The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-06
RussIA's political ExILEs.
Mr. Kennon VIII Explain Their Con-
ditiun in Siberia.

Mr.. George KEENAN,, the famous Siberian
traveller will lecture at the Guards Han
tonight Mr. KEENAN, is considered cne
of the star attractions of the Y. NJ. G. y.
course. Having delivered two previous lee
lures in Savannah Of a similar character
he hardly needs an Introduction TO the
Savannah public.
Some years ago Mr.. KEENAN, penetrated
the entire length and breadth Of Siberia
and made thorough study of conditions
there, paying special attention TO the Rus
sian prisons and the political eXiIes. Hav-
ing formerly been engaged in the con-
struction Of d telegraph line in Siberia
Mr. KEENAN, had gained a knowledge Of
the Russian language and became inter
ested in the country. He had written
newspaper and magazine articles viii
had met with the favor of Russian gov
eminent and this accounts for the fact
that he was given permission to make
tour of Siberia and to visit the prisons,
mines and convict settlements.
Mr. Remnants former favorable impress
sion of Russian governmental methods did
not survive the fuller knowledge which
he gained from closer acquaintance, ana
this was plainly shown in mis- magazine
articles on his return to this country. The
Russian government was very much dis
pleased al this outcome of its move to
gel a favorable view of its methods before
the American people Orders were issued
prohibiting the admission or circula ton of
publications containing Mr.. Kennan's ar
tces, and those who received them clan
destinely got into trouble with the police.
The Russian government even went
further than this and made request OF
the Secretary of State at Washington for
40 gGiQ If
country. The Secretary of State cour-
teously informed the Russian minister
that he would be unable TO crafty his
modest request.
Mr.. Remnants former lectures in Savan-
nah were Camp Life in Russia" and
THE Caucasus and the Mountaineers =
His lecture tonight viii be upon The
Russian Political Exiles." The latter is
likely TO prove even more interesting than
his former lectures, Besides seeing the
eXiles in their prisons and settlements, Mr..
KennSn,- not being under suspicion by the
Russian government, was able TO meet the
eXlles and their friends secretly and learn
from them directly the truth of their eX-
periences with the government
There are nearly 5000 political eXiies in
Siberia" said Mr. KEENAN, TO a Morning
News reporter yesterday. They are near
ly an young men, between tne ages of %
and s.. They are not disreDutable char
ton and character, many of them from
The universities. and the cause Of their
exile in almost every instance was their
desire to bring about some reform in the
government of Russia or their protest
against official tyranny. Liberty, as We
understand IL, is simply unknown in Rus
STA. The people at large have no con-
ceptlon whatever of the meaning of the
word. l learned from the eXiles with
whom l conversed that the reforms which
had been advocated and for which they
had been eXied were very moderate in
deed They had not sought 10 oVerturn
the government but simply 10 bring out
some slight Improvements in its methods
for the ame,ioration of the condition of
the people"
One of the most interesting features of
MIR. Remnants lecture will be his expOsi-
ton of the manner in which the exiles in
solitary confinement in the Siberian pTis-
ons manage 10 communicate with each
other by signal codes by rappings upon
walls and tables and by other methods
still more ingenious and effective.
After his return to this country Mr..
KEENAN, sent copies of his articles TO Sc
cret addresses of friends whom he had
made in Russia. but he discontinued this
after learning that the police had broken
into the house of one of his correspond
ents and thrown him in jail for having
these articles in his possession.
During the Spanish-American war Mi
KEENAN, accompanied the American army
and later spent some time in Cuba study
ing the conditions there. A severe at
tack of the Cuban fever came near put
ting an end 10 his work. While in Cuba
Mr.. KEENAN, formed a pleasant aCquaint-
ance with Lieut. Col. T. S. Wylly of this
city, who was then in command al Bara-
Goa, and of whose efficiency as an officer
he speaks very highly. Col Wylly called
upon Mr. KEENAN, Yesterday and the two
spent a good part of the day together.