The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-10

In the same way. while the public both
here and on the continent of Europe shows
n disposition to regard as too highly col
orod the stories told by Irish political oil
Tenders concerning the horrors OF their lie
in the great convict prisons OF Eneianu'
vet we accord ready and Undertaking De
lief to every tale told US by Muscovite ex-
convicts about the cruelties TO when tney
claim to have been subjected In RUSSIAN
jails
OF course it would be ridiculous 10 as
sert that Russian prisons are deSlraoic
places OF residence. No Jail Is for the mat
fer OF that. But, believe me, the kusslah
prisons are not so much worse imam 0iio
nartnoor and Chatham convict prisons III
England. And according to the sta1eieii's
Of the most reputable organs OF the Ne"
York press, the New York state pehiOen-
tiary at Danemora. and the convict camp
Of Georgia furnish quite as gross eNa'nPie'
Of cruel abuse Of power on the part OF Iiio
wardens and guards rs any prison III
Russia. -,
Iobserye that Mr. Brown refers to Mr..
KEENAN, rs his principal authority Tor the
CHARGES which be brings against the
Russian government But may not Mr..
Remnants graphic and well written ac-
counts Of Russian prison life be regarded
rs preiudiced? Is it not fact that pre-
vious 10 his tour in Russia and Siberia he
was an unknown man, and that bis stories
If Muscovite penal life have brought him
need Of both fame and fortune which he
would not otherwise have acquiredl 90
not charge him with Intentionally misrep-
resenting anything that he either saw or
heard. but there is no doubt that he visited
Russia with the avowcd intention OF eX-
ploiting the shadow Of her prison life, and
that from the very outset he was disposed
To Mace the most sensational and highly
colored construction upon everything he
saw. Moreover, the persons from whom
he mainly derived his information were
refugees exiles and political convicts, VINO
are just as unlikely to give an Impartial
account Of Russian penal methods as an
Irish ex-political convict is TO furnish an
unpreiudiced story Of English prison lie.
III the exceptional race Legislation
with regard TO the Jews has been re-
vived of late in Russia it has been with
the same object that the United States had
in view when the latter established analo-
gous legislation against the Chinese Immi-
grants-namely, the protection oil the III
terests of the poorer classes.
The moujik is improvident, dull witted,
lazy, and every way mentally inferior to
his Hebrew fellow citizen. The Russian
government is therefore forced to adopt
measures for the protection of the mouJlk,
and these measures can only be regarded
rs q tribute to the mental and moral
superiority Of the Hebrew race. OF course
these exceptional laws weigh heavily on
those against whom they are directed.
They are often administered by brutal
officials with undue severity, and they are
open to criticism. But such as they are
they enjoy the acquiescence Of all true
patriotic Russians, who resent every foreign
Interference in their domestic affairs, and
who. in the words Of The Nord, the official
organ of the Muscoyite government, are
determined to remain masters Of their own
house. LA-DlPLOMAIlsI'