The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-13
GARDEN OF EDEN.
The Ever Progressive Thinks He Can
Rich Products of Fruit Grain

though uncertain of their future fate,
they knew there would be a change.
The life of an exiled family in Siberia
is monotonous, though not necessarily
as hard as has been pictured. The most
difficult part is the journey, which is
conducted overland on foot, the exiles
chained together. If the journey takes
place in the winter they suffer greatly
from the cold and many die on the
road.
But once arrived in Siberia and given
a little piece of land upon which to
live, there are better days. If a whole
family has been sent to Siberia there is
almost comfort, although there is al
ways the feeling that spy is watching
them The government agents are free
to come and go in the homes at any
time, and an exiled woman in Siberia
must be ready at any moment at night
or day to throw open her doors for the
inspection of the spy who keeps up a
constant vigilance for nihilist plots.
II an exile wants to live peaceabIy
he can plant his seeds, raise his foods
and raise his family. If he cannot get
enough Tor them to eat he can go and
beg of the government, which has a
station IN every village. He cannot
leave the village nor can he read the
newspapers. In fact, all reading matter
except a few facts are shut off from
him, and it is with difficulty that he
learns the news of the world. Never
theless, he keeps fairly well posted and
1t would surprise you to learn how soon
the Geographic reports of the great
news OF the day are carried through
the Siberian villages by word of mouth.
Ihe exfled families are permitted to
visit each other to certain extent, but
they cannot be out after nightfall; nor
can they hold public meetings except
religious ones. There exists a system of
strict surveillance of which they are
constantly and unpleaSantly made
aware. For the unruIy there are ST.
berian prisons and these are undoubt-
eddy horrible
The mode of punishment which the
for he iii
yet uncertain. He may, with wisdom
that has been denied his predecessors,
esta dish a code by which offenses
against the government are judged by
law, and each rihilist as he offends
may be tried. Plotting against the
government in this case would be re-
of dynamite and the holding of meet
lngs for the purpose of discussions that
tend to unsettle the mind. All these
could be classified and scheduled Just
as our own crimes are arranged, and
n1h1list could be brought up, tried
and sentenced to Imprisonment accord
ing to the extent of his crime.
The offender to-day has no such re-
course. If the government spies find
him guilty he is seized at his own
home, at the table, while he is walking
in the street-anywhere-an he is hur-
rted off, often without an opportunity
to say goodbye to his family, who, I'M
less they be very wealthy, have not the
means to accompany him. Once off for
seen again; for escape from Siberia is
impossible.
1t is thought in judicial circles among
those men who, like Grover Cleveland
and Benjamin Harrison, make a study
of political government, that such a
course would do more toward stamping
out nihi1ism in Russia than any amount
of exile punishment. The nihiliStS, see
ing the fairness with which they were
being treated, would gradually cease to
plot, and Russia would De as safe as
Germany or England.
There will always be the socialist, but
he need not preponderate as he does in
Russia. Socialism and nihilism, by the
way, are different. Nihilism means
nothingiSm. Socialism means every
thing for everybody; but in the general
understanding in Russia they are the
same.
If the Gear opens up Siberia, runs the
tranS-Siberfan railroads from India into
Siberia and across it; if he makes Ir-
kootsk a great city like st. Petersburg.
and makes another Moscow of Karensk,
then, indeed, he will be a great Car
and worthy to be called the Gar of all
the Russias; for he will have a country
of loyal subjects many times larger
than his present peaceful domain, and
will add several million subjects, now
rebellious, to his willing ones.