Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-24

have Travelled there have been agree
ably surprised at the kindness and
cheerfulness OF the people. Az the
same time, II can hardly be denied
that social conditions there are, in some
respects, barbarous. Especially is this
the case. when the religious status OF
the vast multitude Ia considered. Alex
ander ! was a man OF broad views, and
his Idea was that religious liberation
should prevail. But this view has not
gained much ground. The state and
church are so intertwined that 1t
would be impossible to define clearly
the boundaries between the two, Ex-
communication from the church means
very often Punishment from the coun-
try. Priests are among the most ar
duous In the work Of collecting money
from the people for war purposes. and
such contributions Of the faithful are
solicited before the very altar OF the
Sacred" images. The ozar is also the
head Of the church, and the two insti-
tutions meet in Him. Soldiers serve as
executors of the DEGREES OF the church.
A transgresslon Of the rules OF the
church very often Is a crime against
the state. and vice versa.
Under this lack Of freedom, the most
cruel prosecutions flourish. II Is not
so very long ago that a correspondent
in Warsaw told the pitlful story OF
poor Polish peasant, who was once
made the Victim of Russian bigotry
He was over eighty years old, and he
was found dead In a snow-drift. few
miles from that city His grand
daughter, n seyenteen-year-old girl,
was dead by his side Here is the sto-
ny In part;
In the early eighties Felix was
fairly well-to.do peasant, owning a
piece OF land In the village OF Zcerskl,
not far from Warsaw. He was he tman
of his tribe, and lived In peace with his
neighbors and the government, too.
Old age beginning 10 make itself felt,
Felix coded his property 20 his son and
was about TO retire from active life al
together, when st. Petersburg decree
ordered him to embrace the Greek faith
and thus set an example TO the village.
The villagers appealed"
The commissioner ordered them to re-
turn home and. afterward again appear
before him. They did so, but when they
refused to abjure their faith, the son
of the old man was killed before his
eyes In most cruel manner. The ac-
count says;
THE lnhuman officer commanded his
men to give the headstrong peasant
some Russian punch They opened HIS
Jaws. stuck a funnel in his throat and
poured In foul water. Then they danced
on his stomach, Under their kicks and
squirting, poor Ignatio expired"
Then the old man was taken In hand,
He was asked:
"rWilt thou now renounce thy RO-
man hereses?' Felix shook his head.
Bring In his granddaughter
Marsha was then but two years old,
and Felix loved the child more than
the light Of his eyes. He began to trem-
bic as he heard the order.
"a Cossack came in, carrying the
child on the point Of his lance, but the
spear was drawn through the little ones
clothes and her tiny body was as yet
unlnjured.
"The commander placed six lancemen
in one end of the room and six In the
other.
"'Abjure, or the ball game shall be-
gin Mariska's body shall be the bail.
Then Felix broke down, He threw
himself on his face and, cursing the
hour Of his birth promised to become
convert II the child's life was spared,
"And there were barrels OF vodki and
much rejoicing, and all the peasants got
boisterously drunk and kissed the boots
OF the commissioner who had destroyed
them body and soul"
1t Is almost incredible that In
Christian" country, scene like this
can be enacted. Russia needs light. II
needs religious freedom, the mother of
true liberty. And the people also need
that training, which will enable them to
make the proper use of that great priv
ilege. There Is no doubt that In Russia
there is excellent material for free
and great nation. but there is still much
to be done. before that end can be
roaohad