The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03

exor6itant taxes: they are standing men.
ace to peace. they subordinate every inter
est and advantage TO war. And the people
have 10 nav for what only Expresses them,
retards their advancement and adds 10
their upbappjness. What the armies
should be and could be. on a vastly re-
duced scale, il An agency for preserving or
der and sustaining law. They should act,
In a word. as a body Of police, defensively,
not Offensively and would thus be bene-
fit instead Of an evil to the state. When
smaller power or any power should trans
gress the principles Of customs Of civhiza-
ton. as Russia is now doing, they should
treat 10 as a mob. read the riot act and II
it did not disperse they should attack II
by authority with the most formidable
weapons they could command. This IL
what our militia IS designed and trained
for mainly. II is called out when tie or
binary police is too weak 10 put down any
civil disorder. Such disorder now pre-
walls. and has long prevailed in Russia,
and the armies OF civilized Europe should
quell it al all hazards, in accordance with
the spirit Of the Nineteenth century.
1t is a burning shame and disgrace 70
the nations that civilization should look,
however Indignantly, al the dreadful spec
tacle of a country, containing a hundred
millions OF people. the bulk Of them al
ways suffering from penury, famine dis
ease, excessive taxation, political harass-
ment, due directly 10 the governing classes,
without lifting voice or hand 10 interpOse
between the oppressOrs and the oppressed
What is the use OF a civilization that does
not enforce when ii can, the laws and re-
quirements Of civilized society? What are
great armies worth, II they will not pro
tect the weak, disarm the robber, restrain
the cruel. drive back the savage' We all
know that they are principally supported
and allowed 10 fatten on the poor, that
the privileged may still prosper, and that
kings and kaisers may be kept on their tot
tering thrones We all know, too, that it is
aprincipleo of international Laws not tointer-
NEEDLE with the domestic affairs Of an
alien state But when any state-while
claiming. like Russia, 10 be civilized-de-
ies honesty, justice. truth, every virtue
and wholesome precedent. ought not her
domestic affairs TO be invaded and de-
str0yed2 If any country, n0minaly bar
bar0us. but really no more bar3arous than
She. should DO as she has done Tor years,
would NOT the greet powers w8X suddenly
righteous and conscientious, ana suppress
its capacity for further mischief
IT, is the -ize and strength of Russia that
renderthem tolerant Of Ler extreme iniqui-
ties. and irreUievably coniound their
moral ideas The body OF the Russian
people err from ignorance and superstition.
They are scarcely blameworthy or response
Bile for their defects It Is the ruling and
privileged classes. the peoples WORST foes,
who have earned infamy and excited nor.
TOR throughout the world The govern
ment primarily is the author Of the crimes
daily committed everywhere in that broad
domain. Until that has been changed o.
extinguished there is no hope Of amend.
ment. The nihilists. few in number but
ideally dauntless, heroically self sacri1c-
ing. are steadily paving the way to political
redemption. They ADORE Russia but de-
test its rulers.
The duty OF civilization is clear, but who
has faith that IL will be performed2
JUNUs HENRI BROWNE.