Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-24
HONE AGAIN
Noted Lecturer and Writer Re.
turns to Bosten..-Expelled
From Russia.
Talks About Conditions in the
Realm OF the czar...Finns
Angry.
KEENAN, Predicts Uprising Among
Them Soon. Tolstoi Nearto
Death.

Boston, Mass, Aug. 24.-Disappointed
at his failure 10 spend few weeks in
the country of his most famous exploits,
Russia, George KEENAN,, the traveller
lecturer and writer. returned to Boston
On the steamer Commonwealth yester-
day. Mr.. KEENAN, set out last June to
revisit Russia, which he had not seen
since the time of his famous investiga-
tions into the horrors of the Siberian ex-
lie system.
For a week or so he made his head
quarters in Helsingfors, the principal
center of Finland, and, after satisfying
himself that the present state of mind
of the Fins is an unhappy one, set out
for st. Petersburg.
Mr.. KEENAN, made no concealment of
his identity. He had every reason to be-
lieve that he would not be considered
persona non grata in Russia, and was
therefore both surprised and disap
pointed to receive an official notification
that his room would be considered pref
cradle to his company. He made no
protest to United States Minister Tower,
and the latter made no offer of official
assistance.
Having spent so little time in the
country he had started out to revisit
Mr.. KEENAN, really did not have an OPP
portunity of observing just how far So
eial and political conditions there have
changed since his former visit.
Il was in Finland long enough to learn
that the feeling there is exceedingly bit
Ter toward the Russian government"
said he.
The Firms have always been peace
able and contented people, but the
wrongs they have suffered from Russia
have been too much for them to bear in
patience, and there is a widespread and
growing feeling of resentment against
their oppressors.
THE treatment of Finland by Russia
has been, to my mind, one of the most
ieplorable episodes in the history OF
that despotic country. The pledges
iaade to the Firms by every car, from
Alexander 1. to the present one. Where
40 changes We're to be made in the con-
s5tution of Finland without the consent
of the local diet, have been ruthlessy
broken.
AS far as 1 can see. too. the outlook
for Finland is hopeless. / was some
What surprised at not being able to stay
I in Russia, and was particularly disap-
/ pointed because the edict of expulsion
prevented me from calling on Count
Tolstoi, who is doing such an able work
for the uplifting of his countrymen.
II did not remain in the country long
enough to learn just how far the leaven
of democracy is working among the
/ Russian people, but ! really discovered
4 that the masses there are universally
devoted to Tolstoi. Everywhere you viii
1 find his photograph, particularly on the
postcards that are just now such pop
ular installation in Europe.
"Altho communicated by the Rus
4 sian church, which he has 80 unrelent
lingly assailed, and altho under the higl
4 displeasure of Russian ofticialdom itself
A Tolstoi remains the ideal of the peopl
4 and his teachings are having grea
influence among them. His letters ant
articles are being widely read, some o
4 them being circulated by stealth an,
others in expurgated form with the con
sent of the censor. Practically every
thing he writes, no matter how radica
in criticism of official methods and poll
lS pTlIteC III Tie
This great man has not many NOR
years TO live, and it is likely that h
realizes this himself. and is making ev
cry effort to appropriately round out hi
life work of reform. There is scarcel
any possibility that he will ever visi
this country. When he dies he will un
doubtedly be accorded the greatest fu
neral ever given any Russian"
l. y
Tolstoi to the car last year. MIR. Ken
nan said that it undoubtedly reached tn
car. but there is no easy means of as
pertaining just what the cars preaen
feelings toward Tolstoi are.
Referring to Siberia and the Russia
convict system. Mr.. KEENAN, said tina
, conditions there had unquestionabl
changed for the better since he visite
that country fifteen years ago.
THE d. M. e. 4. C, PROJECT,