Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-04
RUSSIAN 8 ARE
HAMPERED
BY CENSOR
EDITOR OF ONLY SEMI-INDE-
PENDENT NEWSPAPER IN ST.
PETERSBURG DISPLEASES
THE AUTHORITIES.


ST PETERSBURG, July 1s.-The pro-
gressive terrorization, of the Russian
press, which characterized the regime of
N. Sipiaguin the minister of interior, who
was assassinated last April, appears to
have been adopted as a settled policy by
his successor, NJ. Won Plehve.
M. Sipiaguin closed the Northern Cour-<
Ter and the Rossiya. After their extinc-
ton the only newspaper in st. Petersburg
which maintained an independent attitude
towards the government was the ST.
Petersburg Yiedomasti, an old journal,
which, since II passed into the control Of
Prince Oukhtomshy, has been character
ized by the honorable and straightforward
manner in which II was conducted. That
IL was not liberal newspaper. according
to western notions. need scarcely to be
emphasized. A liberal newspaper is alb
soluteIy impossible where the censorship
is as vigilant and exacting as it is in
Russia. Owing to the impossibility Of ex-
pressing its own views on either domes-
tic or foreign AFFAIRS, consistently and reg
ularly, the Viedomosti abstained, except
on rare occasions, from any COMMENT
whatever. It's original news articles were
also couched in the most guarded and
matter Of fact language. and was based
scrupulousiy on official data
1t must be explained that outside OF St.
Petersburg and Moscow the daily press is
subjected to preliminary censorship; that
IS, no article may be published which has
not been sanctioned by governmental
official assigned especially to review its
matter. The press Of the two capitals is
free from this burden, but may be, and is
called to a strict accounting by the CEN
sorship for any matter that may be found
Objectionable, but II is regularly warned
against handling such subjects at all. It
also Is a fact that the owners Of news
papers under preliminary censorship &an
be and are severely dealt with and The
papers can be suppressed for publishing
matter that has been sanctioned BY their
particular censor.
In spite of this censorship the st. Peters,
burg always has been characterized by its
interesting excerpts from the provincial
newspapers. 1t alone, of all st. Peters,
burg newspapers, has attempted to keep
its readers informed about what was. go
ing on in the interior Of Russia 1t now
appears that the department Of the We'd
omosti has become an eyesore toward the
government.
Minister Won Plehve summoned Prince
OukatOmsky TO him July u and lectured
him severely on his management of the
journal which is leased from the govern
ment. NJ. Won Plehve told the prince the
Viedomosti had become the organ-of the
liberals and revolutionists, particularly In
its provincial departments. He peremp-
torily demanded the immediate dismissal
of the editor of this paper and warned
him that after two months his lease Of the
paper which had several years yet to run.
would be cancelled. M. Won Plehve con-
cluded by saying he had seen the car
on July and had received his majesty's
permission to take these sewers meas
ures.
Prince Oulztomsky has long enjoyed a
measure Of imperial favor. After he ac-
companied the car, when heir apparent
on the princes famous tour around the
IL 81 liant ~ Ia
so-Chiense bank and his unrivalled knowl-
edge of China and Chinese affairs has GER
tainly been of great advantage TO the
government. II is generally understood
that heretofore when pressed or threaten
ed by the late Minister Sipiaguin. Prince
Oukhtomsky has been able to save him.
self by a personal appeal to the car.
NJ. Stakhovich, who is marshal OF the
nobility of Orel, was reelected to this
position almost Immediately after his Ia
nous speech last year on religious liberty,
and his election was confirmed He mas
recently been active in a movement to
procure the participation Of the zemstvos.
or provincial self-government delegate
assemblies in the great agricultural in
nufrv He recently held a conference at
Moscow with a number of Zemstvos
leaders from different provinces and for
this he was summoned before Minister
Won Plehve and reprimanded in the pres
ence of the head OF the police department.
The government is extremely jealous OF
ANYTHING approaching concerted action on
the part Of the Zemstovs, fearing that II
might result in some form of representa-
tive government for the whole country.
NJ Stakhovich took the reprimand In
Door grace He called the minister's at
tention to the fact that he is an elective
representative of the nobility Of the prov
ince of Oreal and responsible legally TO.
nobody save to the emperor personally.
He declared that he did not recognize
the minister's right to harangue him about
his conduct and that he did not accept the
reprimand. He then stalked out OF ths
room