The National tribune., 1892-09-22

The peasants of Russia are, as far IS local
matters are concerned, more self governing than
any other people of the world. The officers of
the villages are always elected by the people of
the villages. These villages have their assem-.
blies where the householders meet and discuss
and decide all matters relating to the villages.
They fix the rights of their citizens, and they
have in many instances, am told, sent such
members OF their villages as have committed
crimes TO Siberia. They have their own courts
relating TO minor ofenses and to property dis
putes whore the amount involved is not over
$50, and they govern themselves largely as to
the provinces or States ia which they live by
means Of delegates. Each District has little
Parliament made up of delegates from the viii
lagos in it, and this is also Parliament which
makes laws and elects judges. In addition to
this there is sort of State Government which
is elected blythe Districts, and which is com.
posed OF representatives chosen by the peasants,
the householders, and the landed proprietors,
and which is known as the Zemstves.
The towns and cities Of Russia have munich.
pal organizations much like ours. All house.
holders are divided into three classes, each of
which represents an equal amount of real prop
erty, and these classes have their representa-
tives in the City Councils and also in the State
Assemblies. 1t will thus be seen that the Rus.
sian has some rights that many people do not
know OF, and these popular Assemblies are
pean Russia, with the exception of Poland and
Finland and the regions along the south. Fin
land is Grand Ducby, and it has sort Of Ma
tional Parliament of its own.
No taxes can be levied without this Parlia.
ment permits them, and Finland has its own
money and its own custom houses. Asiatic Rus
sis comprises five general Governments, each
ruled by Governor-Generai appointed from
st. Petersburg, and there are districts in the
Caucasus. in Turkistan, and in Siberia which
have peculiar Governments of their own.
have found the Russian officials very kind
and not at all snobbish. They are more like good
democratic Americans than autocratic Russians
You can 60 through the great Russian Depart
nents here without trouble. and . Russian
| Minister is far easier to get at than German
statesman an English Cabinet officer. I
called the other day on the Secretary Of State
| 90 present letter which / had from the head
| ofthe Russian Legation at Washington. found
q couple Of lackeys at the door Of the State De.
| partment, who took my hat and coat, and was
| directed to the third floor, and there found an
officer in brass buttons, who carried my card
| into the Secretary.
Five minutes later I was admitted, and I
found that the Secretary of State spoke English,
| aud he chatted with me freely about Russia
/ and about matters relating to the United
States. BE said that Russia felt very thankful
| TO America for its kindness during the famine.
| and seemed to believe that we were the natu
raj allies Of Russia. He was fully as easy TO
| approach as any Cabinet officer under Presi.
| dent Harrison, and he showed no hesitancy in
| expressing his thoughts.
Ii is great mistake to suppose that Rus.
slams arc afraid tospeak about the Government.
The most of the public men will discuss the
present situation of the country, and they will
| even talk Of the Gar himself / have vet to
hear the first man say that the Car ever in.
tentionslly did anything detrimental to Rus.
sian interests. Everyone says that he is good
man. AL applaud his personal morality. and
his family life is as pure and kind as that OF
the best husband in America. His Empire is so
large however, that he has to work through
othsr nsrties. and TIE reforms that Russia need,