The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-08

out Of their pockets twice. The goods. IL
sc the solicitation of the Grand Duchess:
then the bazaar sales ruined the donors
Christmas trade to such an extent that o
number of failures are feared.
upon learning of the adulteration Of the
food intended for the starving peasants:
1t Is reported that the principal municipal
authorities are to be dismissed IN conse-
ouence of these disclosures. Three agents
at Odessa have been arrested for having
sold adulterated grain.
THE SITUATION REVIEWED.
In an interview on the famine with an
eminent Russian official, one of the most
remarkable men In the empire. he said.
after pledging the correspondent to Sc
crecy regarding his name. The pres
ent famine is not bolt from
the blue. o single phenomenon that
has come suddenly, and will as suddenly
depart 1t is the natural consequence of
thirty years bad management, and will
become chronic. If it had not occurred
this year it would have occurred some
other year. 1t is an inevitable result of
series of causes The peasants may be re-
iieved; we may buy corn for them and feed
them. but how are We to give them back
their horses and cattlei They have already
killed half of them. This Ii one
consideration; there is still another.
These sixteen or seventeen provinces
which are now suffering from want are not
the only ones which will be in need of help
next spring. Fifty. not sixteen, provinces
will be In state of starvation then. Those
governments which have had good har-
vests are not the self-supporting ones. 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 exported all the corn they could
spare to the famine-stricken districts.
What their condition will be in the spring
you may imagine. The state of the peas
antry is extremely unsatisfactory. They
are at once apathetic and desperate. They
are PROSTATE in the face of the terrible ca
lamity that has befallen them. But their
apathy cannot last Risings may be ex-
Tho peasants believe it to be the Cars
duty to feed them. / have heard them
talk as follows: The Gar must feed us,
and if he does not we must choose another
What 10 society to do in the face of such
feeling' The little influence and energy
which our society possesses the govern
ment endeavors to take from it. There are
only two forces which keep the state
together-the church and the army-and
the present regime has made for itself enc
mics in both-not small. insignificant enc
mics but powerful and instrumental ones.
/ will not mention nemes for fear of draw
it is very probable that 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 II the
Polish frontier should be denuded OF troops
and the country be generally disturbed,
cannot conceive that Austria and Germany
would look on Quietly and not make an
effort to render harmless for a time the
power which they have learned to regard
hal ofaat nd nat
I'VE have made enemies, not only
amongt our neighboIs. but in our own
house. The inhabitants of the Baltic
provinces. once our most 10y al subjects are
o O0iy our esT@nn question nave theTs
we are creating an Esthonian,
q Lithuanian. Lettish-a number of ques-
tlons. Finland we have also scored mp
against u.s. But not content with these
achievements, we are now celebrating
Tartar and an Armenian question. OF
Poland need not speak. You have heard
how the peasantry regard the Car. They
have no notion OF legitimacy, one Car Is
as good as another. They obey the insti-
macy OF the succession. As it happens the
present government has had the misfortune
to MAKE an enemy who may become very
useful In the hands of agitators. / mean
young Grand Duke Michael Michaelovitch.
He is very popular.
"We are living in terrible times. Our So
ciety is sunk In materialism. and cares for
nothing but elf-enjoyment. and the peasant
has ceased to be the thouGhtless Gar or-
shipper of the past. Besides. there appears to
be party at the head of affairs which ia,
composed of NihIlists in disguise. They are
Nihilists. only they have altered their
methods. and they are leading the
country to ruin and disaster in the most
loyal fashion in the world. regard this
famine as blessing in disguise; 1t may
rOuse Us and show rs the pitfalls toward
which we arc going" 1t would cause great
surprise were the name of this gentleman
known to the public. His official views
and his private opinions. however, arc so
conflicting with those of the authorities
that he would run great risks If his ident-
ity were reve aled to the government.