The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-26
THE SECRETS OF RUSSIA.


We, away out here in the bosom Of
North America, know little of the great
nation Russia. Still our knowledge goes
as far as that possessed by the people OF
the east and of Great Britain.
Russia is a great country, as great If
not greater than GreatBritain.F For in all
but commerce she stands side by side
with the tight little isle. The brother
hood of the world has been growing
warmer and warmer. Into 1t Russia
has not joined The fear Of what Rus
STA might do or might not do, what she
demanded and permitted, refused and
denied, has kept Christian aid away
from the poor Armenians.
The world associates with Russia in
the street. Russia never takes any one
into her home.
A London writer in st. Petersburg
has attempted to show the real govern
ing power Of Russia. He says that
Russia is perhaps the only civilized
power today which draws strict line
of demarcation between home and for
eign politics. This is based upon rules
laid down, first, by tradition; secondly,
elaborated by a set Of persOnages enjoy
ing the confidence of the sovereign who
ever he may be; the ministers have to
forget and forsake their own individual
ity and tendencies before an immOvable
program, AMI all latitude left to them is
limited to the elaboration of details-on
the condition, however. that these
should fit the established pattern. As to
tradition, one may well hesitate before
stating its ''fOns eet origo;" for it is not
only that continuity Of diplomatic and
political action resulting from the con-
tinuity of the same administrative and
organizing powers throughout success
i've reigns. 1t is not kind Of moral
legacy inherited by new car from his
immediate predecessor; the tradition in
Russian policy, especially foreign, is
said to be based on the will Of Peter the
Great, whose master mind seems to
have had prophetic insight into most
of the coming eventualities. 1t is, of
course, impossible to make even guess
at the secret clauses OF the document;
but that it exists can not be doubted.
and that its injunctiOns must be blindly
obeyed is patent to all who have cared
to notice the obstinate consistency OF
certain moves in Russian foreign poll
tics-such as what may be best describ-
ed as "Der Drang mach ConstantinopeT
for example. 1t may safely be asserted
and it will be universally understood,
that the main idea Of Russia's great re-
former was TO find maritime outlets for
the country's military and commercial
interests,
The policy followed in Asia has the
same object in view-teste the steady
progress towards the Persian gulf; for.
let it be we'll understood, it is not India
that Russia covets. This much for ira
dtional tendencies Of Russian foreign
politics. AS to the program set out
priori, it may be broadly said that until
the Berlin congress German influence
was writ large across governmental
acts, and since the accession OF Alex
ander III. quite opposite counsels pre-
vailed. What that influence was, and
how odious IL became, only those whose
lot cast them in Russian civil or mill
tary service can realize. Soldiers had to
obey generals who ignored the very
terms Of drill in Russian. and minister
ial employees had to take orders from
chiefs who spoke pidgion- Russian. This
was, among others, the time when
Count Pahlen was granted the privilege
Of addressing the imperial family in Ger
man for the simple reason that be could
not. or would not, learn Russian. A
great reaction set in with Alexander III
and the anti-German feelings of this
monarch are too well known and have
been shown too well in various legislat-
i've measures to stand now in need Of
enumeration. Everybody is aware, also,
that side by side with a system of ex-
trcme reaction in home administration
was inaugurated an era of consummate
Liberalism in foreign politics. Within
the last six years astonished Europe has
witnessed scenes of medieval tyranny
and persecution in the very heart or
Russia, and shaking of hands and EN-
braces with republican, revolutionary
and anarchistic France. "Cosas des Es-
pana" is a vain word as compared 10
.-Cosas de Russia and now let Us 10
the actual factors Of an existing state OF
,hing+to that which at the present
moment is behind the youthful majesty
of the emperor of all the Russias.
In the first instance We have the DOM
iuant influence Of the dowager empress.
as depository Of the innermost thoughts
and designs Of the late car and para
mount power i'm council This influence
is said to be further reaching than that
OF the car himself and is reported 10
have been imposed on all concerned
with the lsst breath Of the dying mon
arch. We have no choice but 10 accept
this Statement; as a positive fact. IL only
because the anti-Gernan and Franco
phil tendencies Of the dowager empress
are perfectly well known and that
whatever has been done 50 far IN this
direction eorroborates our Information
A sadde- fcctor of this certainty may be
found in the policy Of reaction reseo'-
lessly pursued at home: indeed. in direct
opposlion 10 hopes initially raised and
even against the original designs Of The
new reign With the gaastly vfsicn Of
Alexander II. 81 aS death-bed. the SOU