New-York tribune., 1901-12-01

thing one moment, letting II go the next; resi-
less and ambitious, without any clear idea
what they desired By the sixteenth centUr.
Russia began to take higher place in the af
fairs of Christendom, and ambassadors Of West
ern powers penetrated into the dark regions 0
the reputedIy barbarOus land. But it is still
/ grim and dreary, mean and monstrous' land
as Mr.. Munro calls ii, speaking particularly 0
the time Of Ivan the Terrible, with its gibbets
axes, implements and boiling caldrons its man
devouring hounds and blood splashed beaI
dens, its krOmiesniki and dumb driven popua
ton, its cutters running red and carp CROWNS
bloated on human flesh, and. above ALL thost
gIttering crosses. Yet even il Western Europ,
at that time humanity and inhumanity wer.
convertible terms.
Mr.. Krausse's book is devoted to an accour
Of how Russia has gained her vast possession
in Asia. In a little more than four centurie-
the empire has increased from the half million
square miles comprising Ivan Ills kingdom
Of Muscovy to the more than eight and a hal
millions OF Nicholas II, including most of East
ern Europe and all Of Northern and Centra
Asia. It has been a steady onward march
there has been no important withdrawal from
territory once acquired. The progress towar'
the Orient began with Peter the Greats inva-
sion of Daghestan in 1722. Siberia has tee:
matte campaign in China began in 1891 Tn
world is now watching to see where the Beas
Will next crafty his greed OF empire. Nj
hrausse significantly suggests d problem il
arithmetic, to discover. at the rate maintaine,
for three centuries, how long it Will be befor,
Russia becomes mistress Of the world. All this
has been done without a single struggle with
first class power-oue Of the chief secrets OF
MuscOvite success. Her methods are persistent
but polite, and she flies in the face of European
opinion only when she believes Europe IS to,
busy to resent her action.
Mr.. Krausse follows this remarkable history
step by step. beginning with the absorption G.
Siberia and continuing with the conquest Of tn"
khanates Of khiva and Bokhara, and OF Turko-
mania; the practical domination of Northern
Persia, the entrance into China. With his
sparing denunciation of Russian methods, NJ
krausse writes a severe criticism Of the Eng.Ist
policy that has been so helpless in opposIn-
them. England has shown Indifference Wedde'
to lack Of understanding, and a constant alter
nation OF impulse sufficient to wreck the abIeS,
attempt at continuity. The plain truth Of the
matter is that in her every contest with Russia
England has been beaten not by the strength
| or resources Of her rival. but by the weakness
and .ucapacity Of her own rulers" The British
Government IS always concerned with its Owl
existence. and shrinks from any policy thai
would offend voters. The theory Of the "buffe,
state" is but a sorry mode Of shifting Ires"r.
responsibilities 10 the shoulders OF coming = n
er.4tlgus MI krausse sounds the note Of alarm
vigorously; but he IS tain 70 conclude that III
collapse Of the soulless tyranny Of Russia D.
inevitable from the rottenness that saps - lr
tatiOns
We st into q caImer atmosphere III Nj
Noble.s book which is succiuct study e; Rus
sian history internal c5udit.ous o.iai. I.itt'a
and economic. eI.siuus and literary meN N"In~Hf~
and designed to afford a comprehensive under
standing Of what the great Russian rr"lI.
! like The sketch is clear and illuminating a'.
plainly drawn from sources Of suhstaHia
| knowledge In his historical sketch Nh N"t..
finds the wholly special character Of Eus~ia'
history. and not little Of It's peculiar lnter"@,
to come from its separation from the W
maintained by its physical situation, 's'e.
faith and difficult language and aIphahet-lh
last named bein, more fgruid4a.. than an
mountain chain. more uur,l-uJIuE than any lH-
periaI ukase." The history Of Russia Is trace,
in its larger outlines with Interesting develop
Iueut of certain important features. Tn ehaIte.
on the Women H1formers'' is excellent Anna
Ivanoyua, Elizabeth, Catherine, made an i'm
portaut period IN Russian history and increa-er
the briIIIaucy Of the Russian court but trousht
about conditions that led to the TevO.uuonar\
movement Of the "Decembrists." The emanc.-
patton and the causes that led up to it ar,