The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-14
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ut will probably lessen the importation Of
Come things but other branches Of The trade
gill continue to prosper. 1t was business
necessity"
WITTE SAYS THE
RUSSIANS LIKE US.
What is the feeling in Russia toward
the United States?'
Politically 1t is the best possible.
THE two Governments arc on the friendl
est terms.
Commercially our relations may be some
what strained, but that is the outcome Of
conditions which Russia could not control"
What Is Russia doing In Manchuria, your
Excellency?" said ]. ut is charged that you
are eolonizing the country and intend to
hold IT,
."That IL not true" replied the Minister
Of Finance
I'VE are doing nothing Of the kind. and It
Is the intention Of the Russian Govern
ment to refrain from extending its rule in
that direction.
I'VE have dozen times asserted that we
will give the government over to the
Chinese just as soon as We possibly can, and
this we expect to do"
"Your Exce!lency is considered the most
ADVANCED statesman in Russia.
at is generally conceded that within the
past ten years you have done more than
any other man for your country and peo-
pie along broad political lines.
II would like to ask you what you hope
for the Russia of the future"
1.-THE future" replied Mr.. White, after
thinking a moment, the future Is in the
hands Of God and destiny.
What 1t will be do not venture to pre-
dict, but If We may Judge what is to come
by the past this country will one day be
the great country Of the world.
'This Empire is an autocratic one. and its
condition largely depends on the individual
ity OF Its rulers.
III those to come are to possess the great
ability Of those We have had since the time
of Peter the Great I have no fear of the
Russia Of the future"
A MESSAGE TO
THE UNITED STATES.
Before leaving i asked Mr.. White to give
me message for the American people. He
replied;
You may say that Russia II . friend Of
the United States.
"She has always been %. and she Is
more SO to-day than ever. She considers
the United States one of her best friends
among the nations.
'She rejoices in Americas prosperity and
hopes that the friendly relations which now
obtain will be perpetual"
During my stay In the Finance Depart
ment, at the direction of Mr.. White I was
given Information concerning inc nuSslah
Government as q liquor dealer.
The movement was originated BY Alex
ander III. 1t was introduced In several
Provinces by Mr.. White on the st OF jan
uary, 1895. and 1t has now been extended to
almost the whole Of Russia in Europe.
The Government has taken ertire charge
of the manufacture and sale of all alco-
holic liquors.
1t has Its liquor shops In every city and
village. and 1t is against the law for any
private person to make or sell vodka, az
the Russian whisky Is called.
This work was begun to protect the peo-
pie from the liquor dealers and TO Improve
their condition generally.
In the past there were groR SHOPS scat
tered over the Empire. many OF them OPP
Grated by INSCRIPTIONS people, who sold
drinks on credit and finally got away the
lands and most Of the property in their
neighbOrhood.
The business was enormously profitable.
Many Russians had grown rich from it.
They were not only robbing the people,
but they were selling them bad vodka when
Mr.. White issued his decree that it must
be stopped. and that after a time the Gov
eminent would manage the business itself.
OF course there was great cutlery.
Had there been a congress, or any pur-
chasable commodity. the order would have
probably been remanded. but the Govern
mcnt here is supreme, and the liquor dealers
went out of business.
GOVERNMENT LIQUOR FACTORIES
YIELD ENORMOUS PROFITS.
Since then great factories have been es-
tAblished to make the vodka. ana tns Gov