Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28
hrssIA, HER sTRENGTH AND HER

Russian finances and the condition or the
peasantry is a startling exposition Ihe
impression generally maintained Is that
Russia Is an immensely wealthy country
with millions of gold piled up in Its c0ners
The author shows that the country is really
on the verge of bankruptcy, and that its
great treasures are borrowed that 1t Is go
ing more and more into debt every yea
and that there seems to be no prospect OF
paying the principal The payment of the
interest is a constant drag upon the nation,
and the export of cereals which the people
need themselves has to be unnaturally
stimulated in consequence. The condition
of the peasantry in the black earth district,
the heart of Russia, the most fertile spot
originally of the empire. is more deplorable
than that of the people in any civilized
country In the world. Compared with the
Russian novels the cabins of the crofterS
OF Ireland are palaces, according to MI.
Won Schierbrand, and the degradation OF
the Turks Is not more deplorable. Although
Mr. Markham drew his inspiration from
MIllets picture for his Man With the
Hoe" his poetical lament accurately de-
scribes the state of the Russian peasant.
That this Is not an exaggerated statement
can be seen from the assertions of Russian
writers. The GraShdanin conservative
journal, says:
'Our contemporary agricultural life in
Russia. peasant or proprietor, is a complete
nonsense and surrounded with impene-
trable darkness. These immense distances
without passable communication OF any
kind, yet penetrated by elegantly con-
structed railroad tracks; these rural pal
aces falling into decay and standing In the
midst of layer after layer or straw nuts,
one attached to the other; this TAT SOIL
which does not even return what Is put IN
TO It; these antediluvian implements where
by the horses are fairly slaughtered; these
half-starved horses and cows grazing On
arid meadows this pious and devout people,
making HOLIDAYS out of 80 days in the
year. when nothing is done but hard drink
ing and sleeping; these churches Whlcn 40
not improve morals; these schools winch
do not even teach the art of writing, these
provinces and districts, welded together In
a haphazard way out of populations ana
parties which hate one another; this lone
someness on the desolate wastes or meagre
fields this intellectual hunger which IS
gradually increased by physical hunger:
this all-pervading sentiment of enmity. OF
the crasseSt egotism, of nameless terror,
and the groan of the Russian ploughman
waited by the wind TO north, south, west
and east, signing: Save myself If thou
canstl'-is not that nonsense. an absurd
ity, when recall the fact that RUSSIA
is an independent and agricultural land,
and that the Russian is well meaning, ca
pable and enduring2 But If the root is rot
ten. the branches will not thrive.
The author says: ITO put the matter In
nutshell-by far the greater part or the
Russian people are constantly underfed or
starving for the benefit of government
finances. and this purely because the peas
ant is too poor to keep for his own use
(after paying his taxes) enough bread
He continues: Nowhere else do we see
the astounding circumstance that the pri-
waite soldier Is fed much more literally and
or far more nutritious food than falls TO
the share of the vast bulk of the population
We cannot wonder at the fact that the
young Russian peasant in joining the rank
and file of the enormous national army Tor
g. term of years. looks upon his lot not
only with complacency' but with actuai
Joy. For the first time In his life he can
eat his fill. As a peasant the Russian re-
cruit saw meat only thrice year-cabbage,
sour rye bread and grits formed his diet
washed down now and then In summer with
inexpensive and innutritious qvas "a slightly
fermented cereal decoctatfon). AS soldier
he receives per year twenty-nine pood or
s,rits and flour eleven pood more than the
national average) and meat-bacon-in pro-
portion.
Meat production in Russia has decreased
while all over Europe and in the United
States 1t has vastly increased During
1888 TO 1898 the number of cattle has actu-
ANY diminished in Russia by almost one per
cent, despite the Increase In population
and despite the vast steppes and grazing
grounds OF her nomad hordes in the south
and the southeast. Russia today con-
nlnes in beef fully one-third less per head
OF population than does Germany, one-half
less than England and over go per cent less
than the United States. The case stands
similar in the matter Of the raising Of sheep,
swine and horses; that also decreases stead
lily every year and per head of population
the decrease is still more considerable.
1t is not necessary to go into detail into
the system of finance which has pauperlzed
the Russian government and Its people.
Russia's modern financial system dates
from the beginning OF the ministry Oh
Wishnegradsky in 1887. This system seems
tafV, Oh ia
The former inaugurated financial policy
having for It's aim the exploitation or all
the national material forces for hscal pur-
poses Import duties were raised by % per
cent and every effort was made to turn the
balance of trade in Russias FAVOR. Inc
tax screw was vigorously applied, ana the
psyment of delinquent taxes was enforced
The peasant was compelled to sell his sur
plus of produce in the fall; often, too, ne
had TO sell more than he could arord III
order to make UP the amount OF MS taxes;
The percentage OF the harvest exporter
during the administration arose from 10
10 % ner cent During his term from 1887
TO 1893 the gold reserve rose from 81 10
- million roubles. But the forcing or the
exports produced unhealthy conditions IN
agriculture and the additional taxes Were
severely felt by an impoverished peasantry
8 Cfoloyine a Russian economist, blames
Wishnegradsky for much or the present
desperate condition of Russian agriculture
He had added 229 million roubleS 10 the
national debt. White. who followed, pur-
sued the same policy. but went much tar-
Their. He saw that II was necessary 10 ln-
crease the sources of productivity. But TO
do this he had to pile loan upon loan.
French capital came to his aid to the tune
of thousands OF millions. Not single
year of his administration passed without
at least one foreign loan. The people nave
been squeezed to pay. Hence the misery.
WORKING WITH THE HANDS, Being
Sequel to up From Slavery. Covering the
Authors Experiences In Industrial Training ut
Tuskeeee BY Booker T. Washington. Illus
trated from photographs by Frances Benjamin
Johnston New York: Doubleday, Page & Co.
Washington: William Balantyne & Sons.
The more Booker Washingtons work at
Tuskegee is explained the clearer 1t be-
comes that he has created living idea
which IL greater than the institution itself.
where 1t is chiefly expounded. For Mr..
washington's influence spreads today over
the whole of the south. among the people
OF his race OF all classes. and wherever
It reaches II Is making for uplift and en-
llghtenment. This book tells clearly just
what the Booker Washington idea Is. II is.
primarily. education. But not the kind of
education which the majority OF the young
men and women who go to Tuskegee ex-
pect to receive. that is. book learning"