New-York tribune., 1896-12-06

German ideas But the material from which ne
had to construct his bureaucracy altogether
inadeouate besides being thoroughly Oriental.
and as such imbued with all the bad qualities
Of the Asiatic character. II may he doubted
whether even if the material In question had
been perfect. the system was in any way suited
to Russia. For the beaureaucracy devised by
Peter the Great is of the German type. and the
German nature is too precise. too exact. too
narrow to ADAPT itself TO the Oriental nature of
the Slav Capitalization Is pre-eminently fitted
for the government of Germany, but It is thor
oughly opposed to Eastern ideas and TO the
Asatic character.
GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF OFFICIALS.
The Russian bureaucracy as now constituted
is a piece of machinery vast and complicated
that one can readily understand the extent to
which 1t crushes every element Of vitality and
progress in the dominions Of the Czac The
latter stands at the top OF the pyramid, and In
the words of Peter the Great, has "to give
account Of his acts to one earth but has
power and authority to rule his States and lands
as a Christian sovereign according to his own
will and judgment" Immediately below the En-
peror are the Council Of State the Council Of
Ministers and the Senate. The Council of state
is intruste1 with the duties Of examining the
annual budget but has merely a consultative
character. and the monarch is il no way bound
by its decisions. The Council Of Ministers is
not council at all in the Western sense Of the
word. the Ministers being directly and individ
ually responsible TO the Emperor. and having
no common responsibility cohesive force.
They are ten in number, and at the head
Of the various branches OF the imperial Gov
ernment. AS for the Senate. it originally
intended that it should exercise a controlling
influence in all sections Of the admns'ra-
ton. But it has been deprived Of its preroga-
tves and is at the present moment little else
than species Of court Of appeal
In each of the foriy-six provinces of the
European portion of the Empire, as well as in
Poland. Finland the Caucasus and in the Baltic
provinces the Ministers of the Interior. of Pubc
Works of Public instruction, Of Justice. OF FL
nance and OF State Demesnes. have each his own
particular army Of officials each member OF
which, from the highest to the lowest considers
1t to be his duty 10 rule the people-that Is saw
the nom official class-wth a high hand; the prin-
ciple of the Russian Government since the days
Of Peter the Great having been to treat the cti-
zens as minors utterly Incapable Of understand
ing politics. and even incompetent to look after
their own local affairs Looking for direction
and appreciation merely to their superiors the
officials are accustomed to treat those over whom
they are placed as a conquered and inferior race.
To keep this vast machine in motion II Is
necessary to have large and well-drilled army
Of officials. These mostly drawn from the
ranks Of the nobility and the clergy and form
a peculiar class. called "Tchinoviks" In Russia
a mans social position nowadays depends not
upon his birth. but upon his 'tchn" that is to
say. upon the official rank which he holds There
fourteen grades of the so-caed "tchins"
and although educational certificates may ex-
empt one from passing through the lowest
grades. yet man. no matter how lofty his birth.
Is compelled to begin near the bottom of the
administrative ladder and to remain fixed time
on every step. Moreover. he cannot receive Ger.
tain dgnities. honors and appointments unless
he possesses "tchin'' corresponding thereto.
while the severest punishment that can be in