of modern civilization.
Within the last month we have wit
messed the two most distinct forms OF
absolute monarchial power, and with
these the inception of the greatest
feat of railroad engineering yet
proposed. The expulsion of the
Jews alone is suflicietn evidence
Of the czar's supreme control Of
his subjects. A more recent and more
surprising form of this despotism is the
ukase forbidding the export from Russia
Of rye and rye meal Of every kind and
brand. While this may add in some
degree to the relief of the Russian peas
ants, who are now living under the
uncertainties Of the cars government,
it is, nevertheless, a curious interference
with the rights Of personal liberty. 1t
is a type Of socialism, which the cars
government has successfully crushed in
other forms. 1t is possible for the
socialist to become an enemy Of liberty
quite as great as the czar if the extreme
forms of socialism are made to prevail.
This form of socialism is typitied in the
czar's recent order. We take it that he
means that the interests of the business
men and the farmers are to be subserv-
lent to his always ready dlctum. He
has not only assumed but has absolutely
seized the right to ruin any or all indus
tries which to his mind are inimical to
his personal or governmental interests.
He is both judge and executor. The
ukase will bring added benefits to the
American farmer, because there will be
a larger field and a wider market for his
products, though the idea is wholly
foreign to the American idea Of liberty.
On the other hand the greatest rail
way project ever known has already
taken shape in Russia. A railway near
ly 5000 miles long, to cost nearly $780,
100000 10 now under construction. The
western terminus will be on the eastern
side of the Ural mountains. Thence the
line will stretch over mountain, valley,
and steppe to the Japan sea. The
country through which it will run has
great undeveloped agricultural and
mineral III
The completion of this enterprise will
mark the greatest era in Asiatic pro-
gress. 1t will bring the czar in closer
touch with his Siberian subjects, it will
cement the interests of his vast empire,
it will double the of his par
TALLY exhausted budget. The purpose
of this enterprise is to strengthen the
Russian principle of government by in
creasing the weapons of power. 1t is to
weaken the position of England and
make more formidable Russla's strength
in the final struggle for Central Asiatic
supremacy. On the other hand it is
possible that the cars absolute position
with his subjects may be undermined
by the introduction Of this great civil
Ger. With the advent of the railway
will come other forms of progress. With
these will come the destroyers Of super
%stition, ignorance, and blind reverence
for monarchial forms. 1t may be that
the czar in his effort to make certain his
supremacy will undermine his own
throne. Thus far he has succeeded in
quoting nihilism by arbitrary methods,
but the spirit of nihilism has been con
fined to European Russia. With the
opening of this railway Asiatic Russia
will become a field for immigration and
will be populated to a great extent by
the czar's European subjects. Nihilism
will, by the very nature of things, here
find a new home. Necessarily the cars
officers will be forced to cover a greater
field, and thus the work of keeping his
people under subsection is likely to be
carried on with greater difficulty. The
future of absolutlsm may be settled in
Central ASIA.