The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07

ment would leave those parts Of Siberis
which are paradises for salubrity and
luxuriance. Now, which do you think
is the best style of a prison-Siberia or
many o. our American prisons9 WheE
a man comm its big crime in our coun-
try, the judge looks in to the frightened
face OF the culprit and says: You have
been found guilty; sentence you TO
the penitentiary for ten years" He
goes to prison. He is shut in between
four walls. No sunlight. No fresh
air. No bathroom. Before he has
served his ten years he dies OF
consumption, or is so enervated that for
the rest of his life he sits with folded
hands Wheeling invalid. In prefer
ence to the shut-in life OF the average
American prisoner, give me Siberia.
Beside that when offenders come out Of
| prison in America, what chance have
they? Ask the poorly supported socis-
ties formed to get these people places
for work. Ask me to whom the newly
liberated come from all the prisons, inn
| ploring what they shall do No ono
will commend them. The pallor of in
generation is on their cheek. Who
wants to employ in factory or store
man or woman who, in answer to the
question, "Where did on live last?"
should make for reply: states
prison at Auburn or Moya mensing."
Now in Siberia they have better
chance. They are never spoken of as
criminals, but as unfortunates, and they
are allowed every opportunity of re-
triev.ng their lost reputation and lost
fortunes. l talked with the president
Of the National society Of Russia for the
education and moralization OF the chill.
dren OF Siberian convicts The presi
dent OF that society, appointed by the
emperor, is IA lady of great accomplish
ments and much sympathy, which il.
lumines her face, and makes fearful her
eyes ard tremulous her voice. The even.
ing passed at her house in st. Peters
burg was one of the memorable events
OF nv lifetime / will not attempt to
pronounce the name OF that noble
woman appointed by the emperor
as the president of the National
society Of Russia for the education and
moralization of the children OF con-
vets Please to name any such national
society in our country, supported by
government for taking care of the chill
zen of convicts. You know, if you
know anything, that there is no chance
in tn country for man who has been
imprisoned, or for his children. God
pity them and hasten the time when
| ph,n NV. ;n.t;t,,ttn>
established by the congress of tho
) United States, initiate the mercy of the
Russian government toward the inno-
cent children or imprisoned offenders
He who charges cruelty to the imperial
family and the nobility Of Russia bellies
men and women as gracious and be-
nignant as ever breathed oxygen.
But how about the knout, the cruel
Russian knout, that comes down on the
bare back OF agonized criminals? Why,
Russia abolished the knout before Il
was abolished from our American navy.
But how about the political prisoners
hustled off to Siberia? According to
the testimony Of the most celebrated
literary enemy OF Russia, only 4Aa pc:
iitical prisoners were sent to Siberia In
twenty years How many political pris-
oners did we put in prison pens during
our four years of civil WARP Well, l
guess at least one hundred thou.
sand. Americas 100000 political prs.
oners versus Russia's 443 political
prisoners Nearly all these 443 of
, twenty years were noblemen or pee
= pie desperately opposed to the emanci-
patton OF the serfs And none of the
= political prisoners are sent to the IA
nous Kara mines. For the most part,
you are dependent for information upon
d. the testimony of prisoners who are sent
to Siberia They all say they were in
!, nocent. Prisoners always are innocent.
' Ask all the prisoners Of America to-day,
, Guilty or not guilty?' and nineteen
, out OF twenty will plead, Not guilty."
Ask them how they like their prisons
! nd how they like sheritfs and how
they like the government of the United
States, and you will find these prison
!, ers admire the authority that arrested
them and punished them just about al
!, much as the political prisoners of Rus
sia like Siberia.
= But you ask, how will this Russopho-
bia, with which SO many have been
. bitten and poisoned, be cured? BY the
g God OF Justice blessing such books ana
q pamphlets as are now coming out FROM
Prof. de Arnaud, of Washington; MIR.
y Horace Cutter, of San Francisco; Mr.
q Morrill,, of England, and by the opening
q Of the American gates to the writings of
. some twenty-four of the Russian authors
! and authoresses, in some respects as
= brilliant as the three or four Russian au-
, thors already lnown-the translation of
those twenty-four authors, which am
=, authorized from Russia to offer free of
. charge to any responsible American
:, publishing house that will do them just
. ice. Let these Russians tell their own
~ story for they are the onN ones fully
/, compel ent to do the work rs none but
= Americans can fully tell the story of
g America, and as none but Germans can
q fully tell the story of Germany, and
h none but Englishmen can fully
/, tell the story of England, and mono
= but Frenchmen can fully tell the story
y. of France. Meanwhile, let the interna-
g tional defamation come to an end.
! Cease to speak evil of dignities merely
- because they are dignities, and of prcsi-
l. dents merely because they are prcsi
10 ! L