The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-08

The civilized world is moved by Russia's
misery. Whatever the faults Of the gov
eminent under which Russians live may
be the sympathy Of the brotherhood Of
mankind goes out 20 them in this time Of
their distress and suffering. This sympathy
in the Uuited States has taken practical
turn. Provisions have been donated in
large quantities TO be sent 10 The stricken
districts, TO be distributed among the needy.
An organized system Of collecting contribu-
tions for the peasants has been instituted,
and now it is estimated that quite a ship
load Of grain and -four awaits trAnspOrta-
tion to the cars needy Children Even
the President OF the United States has
taken official action in the matter, having
requested congress, in special message, 10
! provide a ship, at this governments ex-
pense, 20 take the grain to some Russian
port, where it may be delivered to the
Russian authorities for distribution.
At this stage Of matters Mr. George Ken
nan, the eminent writer on Siberia in par
ticular and Russia generally, submits to be
/ interviewed by a newspaper correspondent,
and makes the statement that IL Russian
/ government officials are to diSburse the
| bounty of the western world, that bounty
were better withheld-the people for whom
il is intended will get 10 benefit from it To
strengthen his assertion Mr.. KEENAN, relates
numerous instances OF official greed and
tyranny, going to show that the peasants
are not allowed to possess anything or dis
pose OF any possession except by official suf-
ferance after being subjected TO extortion
to the last degree. Police officials in the
provinces look upon the poor as their legiti-
| mate prey, and do not hesitate AZ anything
to better their own condition OF the expense
OF the peasants. 1t is Mr.. Remnants implied
opinion that if wheat issent by this country
to Russia for the starving. it will not reach
the peasants, but will be appropriated by
the oonscienceless officials.
Mr.. KEENAN, has lost all confidence in the
Russian government. He went to that
country as the governments friend, pre-
pared to believe that things were not as bad
as they had been painted. But what he
saw convinced him that the half had not
been told; and he lays all the blame for
present conditions in the land Of the black
bear at the governments door, In no other
country under the sun, he asserts, could the
failure of a single years crop reduce the
people TO starvation. And this has been
brought about by the pernicious autooracy
which brushes ambition out of It's subjects
souls
While all that Mr.. Ksnnan says may be
| true 1t is also true that there are thousands
| OF Russian peasants starving, and 1t be-
hooves people blessed with plenty and with
the hberality to give to endeavor to ameli-
orate their condition. The attempt could not
fail to be productive OF beneficial results,
whsther or not a shipment Of American
grain went into wrong hands. Such ship.
ment, under the auspices Of the government
at Washington. could not fail to come to the
attention of the czar-who is said to be ig-
norant of the true state Of affairs-and COM
ing to his ears he might take steps to make
an investigation, which, in all probability,
would result in incalculable benefit to his
| country and people.
1t is 30 be regretted that congress failed
to adopt tha resolution authorizing the gov
| ernment to send assistance to Russias
ADMINISTRATION people