The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-11

caucasus tS pun1shment-au would have
been well, and to return to that position
| now would, as 1 say, be well, once the
people were able to recover themselves.
But it is a very different policy that is
being pursued toward them-a policy of
much harshness. -
1.-Two summers ago did the main body
of the Spirit Wrestlers not burn all their
arms?"
| Eyes, as an evidence of their deterni-
| nation not to use violence even for their
own defense The holocaust was carried
out simultaneously in three places, and
| was accompanied by the singing of
psalms. AT one place it went off without
interference, at another it resulted in the
| throwing of 40 Spirit Wrestlers in prison,
whereAthey still remain. In a third gov
eminent district, the Spirit Wresflers
were set upon by troops in ferocious
manner. Two cavalry attacks were made
bonfire was already burning out-and the
Cossacks dashed them with whips. 1t is
| needless, however, to follow the persecu-
tlons in detail, since you will understand
them from what have already said
Perhaps in such matters much depends
upon the attitude of the local govern
ments-I mean as apart from the supreme
government of the GAR
Precisely. Much is done in Russia in
the name of the government that never
becomes known to the Gar. Moreover,
the Russian rulers who have been able to
impress their ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for
good or evil-through the system of gov
eminent have not been numerous. Let
me see. One would mention Peter the
Great, Catherine IL, and perhaps Alex
ander II. A Circassian lady, the Prin-
cess Nacashidzy, is now staying with us
here in London, having had to leave
Tif1is on account of the measures pursued
against her by the local administration.
She warmly assisted the Spirit Wrestlers
in their unhappy plight. AS to the flu
ture of that prosecuted class, what can be
said-it does not show signs of much
light. A new governor of the Caucasus
was recently appointed. What will he
do?"
''To return to a specific instance of
punishment, what happens to an individ-
ual Spirit Wrestler who refuses to be a
soldier?''
"The way has been to send him to a
disciplinary regiment, and what that
means is not hard to comprehend 1t
means a life such as might be melted out
to crim1nals-to beings who were not hui
man. Now it is intended to send recalci-
trant Spirit Wrestlers to Siberia for the
period during which they would be elig-
IDLE as soldiers, a lesser punishment per-
haps, although much would depend upon
circumstances. If the Spirit Wrestlers
were able to make community together
in Siberia, and if they were in likely
part ofstheIcountry, they might do not SO
badly"
"You spoke of the future-what of the
influence of the young Gar and Czarina
on it, alike for the Spirit Wrestlers and
for the mass of Russian people?"
The Emperor is well meaning, and on
questions of liberty of conscience takes
wider views than his father, whose re-
forms were reactionary. Whether the
Czarina can move ministers and the sys-
tenn, remains to be seen. The Czarina
had no experience of Russia before she
assembled the throne. She was not q grand
duchess for years before, she did not live
in the country, she did not know the
language Not knowing Russian affairs.
she is generally understood to have de,
clined to interfere in them. There some
think, she may have done we'll, but anve
how as to her future influence we
must wait and see.