Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-21
A PLEA FOR RUSSIA
Her Present State Contrasted
With Her Past.
NEED OF A DESPOTISM
THE PEOPLE NOT YET READY FOR
ELF-GOVERNMENT.
Seeking a Sea Outlet - What Japan
Means to the White Races
Trade Figures.
NEED OF A DESPOTISM

AS a native Russian. a resident os
this city, 1 am greatly chagrined at the I'M
just attitude of the American press and
public toward that country in her clash
with Japan. / take it that this unfriendly
feeling is engendered primarily by the gem
eIal misconception of conditions prevailing
in Russia.
1 wish to show the actual conditions ex-
listing there and the reason for the war as
seen by Russian eyes.
There is a pathetic expression of pro-
found regret throughout the Russian EN-
pire at the general expression of American
sympathy for Japan Evidently the Rus
star press does not knew the elemental
traits of the American people. In Europe,
where the different countries. excepting
Russia, are comparatively small and con-
uguous, the policy of one nation has an
immediate and material effect upon an
other This makes international politics in
Europe a matter of universal interest TO
all classes. from the peasant, who may be
called from the field to the army, to the
banker, the value of whose bonds is at
stake. Such is not the case with US. II is
only within very recent years that the
affairs of Europe have had any bearing
upon American welfare. For a century the
Monroe doctrine was the only point of con
tact between the United States and the
outside world. Thus the American people
generally take no interest in foreign affairs
except in times of war between the differ
ent nations. and their informat ton upon
such matters is naturally sadly deficient.
And then this country is SO large inme
date interests so pressing, and the hustle
50 intense that there really is no time 10
spare in studying international complca-
tons.
Americans Admire Success.
Then, too, it must be remembered that
above all things the American public ad-
mires success. The Beers had the undi-
vided sympathy of America, not so much
because they We're the under dog in the
fight as for their splendid courage AMI
their victories. Had they been overwhelmed
at the outset American judgment would
have been that they were fools for making
such rash attempt and had earned the
Just reward of their own folly. 1t is also
worthy of note that with all the practical
sense and great enterprise, iii which the
Americans excel all other peoples, they
delight in spectacular pyrotechnics with a
passion unequaled by any race of men,
ancient or modern. The naval success of
the Japs was exactly the thing to hit the
American heart in the most sensitive spot
1t was a reminder of Manila BAY when
we went wild, raised Dewey to the skies
and would have made him President and
then pulled him down to the dead level
OF common humanity-if not below-for ex-
ecutlng deed of real estate. Let the Rus
SANS give the JapS Il good rap on the head
and put them on the run and public opin-
ION VIII veer TO Russia.
The Russian Despotism.
The one great argument brought for
ward against Russia is that it is A crlel
and repressive despotism, while Japan is
enlightened and progressive. Let US look
little into the value of this reason for
siding with Japan. Russia inherited des-
pouSm OF the EXTREMIST oriental type from
her Mongol conquerors and rulers The
H,ussla of today dates from Peter the
Great, and when he began his WORK of re-
form the Russians were a horde of Tartar
SdNaSeS There was no hope of improve
ment resulting from an initiative or de-
inand from the people The change had to-
beSln from above, and there it did begin
AT this time Russia was sunk in the death
sleep of ignorance, superstition and bar
DarlSm. while at the same time western
Europe was enlightened with literature
science and the arts and England had al
ready achieved the elements of free con-
sutution. These nations had their schools
and universities, and there was constant
contact between them by the interchanging
currents of thought and commerce Russia
was vast land-locked empire without in
tercourse or external stimulus. 1t was evil
dent that if enlightenment and reform
should come it could come only by i'm
perial decree, not only without the desire
OF the subject millions, but in spite of their
opposition to change. And it is true that
the advance of Russia from barbarism to
civilization has been more rapid than that
OF any other country of Europe.
Much Yet Remains.
But great work yet remains to be done.
Civilization has reached only the upper
and middle classes. The vast body of the
peasantry still remains subst lntially where
1t was century ago. And this IS not the
fault of despotic government but is ow-
ing to physical and economic conditions in
the face of which all governments are DOW
erless; 1t is rooted in TIE supremacy of
the powers and laws of nature over the
human VIII. TIE people of western Eu-
rope became civilized when the peasants
left the monotonous end SUPPLYING labor
OF oxen in the fields and congregated in
towns ana cities and when industry be-
came diversified. Their dense popula ton
narrow limits and economic wants forced
them to do this In Russia it wa otherwise
Scattered far apart over a vast area. with
only the home manufacturing in iustrv
without foreign markets or a home market
beyond the town or village, the vast body
of the inhabitants still remain in the ig-
norance of isolation. Beginnings have been
made, IT is true. but not yet does Rues
belong to the industrial and commerciaI
nations.
The Abolition of Serfdom.
BY the memorable statute of February
10, 1861, serfdom wls abol shed and 10 ooo
900 peasants. bound in slavery to the soil
and compelled TO labor for their masters
were made free men. Morally and intel
lectually they were the equals of the
American southern negroes when these
were emancipated Ii is EVIDENT that a
free constitutional government could no
more exist I'm Russia during serfdom than
II could have existed in England under the
feud1l system. or than il could have ex-
listed in western Europe during the same
period Russia reached in 1861 the point
from which Europe had started generations
before. representative government
founded upon the basis of the mass of ig-
norance of the emancipated serfs WAS
manifestly an imposslIiify
The Russian people were NOT canah,a n,
self-government. and they had TO be gov
erned. They are not now capable of self
government ana must still be governed
The assassination of Alexander III who
was introducing reforms even more ranldlv
than Russia was e2dy to receive them
brought about the Inevitable reaction.
The Russian Proletarian Glass.