The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14
THE CARS DOMAIN
Political and Economic Causes Of
the Present Unrest.
HE CAUSE OF STUDENT RIOTS
The Peasantry Are Practical People,
as a Rule, Picturesque, stolid
and Sturdy.
PHILADELPHIA Times.

and Sturdy.
Philadelphia Times.
The revolutionary. movement in Russia
which is just now attracting SO much at
tention, is headed by an organization
known as the Social Democracy OF Rus
sia. Its program is practically that Of
every Socialist party in Europe This or
the Anarchists, as the Socialists claim
that there is not an anarchist in their
ranks. The anarchists are opposed to
government lin any form. They are op-
posed to parliaments, voting, and what
they CALI majority rule, whereas, these
are the things the socialists are lighting
for The socialist system of universal
cooperation. based on the principles Of
representative government, is their goal,
but for the present they want those popu-
lar institutions which all civilized ma
tions of the world enjoy as a matter Of
course.
Various causes tend to contribute to the
unrest which, existing in Russia for many
years, has now assumed an acute and
serious phase. In the first place, the
government of the country is an absolute
hereditary monarchy, the entire legisla-
tive, executive and judicial powers of
which are united in the czar, whose will
is law. The administration Of the en-
pire is entrusted to four great boards or
councils, possessing separate functions,
but each controlled by and supposed to be
In touch with the sovereign. These are
the council Of state. the ruling senate,
the holy synod and the committee of min
listers. For many years this system CT
administration has been unpopular with
the masses, who, taught by German So
cialists and other foreign agitators that
their manhood rights were trampled up
on and that they are just as much serfs
now as before emancipation, have organ
lied to certain extent, in demand for
not only more liberal administration
of local affairs, but for national admin
istration based upon the constitutions of
such limited monarchies as Prussia and
England. .-..e -,- 1~-~
Economic Causes Also.
These are the political causes Of the ex-
listing discomfort In Russia. The eco
nomic causes are also many. For at
least Ave years the harvests in Russia
Lave been poor, and last year and in 1900
the prev ailing drought almost ruined the
crops in the southeastern provinces and
in those across the Caucasian mountains.
The result was destitution almost ap-
preaching famine. To remedy the needs
of the peasantry the minister of the IN
terror was given an appropriation from
the imperial exchequer. The distribu
ton of relief was placed in the hands Of
parochial officials, and it was asserted
that instead Of relieving the needy these
officials appropriated most of the money
for their own use. -
Another cause of popular discomfort
was the treatment of the students in the
| universities. They were called upon to
do military duty, ard, as this interfered
with tLeir studies, they protested. This
| finally led to riots in St. Petersburg and
| Moscow. when many were killed. The
| peasantry, from whom many of the stud
ents spring, sympathize with the latter,
and resent what they regard as their
| persecution. -. ......,
The Peasantry Are Practical.
| In many respects the Russian peasantry
are. as class, extremely practical and
matter Of fact in their conceptions and
habits, and are not at all prone to indulge
In sublime ETHEREAL sentiments Of any
kind. Once aroused to rebellion, how
ever, they are as unconquerable as stub
born beasts. They live together in a sort
of community, abiding to all outward
manifestations, at least; by the laws OF
Russia, but at heart rebels every one of
them. 1t is here that the, seed of conten-
tion Is sown and grows apace until it
finally bursts into open conflict, and al
though the government Is strong and the
power of the classes great, when once
the peasants take up arms it means a
great loss of life and property before
peace is finally restored.
| The province of Poltava may be taken
as a fair example Of the towns in the
southern part Of Russia. However impos-
| ing Russian towns may look when seen
from the outside, they will generally be
found, on closer inspection. to be little
more than villages in disguise. II they
are not positively rustic they have at
least suburban appearance. The streets
are straight and wide, and are either
miserably paved or not paved at all. The
houses are built either of wood or st one
generally one-storied which makes a
bird's-eye view very fiat picture, and
separated from each other by spacious
yards. The general impression produced
is that the majority of the burghers have
come from the country and have brought
their homes with them.
| The "Gostinny Dvor."
There are comparatively few shops
scattered throughout the Streets II YOU
wish to purchase household furniture OF
articles of clothing you must go to the
'Gostinny Dvor,', which. literally trans
lated, means the guests court. These
bazaars consist of long 5symmet rical rows
VI AoVEAOoASO, 01AA1y 1tSAISu SLUIco WlCQ 8
colonnade in front. This description does
not, of course, apply to the great city Of
st. Petersburg, or to Odessa or Moscow
ait though, the last named still maintains
a suggestion of It's old time rural air.
The peasants themselves are rather a
picturesque set. Stolid, sturdy sons Of
the soil, they are capable Of great endur.
ance and an everlasting hatred AS q
class they are almost entirely devoid o1
the finer sentiments. They have no love
of nature or Of the arts, or appreciation o.
the beautiful Their stat ely carriage anc
graceful movements are indeed pleasant
to watch. When the gaily turbaned heads
are raised shock Of surprise is felt. The
deep-set eyes meet the glance Of the visi
tor with calm looks of Indifference o,
dart glance of smouldering anger at tht
j curious.
+ This is the class Of, people which tn,
! government has to deal with, and it is th<
long stored up hatred Of these slow, stub,
born and revengeful men and women tn,
classes are feeling. the effects of to-day.
WASHBURN ROAD SOLD