The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-23
NICHOLAS MEANT WELL
EuT HIS WISHES WEIR q CAR
RIED OJT ny VI. BOG0LIEPOFF.
New Light ON Rising OF Russinn stu
dents-The Cars Good Miil-Gcn-
eraI NanoNsky's Work..

LONDON. April pa dispatch from 81.
Petersburg. dated April p. says the wis
dom OF the Cars appointment OF General
Vsnovsky. as minister OF public instruc-
ton. becomes more apparent every day.
With the permission OF the police the stu
cents of the university. technical instt-
tute and high schools held meetings to-day
&c discuss various questions in which they
are concerned. General Vanotsky attend
ed the meeting Of the university students.
\ letter from ST. Petersburg. dated April
s. says: The appointment of ex-Minlster
cf War Peter Semenovitch Vanovsky 10 the
responsible and possibly dangerous posi-
ton OF minister OF education is the best
proof that the Car does not share the APP
parent belief OF the political police that
university students are invariably revolu-
tIonists in disguise and that the way TO
reform higher education is to abolish higher
educational institutions or turn them INFO
military barracks. This appointment had
been talked of. as il was known that the
Car was taking General Nanovsky's ad-
vice i'm the matter Of student disconten.,
but ii was scarcely believed the aged sol
der would receive his highest commanders
call to re-enter the ranks. lie is In his
seventy-ninth year. That he was called
upon TO put on harness again il the best
proof of the great scarcity of able men in
Russian public life.
General Vanovsky was commissioned to
investigate and report on the student
troubles of two years ago. lie made a num-
Der OF wise recommendations then which.
possibly through the influence OF the late
minister of education. NJ. Bogoliepon. came
10 naught. General Vanovsky's secret re-
port on the troubles of 1879 was printed
in Berlin i'm Russian, and he has been gen.
orally recognized since then as a decided
opponent OF the police regime OF NJ. Bogo-
hepon and NJ. S~ipiaguine.
In this connection one finds a notable
example of the way in which imperial good
will can and Is sometimes turned into the
opposite by those intrusted With the re-
sponsibility of carrying out the design OF
his Majesty. As has been stated in dis
patches from here, IL has been provision
ally decided not TO enforce for the present
the temporary regulations against student
disorders. These regulations order the ell
rollment of turbulent students into the
army. The whole agitation OF the present
school year centered around these regu-
lations. The demand for their abrogation
was the cardinal cause of the outbreak OF
disorders In so many higher schools, though
lesser grievances were often put forward
for tactical reasons They are. IN Ia,
regarded by the students as an unheard OF
punishment for often trifiing breaches 81
university discipline and as a barbaric dis
| play OF contempt Tor tnelr aspirations. On
the other hama the army officers feel that
the enrolment of students into the army
as an act OF punishment is a dishonor ID
the army. which is. in fact, turned into a
penal institution. Matters are made much
worse from the fact that the students are
distributed in many regiments, instead OF
icing confined TO the ayoNedly penal regi-
ments. NOW X may be a surprise 10 most
people to learn that these much-contested
military regulations were intended by the
Gar as a proof OF his good will. as a young
ruler, toward his young, II sometimes -
orderly, subjects. At the time Of the last
great troubles he was confronted with tina
prospect of many brilliant young men OF ex-
cellent families being cast into prison as
felons for youthful follies. He knew that
this meant the absolute ruin OF the future
of every one of them and the blasting OF
the happiness of hundreds OF homes. On
the other hand, IL was felt that leniency
would allow revolutionary doctrines to gain
a firm foothold in the universities. The
guilty must be weeded out. the erring re-
claimed. His Majesty and his ADVISERS be-
thought them of that other great educa-
tional institution, the army, and il was
decided TO place those who appeared TO DO
leading the disturbances in the army foc
discipline and would, If composed OF the
proper ingredients of manhood, return To
civil life sobered and fitted to take up the
burden of life. The Gar insisted that sucn
enforced military services should have no
unfavorable effect upon the future prospect
OF the disciplined young men-in other
words, no record should be made that the
service was disciplinary; that all previous
scores should be regarded squared by nom
1 orable bearing of arms. and that no dis
elimination should be made in appointment
to public positions against the student sol
diers. who il was expressly stated. were
tC be allowed upon their release 10 re-enter
any university.
The Importance of this can scarcely be
appreciated I'm countries where citizens do
not lead "A double life. as they do here-a
physical and a paper life, a life described
in dOcumen that must be presented on
every occasion and which register every
/ Sfipna and every fqnlf. The CZaTS design
was TO run a wet sponge over youthful mis-
demeanors. 1t happened, however. that Nj:
BOgoliepOn was minister OF education. ana
NJ. Bogoliepoff was "a proud, unreasonable.
stubborn man. His appoint ent was re-
garded by friends OF the universities as n
calamity. and their prognostications were
unhappily fully realized. He had distin-
guished himself for harshness while cura-
tor Of the Moscow educational districts.
and was cordially hated by all students be-
fore his appointment. Himself the child CT
very humble parents. he had no sympathy
with poor students. Knowing himself dis
liked. he was determined not to bend I'D
student opposition. and the Cars gracious
intention failed. Why? Because Bogolie-
poff, whose duty ~ was TO execute tho
plan and 10 place n In its proper light be-
fore the academic world. represented II as
a penal measure. The students were given
to understand that they would he sent 10
distant regiments I'm Siberia or Turkestan
and would have meniai tasks 10 perform.
The possibility that they might refuse so
take the military bath was considered, AMI
they were threatened with court-martial IL
they did refuse.
at was not generally known until the
Ministry began debating the abrogation OF
the temporary regulations that the enforced
military service did not carry with IL any
stigma or disgrace. Minister Bogoliepoff
wanted IL 10 be regarded as a disgrace.
Bogoliepon r. dead. IL may seem harsh to
say so. but few Russians even IN public
life regret his death. and hundreds ara
heard TO express qualification over his muir
der 10 one who condemns *. The renewed
expression OF the Cars kindly intention
toward the students in the circular adj
dressed 30 General Vanovsky Will doubt
less be appreciated by the overwhelming
majority OF the students. The energy and
capacity of General Nanovsky afford room
TO hope that a radical reorganization Of the
universities in the interest OF the students
, Will result"
Countess Tor~foi scores Mgr. Antonf
E Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG. April S.-A letter
= - l..at.-- E,rbfa V-,1ef,f - ~ A.