New-York tribune., 1900-07-29

Manchuria, it has its economic end on the road
TO Manchuria- The vast plains over which the
new line is carried have agricultural pOssioiH-
ties yet to be developed. and in the combination
of farming and mineral industry the Russian
Government sees. or thinks it Sees future OF
uneXampled prosperity. But how IS the country
to be peOpled2 That is a problem which presents
no difficulty to Russian statesman. He is con-
fTOnted by the spectacle of poverty nearer home,
and the simplest way TO remedy this is 20 move
the Russian peasants from land where they are
too thick upon the ground 10 land which IS wait
ing for some one to cultivate il. Russia, Ike
Ireland. has her cOngested distriCts-COngeste Id
in point of proportion of population TO means %
subsistence if not in proportion of inhabitants 70
the square mile-but Russia, unlike Ireland, has
ground enough and to spare for her whole
population, with no sea 10 cross in order TO set
to it, and no change of life or administration
70 encounter on their arrival
SIBERIA ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME
AS soon as this state OF things came 10 be
realized the Russian authorities could not hut
reconsider the contribution they have hitherto
been making to the settlement of the provinces
IN question They have managed 70 associate
Siberia with crime, and with the pun shrenL OF
crime. 1t has been the empty space into which
the criminals OF the Empire have been shot Ike
so much rubbish. The transportation system
may have more advantages than EngliShTy-rl
are accustomed 20 in it. II may give men
a chance of making new lives for themselves
which no other way of diSpOSinS OF them can
give in the same degree 1t may plant a popu-a-
tOn in regions which, though no one would ever
go to them of their own accord can Vet be made
habitable, and even profitable. il inhabitants an
IS
a transportation system VIII not do IL VIII not
dovetaH into a system Of voluntary labor Emil
grants do not care 10 work side by side with
cOnNlcJS, or 10 see their children I1JeTnarTy:nS
with the children of COuVicts. Consequently. a .
the future of Siberia grew in Importance. as its
possibilities as a field for eI1iee1atiCn became
better known the centre of gravity for the
Empire tended 10 move eastward, and the
AsiatiC provinces played a larger and IarEer
part IN the dreams OF Russian politicians. the
question how 10 relieve Siberia from the convict
taint must often have presented itself to The
Car and his advisers. The result of their uedi-
come To hand this week The Gar We learn.
has abolished exile 10 Siberia
One Of the most striking incidents of exile has
perhaps could so f0rcibly bring home 20 US
what Siberian exile meant 10 the sufferers In
future. a criminal sentenced TO imprisonment
the penalty which IS 10 take the place of that
which is TO be done away with-wiU lose his
freedom for the term of his sentence and Moth
ing more. When he comes out of prison he will
have only been suspended during his detention.
But the sentence of Punishment TO Siberia
carried with il civil and social death The
property OF the criminal went 10 his heirs; the
wife or husband of the criminal was free 10
marry again; whatever provision he had made
IoF the SuarulahShlp or MS children came At
once into effect The sense Of irupaSSabIe dis
tance lay at the root of all these provisions.
Family relations imply the possibility of phvSi-
cal contact and Siberia SO far OF and the
means of Intercourse with its Inhabitants II
wholly wanting. that il seemed natural 10 assume
the world So long as the conditions of life in
Siberia lent themselves to this view of the
criminals position, the punishment was deter
rent IN the highest degree But with railways
and population il must have soon come To bs
regarded in very different and much less seri-
Gus HSAt In IhaJ case the objections To using
Siberia as a place of punishment would have
retained all their force. While the supposed adj
vantaEes Of this method of punishment would
have disappeared.
There can be no question therefore even IN
the minds of the most conservative Russians "a
TO the wisdom Of the step the Car has taken
Ii must. so 10 say, have been taken for him bv
the opening of the railway and the growth 81
population. That it marks an advance in the
treatment OF prisoners may also. We think De
assumed The hardshipS of the journey often
very terrible, and the completeness of the couSe-
quent separation from every earthly tie rDust
have been a great undeSigued addition 10 rbs
severity OF the punishment Though Russia n
prisons may have terrOrs OF their own they are
less remote as regards situation and so Tar less
removed from the possibility OF inquiry aad
Improvement