The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-27

RUSSIA is PERTURBED
Semi Centennial Celebration
of Crimean War.
TOBE HELD AT SEBASTOPAl
Chas. Thwing Writes of Con-
ditions There.
Cetter to n. Y. Post.)

Crimean war is to be held next year in
sebastopol. The celebration will be I'M
der the control of the Russian govern
ment. The place of the celebration is, or
course. most fitting In that war the city
of Sebastopol was destroyed. Practically
all the buildings of the present city nave
been built since the close Of that war
The strength and prosperity Of the pres
ent town, which, with a change in the
lines written concerning Durham. one
may say is half church and half for
tress against the world are an example
of the enlarging prosperity and strength
of the whole umpire But when one asks
why Russia should desire to celebrate the
Crinean war, it is little difficult to find
a satisfactory reply. II there ever was
a war of modern times which no one of
the forces engaged in il should desire 10
celebrate. that war is the Crimean. The
English are feeling more and more that
in that contest they put their money on
the wrong horse. 1t created dismay IN
all England 1t broke up cabinets and
ruined political regulations. II left many
thousands Of the sons Of England In the
English cemetery near Sepastopol, ana
ten thousand in the cemetery at Scutari
For Russia the results formal and ad-
ministrative were hardly less lamentable.
It's dead, too. lying in its cemetery in
this city. are more than hundred thou
sand. France came out of the struggle
with less OF dishonor than other nations.
The name of Alma lives in Paris. though
most Parisians are ignorant of its signI-
ficance French general remarked last
year. on visit to this region, that with
even average geneTalship the Russian
forces could have conquered the allies.
Turkey suffered less than the great Pow
ers. an bought to have suffered more.
To the Italian relationship little direct
interest now attaches, besides the MEM
orial mound and tomb which crowns
hill on the read to Yalta. aside from the
fact of the cooperation of Power Ike
Italy with the great Powers. Austria 8
participation was slight. But il is plain
that whatever may be the purpose OF the
celebration the celebration is TO be had;
and it is also intimated that the allies OF
fifty years ago may be asked by their foe
OF that time to cooperate.
one finds ones self asking whether
Russia will celebrate the centennial of
the Crimean war. For If there be
Power of which the future is subject TO
all manner of questioning, that Power is
not France nor even Austria, but Rus
STA. Russia is not on Oriental despotism,
but il is an absolute monarchy; and an
absolute monarchy finds the problem OF
its adjustment to an advancing civiliza-
ton difficult Not few are the signs that
a crisis is more or less imminent in Rus
STA These signs are largely compre-
hended in the political, civil and social
unrest of the middle classes. These
classes apparently do not know what
they want: but they know that they want
things different from what things are
now This restlessness is more evident
among the students of the five universe
ties at Moscow. st. Petersburg, Kief,
Warsaw and Charcow than among other
bodies. but from the students and by the
students the spirit of discomfort is borne
into every part of the great empire. 1t
is a restless more prominent among the
middle classes than among those above
or below. The higher classes are, on the
whole happy and content; and the lower,
though hungry for bread are more in
clined to rebel against the laws of heaven
than of the Winter Palace" SO ignorant
are they.
The prevailing restlessness has rela-
tions to several elements OF course, 1t
has relations to taxation. Cabinets go to
pieces on the rock OF the budget. and the
tax collector is the forerunner of the
revolutionist a small tax. If felt by the
people to be in any way unjust. is more
conducive to revolt than a heavy tax
which has the semblance of justice. Rus
sian taxes are as fact heavy, and are
also thought by the people to be, if not
unjust unrea sonable. In Russia. as in
Germany the army is TIE great consum-
er of national energy and gold. But
aside from this expenditure the imperial
list seems to be uniquely extravagant
for even an absolute monarch of all the
Russias. No one publishes its amount or
its divisions. but the people do not fail
to appreciate somewhat its extravaganza.
Even the most stupid can realize that
the palaces at Yalta. which the Gar
visits for short time once in two years.
continuing as a part of their permanent
equipment three hundred horses and a
hundred carriages. monopolizing many
acres Of rare coast lire of the Black Sea.
which is divided from the public high
way by border Of wire fence OF a dozen
strands represent a union Of luxury and
exclusiveness which naturally promotes
irritation
The army and the church are with the
Car. They seem to be the most per-
vasive and controlling forces. The peril
Of revolt is far greater with the soldier
than with the priest. but with the soldier
n is small In every emergency both the
army and the police have so far proved
loyal TO the constituted authority. Great
changes would be necessary for them tic
Join hands with any liberty party or
movement No such changes seems to be
impending The priesthood is even more
conservative. The Church in Russia al
lies itself with the past more completely
than is usual in nOn-Protestant lands
One reason given for retaining the old
system OF the calendar is the fact that
the people would ind il hard to readjus;
their saints days to the new order. II is
currently reported-with how much a
tr1thfulness. Of course. ! know not-tha;
the progressive temper and movements
Of the great Alexander H. so aroused the
Churchthst Il was essentially guilty n
comprising his assassination II is a
hard lot indeed. when. II ruler be reac-
tionary. the Nihilists wish 10 kill him
and. II ne he progressive. the priests
wish to kill him
The question OF the future has intimate
relation with the personality OF the Car
That personality is interpreted as eeinf
gentle and clean. but devoid OF strength
Bureaucracy rifles. Those nearest 10 hi,
-Ht