Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-01
RULE OF THE CAR.
It Has Made the Russians Dishonest
Hypocritical and Brutal.
THE CHURCH, TOO, IS A DEsP0T.
Women are Slaves and Subject to 0utrages
Hardly Imaginable.
DETAILS OF OFFICIAL ESPIONAGE.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,


A recens writer upon Russian character
istics says the political, social and religious
conditions under which Russia exists have
resulted in making the mass of its people a
lying, thievish, shiftless set of barbarians.
Tyranny has crushed out of them the moral
instincts and brutalized them to a degree
almost incredible. In the virtue Of veracity
he Asserts they are hopelessly deficient Per-
jury is made means of living by organized
gangs of inscriptions men in all parts of the
country, and witnesses who will 60 any
where and testify to ANYTHING that is wanted
are to be had any time at the regular rates
The most eminent statesmen, the minis
ters of justice, the highest and humblest
officers of the church are, to speak plainly,
liars-as David said in his haste Of all men
in his day, Turgieneff the novelist, well
known in this country by his books. is
cited as striking example of an educated
man, who in spite of his knowledge and in
tercourse with more civized people, still
possesses this ignoble trait in common with
the meanest of his race
FLATTERY FOR AMERICAN MINISTERS.
Harold Frederic, in a recent article upon
Russia and the Russians, gives further
testimony to this national characteristic, and
makes bold to say that American Ministers
to Russia are SO hoodwinked and deceived
by the high officers of the Russian Govern.
ment, that Americans are made to believe
that Russia loves the United States. dotes
upon her institutions, and holds her people
in highest admiration. Dazzled by the
brilliance of the court, ths attentions of the
nobility, and fattered and bamboozled by
the artfulneM and cunning of the officers
of State, tho American Ministers have
littls to say save in prais, of the Gar and
his ADMINISTRATION, and som. fully impress
ed with the idea that the cruelties and
atrocities reported are vastly overdrawn.
But whea did despotism ever love democ-
racy2 Tyranny embraces libertF only to de-
ceive. The power of the United States
commands respect. Russia, with all its
vast empias and teemins millions, cannot
afford to antagonizs this counry; therefore
it toadies and plasters our ambassad DTS
with "soft sawder," and treats them to
royal favors to shut their months and blind
their eyes. That this is easy to do we need
only to remember that their positions are
rewards for political service, and are be-
slowed, as q rule, upon men not distin-
guished for virtue, judgment and wisdom,
but rather for narrow prejudices, selfish
greed and lnordlnate vanity.
KEENAN, CONVINCED AGAINST HIS WILL
George KEENAN, admits that when he started
out on his study of Russia and the exile
system of Siberia his prejudices were in favor
of the Russian Government, and that he
believed the Nilhilists and political NAL
contents were "wrong-headed" fanatics and
deserved to be punished. He had publicly
committed himself to defense of the Rus
sian Government. To this fact he owed the
permission and letters he received from the
chief officials to carry out his plan of in
vestigating Siberia His views were only
changed by the most overwhelming evi-
dence.
The wretchedness enfo ced by despotism
is almost beyond belief. Political prisoners,
both men and women, who are only sus-
pected of making remarks against the Gov
ern-aent, are thrust into loathsome prisons
where they are kept in solitary confinement,
debarred from communication with their
friends, fed upon filthy food, deprived of
books, papers or any employment to make
the time less tedious They ar, not al
lowed to make an effort to show their inno-
cence, and many are innocent. Numbers
become insane, many die of diseases caused
by bad air, nauseous food and deep, dark
despair. Such ferocious cruelty make
revolutionists of those who were previously
loyal