The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16

more important book not only contained ad-
dresses. but notes giving an idea OF the class
OF letter which should be addressed to certain
personaGes.
VI. Berry also goes into extensive details con-
cerning the beggars' mode Of life. shows on
intimate knowledge o: the Pa:isian 1oss-
houses and concludes by, saving that even the
occupatit n Of a simple street beggar is not a
trade to be despised. The Deputy watched q
woman begging In the Rue des Victories. In
the course VI an hour twenty-five people gave
to her. Surprising that each person only gave
a sou. that would:make 25 cents. which. as the
writer points out, Ia a good deal moro than
she would have earned had she been employed
In n shop.
Again the report comes from Rus ia that
the position OF NJ. dc Witte Is shaken and that
1. In probable that he will be overthrow. The
interesting circumstances OF this last report
are that the Emperor has boen very much inn
pressed by the arguments Of the Grand Duke
Sergius and the Grand Duke Alexis. II is
however. necessary to remember who these
two Grand Dukes are before. we can form any
estimate. correct or otherwise. Of the possible
influence of these two.members OF the i'm
reriaI family. They are both uncles OF the
present Emperor. The Grand Duke Alexis is
the eldest but one Of the surviving sons OF
Alexander H.. the Grand Duke Vladimir be-
ing his senior. Alexis is a sailor Prince. who
spends most OF his time in Paris and the south
OF France. He.is seldom sober and is not.al.
lowed to exercise very much control over the
navy. lie is unmarried and lives under The
tutelago uf'and on terms Vi Intimate friendship
with the Grand Duchess OF leuchtenberg. who
* a Bcauhnrnais. On one occasion Alexis
kicked her husband QUO OF his wife's apart
mcnt. The unfortunate IeuchtenberR. who
has not the physique Of Alexis. went to COM
plain to the Emperor. Alexander Ill. but that
virtunus monarch only replied that q man
who was not capable OF maintaining order in
his own house did not deserve anv SYM athv.
II is not likely that the Grand Duke Alexis.
who has never taken a serious view Of any
thing, will be able to. damage Mr.. de Witte
yerv materially. or the Grand Duke Sergius
II il enough to say that his private character
is best left undiscussed. lie intrigued TO yet
tho insignificant post Of Gorernor-Gcneral OF
Moscow-insigriiicant, that ia. for n Grand
Duke. for he is under rhe Minister Of the In
terror. and has practically to obey hi9 police
master. lie is miSerlv and has none OF the
qualities Of his father. although lie has in
hcrited from his mother her extreme super
stitious ricty. He is married to a sister of the
present Empress OF Russil. and a granddaugh-
ter Of Queen Victoria. but their union has not
'u'h 'i'SDNNt WIN SliFt ms 10 III
archRologis. Of some learning. an admirer OF
all essentially Russian institutions. very re-
dictionary, bigoted. and unpopular. In Mos
COW he leads a secluded life. Nevertheless.
there is little doubt that he voices the views
oG the manufacturers of the district OF Moscow
in opposing Mr.. de Witte.
The:position?of Mr. de Witte is more difficult
than his enemies represent. lie has to create
revenue. The peasant is the bedrock OF the
Russian social formation. That peasant Is
/. starving. II is therefore clear that something
must be done to get money. He has tried the
time-honored game Of raising loans. But
Europe has got tired OF lending Russia money
aud even America demanded terms which Mr..
de Witte felt he could not agree to. 1t Is there
ore necessary 10 do something else to at
S-act capital into the country-to throw the
country oren to foreign trade and to develop
the mineral resources. These proposals have
alarmed the steady-going stupid Russian mer-
chants. They have taken alarm at the pros
pect of the Introduction Of foreign capital.
and the consequent possible reduction OF the
Understanding power OF the ruble from its
present 20 and even 40 pei cent. to a sober 10
and even 5. They say: I'VE do not want the
foreigner to come here and get rich at our ex-
pense."
The official classes are also opposed to the
INTRODUCTION VI loltlk to uldy u0
sufficiently powerful to interfere with many
OF their present comfortable ways. The Slavo-
phils look with dread upon foreign capital
for they say foreign capital will Europeanize
Russia. it will govern the country and will ul.
timately become even too strong for the au.
tocracy. There is thus a general feeling al
over Russia. n sort Of Chinese conservatism
which wants to be protected from the foreign
barbarian. But perhaps the MANUFACTURER
classes are most energetically opposed to NJ
de Witte. for that very remarkable man has
been limiting that the time was at hand wher
Russia should consider whether It would moi
be wise for her to abolish protection. AT the
bare suggestion Of such a thing the manufac,
turers Of Moscow are w in arms. When II |:
remembered that it is the manufacturing dis
trict OF Moscow which has so long preventec
the development OF the Caucasus. which ha.
tried to crush Odessa. and even petitioned Al
eXander III. to nut protective tariffs on the
manufactures OF Russian Poland. 90 that the,
should not compete on equal terms with thost
OF Moscow. we shall understand how narrow
short-sighted and unintelligent the manufac
turing classes OF Moscow must he.
We may. nevertheless. assume. with a Ger
tain amount OF confidence. that NJ. de Witt,
will survive the hostility OF the Grand Dukes
and even Of the manufacturing interests o
MOSCOW. lie ~ Nv btSt nUttu Hun IN nus
sia. but he is also the strongest man there. tn,
man who knows clearly and definitely wha
he wants and why he wants it, and who ha
also made up his mind as to the best mean,
Of getting il.
NJ. de Witte originally was an unimportan
railway official. NJ Vishnegraiski pickeC
him out one day and rapidly promoted him
But from being VishneCrudski's creation NJ
de Witte RAPIDLY developed into his opponent
He literally fought his way into his presen
place, in spite OF calumnies and false accuse
tons. At one time it was currently reporte,
that NJ. de Witte, who was then Minister q
Communication tRnIlwaysl had been foun,
out in a most dig:aceful lob. That lie hu,
been robbing right and lett. had, OF course
been common gossip for wears. but this time
it was said. he had been caught in @ bushes
which would involve his ruin. But instead @
being ruined himself. his enemies were ruined
It was their peculations which came TO lighI
and NJ. dc Witte stood lirmer than ever.
He has now opposed to him NJ. PObiedonost
eff. the Grand Dukes. the whole official world
and u large body of so-called public opinion