The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-10-11
BUREAUCRACY SYSTEM
Demchiniski Gives Some Good
Advice to the Gar.
DOESN'T BEAT ABOUT BUSH
Says Trouble Is That Gar
Doesn't Rule.

A very fuIl summary "a Inc liSl iAiN
randum presented TO the Car by NJ. Dem
chinski, the meteorologist Of the Novoe
Vremya, has already been published I'D re
Times. The second memoranda. which
followed and completed *, ;s III some re-
spects even more Interesting; for In II NJ
Demchinski not only presses home the at
tack upon the bureaucracy, but sets forth
a scheme Of reform.
NJ Demchinski complains that the MIN
listers. instead of leading the people along
the path Of progress, put all manner OF
hindrances in their way, and by setting
themselves in opposition to popular sentl-
ment are widening and deepening the gun
between the government and the nauoh-
In support of this contention he brings
forward several instances, in particular
the inhuman treatment Of the peasants
who raised The estates of the gentry IN
Poltava and the neighboring provinces
and the punishments which, by order VI
NJ. de Plehve, were inflicted on the more
outspoken members of the asrlculturai
committees of last year.
AT the committee meeting in Voronezh
DIR. Martinoff and NJ Bunakoff declared
complicated and too closely connected
with the general state of the country 10
he discussed in committee of varying ana
accidental composition On one case the
district committee consisted only OF the
Marshal of Nobility and three justices OF
the peace) A general committee shouid'
therefore. be called together, consisting
of elective representatives of all glasses,
and with guarantees for personal lnViola-
biiity and freedom Of speech. l DO not
wish to discuss how far this declaration
was justified; but when it is considered IN
cool blood it must be admitted 10 be VI
serious contribution to the discussion and
not to constitute in any sense an attack
upon the present political regime Ihat
was the opinion of all VINO were cogni-
zant of it last August. Nevertheless
DR.. Martinoff and NJ. Bunakof were ar
rested in November, and We're eXlled.
Immediately this had taken place the pro-
ceedines of the meeting at VoroneZh were
reproduced in thousands of copies, and
month after the arrest there was not
corner of Russia where they had not been
read DR.. Martinoff and NJ. Bunakoft
were REGARDED almost as saints and mar
tvrs. WHY was all this done! I have
dvelt on these examples because the re-
suits that followed could 50 easily nave
been foreseen. The peasants were hog-
ged-one OF them attempted to shoot the
governor: men are eXiled for the open and
honest expression of their opinion-they
are regarded as martyrs and their opinion
becomes an article of faith for many
thousands When one watches what Is
taking place among US, one IS driven TO
the opinion that history is preparing a
severe trial for us. The steadily ap-
preaching economic crisis and the utter
unreasonableness displayed in the man
agement of internal affairs show us clear
ly that we shall have to pass through
a sore time in the immediate future, and
that nothing less than Il second Sevasta-
poi will be able TO rouse up from our
apathy and TO remind us that a govern
ment cannot with impunity disregard the
dictates of reason in the work of admin
istration.'
According to NJ Demchinski the lesson
OF Russia's breakdown during the Crf-
mean war was that 1t was a mistake to
endow the officials with such arbitrary
powers. This lesson. he says. seems now
to be forgotten; and he expresses grave
doubts whether the provincial governors.
fer instance. possessed greater powers in
the ante Reform period than they do at
present.
And what shall we say of the minis
ters? A rule has been created which
gives the minister of the interior power
to suspend all imperial orders and laws.
and to usurp the right of life and death.
When he wishes to order anybody to be
hanged he has only to proclaim the min
or state of siebe Git. the state of en-
forced protectionO in the particular dis
trict. That district then becomes out
side the law and dozens Of men can be
sent to the gallows by the mere orders
of the minister or. indeed, of the gov
ernor- general
The only way. he urges. to avoid a sec
ond lesson like Sabastapoi is 10 put an end
| to the policy of increasing the arbitrary
power of the officials and 70 call upon
society to cooperate In the work Of ad-
ministration. The existence OF the Zem-
suos. or councils for local self-eovcrn-
ment points out the way in which this
can be done; and Nr DeTchiHski wormly
extols the work They have accomplished.
contrasting their devotion and unselfish-
ress with the self-seeking. the corruption.
and the rapaoity OF the officials lie de
nounces the bureaucracy as a prism
which distorts all rays from the actual
life OF Russia before they reach the En-
peror Life at The present day is he
says 50 complicated that not only the
monarch. but even the higher officials
ale unable TO understand it after they
have spent 50 many years separated from
II by their escorts Of gendarmes. All
news CT what goes on is distorted and
falsihed in The chanceIeTi=s before il
reaches them. and is still further falSifieI
before they pass Il on TO the Emperor IN
those Misrepresentation OF facts which
are called most humble reports OF the
Ministers lie makes IN eloquent ap-
peal 10 the Czar 10 break down the bu-
reaucratic wall which separ-.tss m
from his people. AID SAYS thar ii is only
file thoughts Il the people can reach the
+ throne.
The press But is there \ rreSs n
Russia Al lie present moment It IS only
possible 10 cover parer wiki printe-'s
ink. ard that oaly after reading th-oach
a Thousand secret csrculals in which the
EXPRESSION. not ouly or whole thoughts.
bat even q particular words ana phrases.
is forbidden. ofaclsiay an IN acoora-
auce with the Law Ne are supros %
have press: but the circulars. AMI, TThat
IS rnors than shameful. she secret circri-
lars. Of the bureaucracy render the lsw
OF no await. ard show tiras n this mat