The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-15
NEwsPApnRs IN RUSSIA.

The profession of journalism In Rus
sta Is not invested with such surround
fngs as would tempt Americans to en-
gage therein. Editors. reporters and
publishers are under restrictions which
would be Simply intolcrable to a citizen
OF the United States. or even OF coun-
tries like Germany and France, where
restricted by law and official censor
ship. But In Russia there is actually
no such thing as freedom OF the press.
The VIII of the government. expressed
through an autocratie censor. is the
only standard by which owners and
editors OF newspapers are guided.
There are two kinds OF Journals. the
Official and unofficial. The Official pa
per IN the direct organ Of the govern
ment and Its utte-arces are presumed
10 be the opponents OF Its will and
pleasure. The ron-offioiai journals are
always In a most precarlous r,ossrson.
for It Is impossible ID foretel the fate
either of the paper or Its ownsrs and
editors beyond n single issue. They are
subjected TO the most rigid censorship
and TO severe penalties for any devia-
slan from What The authorities deem
proper
Every unofficial paper. which pub
fishes an arti-is that is ubisctlonable
"a ghe authorities. is warned through
it's editor not 10 repeat the offense.
After three such warnings the paper Is
suspended for six months, when II may
resume Publication under a censor with
tho full knowledge that the penalty for
another ofYenSe will be its iuancila,e
andaesosute abolition. Ii II said That
every unofficial newspaper In Russia has
received two warnings. Publication
after the third warning. under a censor.
Is so beset with s.ssisslrrsas&snents as 10
be well nigh isrpoSSlh.e. Every issue.
before II rs distributed. must be sub
mittesi 20 ard approved by the ceasor.
VINO cuts out all ARTICLES not meeting
his approval THE Tase- then has TO
be made ,sp" again. and. OF course,
cannot be pahsEsAed 49, early as It's con
censor. either covTuptly or revenge
fully, could ruin an ohsgaxlous Journal
Russian newspapers are allowed con-
siderable latitude In discussing foreign
matters and conlnientlng on news frcsu
abroad, IL Is In respect 10 ss<ernal
po;acice vvssch are matters Of tocal In
Seves, shat the lines are ssrawa taut.
II IS I'D trouble az all for the author
stles In she larger TOWNS 10 get rid Of
obnoxious writers. The government
can exf~3 any psssos whom IL does not
like. azsl sese UNHAPPY editor who has
offended the powers Shaa be iss psspsn,,sty
hundiex. cut 81 town without a hearing
ar trial. When an sdgsov - so anEewtu-
nate as 70 have ais paper surprised.
he might as we'll hunt sorae oxfser prss-
fessie.sa. fer his career In Journalism =
usually ended. He IS black sszsex.s' as.(a
watched as closeiy as though ne were
an actual criminal on sicket-os-ssave.
t-gfzl gYsSsser liberty Is accorded to
the Russian press. there can be no rad
seal fregrsess toward Freedom axnosx its
p>xsle. INDEED, tire first outward man
ife~sagson ~ an argTcSsssfs toward con-
stzsgsisTsl gsvewnxnnni will BE- secse9 In
stas emancipation 81 the press froEn
osf.clal censorship and the peSaities now
attending any <srlziclssn % ssse authO--
sizes. Ma nsti THO people tssruugA TIE
pssa,s's~NsssTuaas. may safely ard freely
make kacwa sAesr grievances. discuss