New-York tribune., 1892-01-08
THE FAMINE IN RUSSIA.
ITS POSSIBLE POLITICAL RESULTS.
VIEWS OF HIGH RUSSIAN OFFICIAL-COUN1
ToLsToIs LABoRs FOR THE sTARv-
ING PEASANTS

ToLsToI's LABoRs FOR THE sTARv-
ING PEASANTS.
Moscow, Jan. I'm an interview on the famine
high Russian official one of the most remarkable
men in the Empire, said. after pledgng the cor
respondent TO secrecy regarding his name The
present famine is not phenomenon that has come
suddenly and will suddenly depart 1t is the
natural consequence Of thirty years bad manage
ment, and will become chronic 1t is an ineV
liable result of series of causes. The peasants
may he relieved: may buy corn for them and
feed Them but how are we TO give them back
their horses and cattle? They have already
killed half of them This is one consideration
There is still another. Fifty, not sixteen. prov
inces will be in a state of starvation IN the
spring. Those Governments which have had good
haryfstS are not the selfsUpporting OnesI
They have generally TO import corn in the winter
and early spring for themselves This year their
state is much worse seeing that they have eX-
ported all the corn they could spare to the famine
stricken districts. What their condition will be
in the spring. you may imagine. The peasantry
are at once apathetic and desperate. But their
apathy cannot last. Risngs may he expected.
The peasants believe ii to be the Cars duty to
feed them.
There are only two forces which keep the
State together, the Church and the army and the
present regime has made for itself enemies in both
not small, Insignificant enemies, but powerful
and influential ones. | shall not mention names.
for fear of drawing attention them; bat think
it is improbable that the soldiers and
their comrades. if called from the Polish
frontiers TO shoot down their starving fathers and
brothers, would be likely TO obey their orders
But if the Polish frontier should be denuded of
troops, and the country be generally disturbed, |
.,,Il
look on quietly and not make an effort to render
harmless for a time the Power which they have
learned to regard as their greatest and most
dangerous foe We have made enemies, not only
among our neighbors. but in our own house The
inhabitants of the Baltic Provinces, once our most
loyal subjects, are now our enemies. Finland we
have also stirred up against us. But, not content
with these achievements, We are now celebrating
a Tartar and Armenian question. of Poland
I need not sneak. You have heard how the
-.easantry regard the Gar. They have notion
of legitimacy. One Gar is good another.
"We are living in terrible times Our society
is sunk in materialism, and cares for nothing but
self-enjoyment; and the peasant has ceased TO be
the thoughtless Czar-worshipper of the past
Besides, there appears to be a party at the head
of affairs which is composed OF Nihists IN dis
euise. They are Nihilists, only they have altered
TO ruin and disaster in the most loyal fashion In
the world. l regard this famine as blessing in
disguise; il may rouse US and show Us the pit
falls toward which going
ST. Petersburg, Jan. "A correspondent VINO
is making tour Of Riazan writes as follows
Absolute starvation is rare, but a majority OF
the peasants are verging on that condition The
local gentry find it difficult TO estimate the real
condition of the peasants. The officials declare
that the peasants knowing that relief is coming
conceal their stores and fabricate stories OF dis
tress An assistant of Count Iostoi refers TO cases
of sham starvation Nevertheless, widespread
misery exists, and relief is urgently needed. Inc
distress is rapidly becoming worse. Count 1olstoi
has established number of cating-houses, where
he has fed people at three shlillnss each per
month, giving them cabbage soup, good bread
and occasionally eggs, bat never meat
Count 1olstoi has limited himself and his as
sistants 10 the same diet. He and his helpers are
erecting hutS Of refuge for peasants many oil Whon
have burned their own balDs and hOmestcids
riecemeal in OrGer 70 keep warm, before starting
TO tramp.
London, Jan. 7.-An interview was had to-day
with Madame Novikof, who is staying III London
with the object of trying To excite interest III one
sufferers by the famine in Russia. Madame Novl-
koff said that the usual outflow of BrllSi' gen
erosity had been checked by the lies puhllahel ~
the press concerning the SitGa ION in RI.sla She
declared that dnSplte the scandals the Rel loss
Society could be relied upon faithfully 10 admin
ister the funds placed AZ lis disposal.