The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-10
HANDS OFF RUSSIA.
AN Ex-DlpLOMATlST WHO THINKS
The CAR CANNOT BE CoERCE0.
He Says the Stories OF Oppression may be
Exaggcrated-Arc other Nations Free
from Similar Charges?-A War Would
Consolidate the Russian Empire
lsnccial corrcsnondence.l


such as to warrant-nay, even TO demand
the armed intervention OF all the other
powers Of Europe in the interest OF hu-
manity and civilization. THIS Deiloi mas
found eloquent and able expression IN a
public letter bearing the well known sig
nature Of Junius Henri Brown ana the
date OF March H. Mr.. Brown argues that II
Russia were TO find herself confronted by
the combined military and naval forces OF
Germany. Italy, Austria, England ana
France, together with those OF the minor
states. she would assuredly mend her ways
and put a stop to her revolving persecu-
ton Of a hapless, innocent race.
An intimate acquaintance OF Russia ana
Of Russian affairs leads me TO dlller from
Mr.. Brown. both with regard to the
charges Of persecution as well as to the
methods projected for arresting the prog
ress of the latter. And let me state right
here. before going any farther that am
an Englisbman, and therefore hOO iiAeiy
TO be unduly prejudiced III favor Oh any
BODY or anything in the Muscoylte empire
To begin with, neither the car nor ms
people are ever likely TO submit 10 threaVS
Of coercion. and were any European coah-
tion 10 be formed for the purpose Of putting
the menace into execution IL would meet
With the same fate rs that which overlook
tho "Grande Armee" of Napoleon in 1872.
The force which invaded Russia that year,
under the command of the French emperor,
connrised contingents from the armies OF
every government in Europe, save that OF
Great Britain, and its ignominious retreat
from Moscow and almost total destruction
remain on record as an illustration OF the
utter hopelessness Of any attempt to coerce
Russia by means of an invasion. The lat
ter would merely have the result OF
strengthening the autocratic power OF the
czar by tanning into n white heat the Pan
slavist sentiment that exists in more or
less developed state in every Muscovite
breast.
A foreign coalition against the car, lar
from proving disastrous To his throne,
would on the contrary only have the effect
of consolidating his dynasty, for 1t would
cause all internal discussions to cease, heal
all domestic discord and unite the adher-
ents of every rival political party into one
great patriotic body banded together I'M
der the orders of the Little Father" (as
the Mouiiks are accustomed to call Alex
ander lid against the foreign invaders.
The leaders Of the Panslavist movement,
which influences and controls every phase
of Russian life, look and long for some
such patriotic and "holy" war as this. For
so convinced are both they and every other
Russian, OF the superiority of the Musco-
wife race. in every respect, over all the rest
of the world, that they are firmly con
WINGED that the conflict would result vic
toriously for the car, and in the establish
ment of the Panslayist supremacy over the
whole Of Europe
Indeed. when / note the marked absence
Of any attempt or effort on the part OF the
Russian government to exculpate itself
Of the charges Of incredible barbarism
brought against it, l cannot help thinking
sometimes that the car and his Panslay
advisers are purposely endeavoring odraw
the western nations into some such armed
demonstration as that suggested by, Mr.
Brown, with the object of Strengthening
and consolidating the Muscovite empire.
Moreover, it is exceedingly doubtful
whether the western natiOns-and In these
| | include the United States-are in any
way warranted TO interfere either diplo-
matically or Wis ct armD in the domestic
affairs Of Russia. In the first place II Is by
no means certain that the charges of bar
barism and inhumanity brought against
the Russian government are not grossly
| exaggerated, and in some cases even
! groundless; and in the second place, are the
western powers so entirely free from the
| imputation Of tyranny and barbarous per-
secution that they can afford TO pose be
fore the world as the champions Of the op-
| pressed7 Within the lifetime of the pres
| ent generation Great Britain has sup
pressed an instruction in India by tying
! It's ringleaders to the muzzle of her cannon
and blowing them TO pieces, while the
cruel oppression and persecution of the
Irish in late years has been such rs 10 re-
volt even those who like the Earl of Spen-
Ger were the principal instruments thereof,
and to convert them into adherents OF
Ern's cause.
Germany's treatment Of the inhabitants
of Alsace and Lorraine has likewise been
| harsh and tyrannic in the extreme, and
only few weeks ago the Danish popula-
ton OF Schleswig-who had been permitted
to continue to reside there ever since the
incorporation of the duchies by Prussia
thirty years ago-wcre suddenly driven out
of their homes at the point of the bayonet
and hustled within the space Of forty-eight
| hours across the Danish frontier. More
over, every independent expression Of opin-
ion, either in public or in private, is pun
ished with as relentless severity as in
Russia Three Of the leading papers in
| Germany have their managing editors IN
! jail at the present moment on charges OF
! lese majestic, and even n poor servant girl
is now undergoing n sentence OF three
months Imprisonment for having In an
unguarded moment spoken in an irrever-
ent manner of Emperor William. Nor
have Russian officers ever TO my knowl-
edoe been accused Of such abominable
cruelty toward their soldiers as that which
was described the other day at length in
the general order issued TO his command
by Field Marshal Prince George Of Sax
ony.
Neither can Austria be regarded Is fitted
to cake up the cudgels on behalf Of the OPP
pressed. For in her Italian speaking prov
inces her despotism is such that she actual
ly inflicts sentences Of six months impris-
onment upon any man or woman who is
caught wearing daisy or marguerite, the
flower in question being strictly prescribed
in consequence Of its being regarded as the
emblem of tho Italia Irredenta movement.
1t Is scarcely necessary for me TO pursue
any further this line Of argument, for !
think that have said sufficient.
OF course 1 do not for one moment pre-
tend that the Russian government is inn
| Lac 4lot . -, -.