The morning news., 1897-08-29
THE STORY or PRINCE KRoPoTKI>
A Very Interesting Delegate at De-
trOit.


From the Detroit Tribune
One of the most interesting, as well as
the most noted of the visitors attending
thu scientific convention a the high school
is Prince Kropotk.n of Russia.
The prince was an interested listener
in the section of geography and geology
yesterday, and while rather holding aloof
from the crowd it seems to be rather
through an excess of modesty than from
aly desire to be exclusive.
he Is a man of perhaps 20 years with
gray ish hair and a long, silky black
beartN which gives him almost a patriar
chal iWpeararce. While only of average
hight. he walks with an air of dignity
which would make him noticeable in any
crowd Seen at the Hotel Cadillac last
night he was most suaVe in manner and
evidently accustomed to reporters. He
said how ever that he could not speak
English su fficiently wei TO give nearly as
good a des. triptlon OF hmSelt as could pe
found in be pks.
why" he said, 'if you wish to know
of me "thei e is the English translation
of Stepniak's Underground Russia which
gives my who We life,
The reported was compelled to confess
that he had no copy of this book at which
his htghness loo ked rather grieved that so
ordinary a perst N should be sent to talk
with him, but qL dckly Frightened up and
said:
surely. then you have a read a book
called Men of Gu T Times in which my
history appears?
.Wen. you must l nov that in 1874 l was
thrown into prison with a number of
others because of pUr activity in the
eause of the people. After two and one
half years in prison / escaped and fled TO
England, and have since resided In that
country. While IN France | was thrown
into prison through the infuence Of the
Russian government, but the scientific
societies worked so actively in my behalf
that ( was released.
shortly before MY imprisonment in
Russia / had delive red lecture on the
glacial period, before the Russian Geolog-
ical Society, which bad attracted some
attention. so that the society interfered
in my behalf sufficie ntly to have me al
lowed pen. ink and paper. During my
term in prison there l published the first
volume of my work, my brother being al
lowed to attend to the outside matters"
''Are you a SOC cIalst, primer" asked the
reporter.
!. The prince smil ID, shrugged his shoul-
ders. and said, in h Is peculiarly soft voice:
well, anything to help downtrodden hu-
manity."
DO you believe in the use of dyna-
mite?P was the next question.
years have l worked tCv reduce the vio-
lence which Is going on in the world"
Then you blame the mrn who have
used force in Russia?" W, rs asked.
The kindly eyes. which had until now
given wholly the impression Of polished,
gentle philanthropist, grew hard as he
said:
Il left Russia before the tel To~ist move
ment Yet l know that mo Veh1ent was
the natural outcome of most, awful per-
secution of all who dared to r aise voice
against despotism. As an Instance of the
high-handed methods of the COVE rnnent |
will say that my companions who were ar
rested with me remained four ears in
prison before they could secure an exam
nation or trial. Finally the judges, who
were appointed by the czar and supp osed
to be completely under his control, EN-
fenced them to a short term in prism.
which so enraged the czar that he arb v
trarily increased the sentence without
even a shadow Of law to uphold the ac-
tion.
Men lived like hunted things and TO
express any idea out Of the ordinary was
to run the risk of arrest Many Of our
best men. leaders ia literature and science.
men who should have been encouraged as
a credit to their country, were working i'm
the mines of Siberia, while others sought
any excuse 20 cave the country Of ther
birth. Who shall Judge such men under
such conditions You whore homes are sa-
cred and who all stand equal before the
law may ind II easy TO crticise. As for
me. / prefer to say nothing on the sub
iecs."
''Is Russia improving" he was asked.
"Weh. / think the movement was start
ed so many years ago is bearing fruit. II
is now broader. and while not much IS
heard OF IL it Is more widespread Tho
people elect a sort OF district and county
council. composed OF the nobility. clergy
and peasants. and they do much for good
roads. sanitary conditions and education
generally. but the government interferes
IN everything. and will not permh an ed
ucatio1al system aong natural science
lines. considering IL unsafe. and ilslsting
on only the classical courses. We expect
very li9le from the young czar."