Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-02-13
RUSSIA AND JAPAN
Some Questions and Their Answers Concerning the Two Ma
tons About to Go to War, Their Countries and Their
People \ What Each Is Contendng For.
From tho Kansas City Star
About Russia.
Who are the Russians?

WHIT are the Russians?
They are descendants of the Slays,
n OF the primitive peoples Of Eu-
rope.
Did they not migrate to Europe
from Asia 1900 years ago?
No. 1t was formerly supposed that
Europe was peopled by emigrants
from Central Asia. but that theory has
been abandoned. The best modern
opinion is that the Teutons, Celts,
Slavs and other European peoples orig.
mated in Western Europe.
But are not the Russians radically
different in race from the French and
Germans?
Not at all. The Slays are no nearer
kin to the Chinese than are the Eng
fish, Russians, Germans and French.
All sprang from closely allied Aryan
stock.
Are there not, however, admittedly
great differences between the Russian
and the Anglo.Saxon character?
Certainly. The average Russian is
not nearly so aggressive or SO self-re-
liant as the Englishman. He depends
on the government rather than on
himself. Besides, he has a stronger
vein Of the mystical and the idealistic
in his nature than has the English
man. Scratch a Russian" says Hen
ry Norman, and you find a transcen-
dentist. Converse with n on a train
and in ten minutes you will find your
self discussing some abstract point
How did these peculiarities of the
Slavic stock arise?
They developed chiefly as the nat
ural result of Russia's position in Eu-
rope, of its isolation from the great
Southern commercial and intellectual
centers, of its exposure to the barba-
rian East, and Of Its YER climate.
The primitive communism Of Its vii
lage communities once existed
throughout Europe, but now survives
only in Russia. Its outbursts of fanat-
icism are to be expected in an ignor-
ant and superstitious community. Ra-
cial aptitude probably has had less to
do with Russian characteristics than
have the physical causes mentioned.
What sort of people are the Rus
slams?
Evidently they have great capabil-
tiles, for they have produced noyelists,
painters, musicians and statesmen OF
the first order. ITO know the Rus
sian" says Writ Gerrare, an English
observer, SIS to like him. He is the
last nan with whom one would wish
to be at war. In character he Is Meth
er ~rapacious or cruel" Personally
says Henry Norman, "the Russian
peasants are attractive. They are
simple, good %natured. kindly, very
ready to be pleased or to laugh. No
body can fail to like them. Their pow
erty does not prevent them from be-
ing happy in their melancholy Slav
fashion"
What is the state of education in
Seven adults out Of ten can neither
read nor write. Army recruits have a
wisp of straw tied about the left arm
to distinguish it from the right.
What is the Russian government?
A curious combination of autocracy
and communism.
How did the autocracy arise!
Through the military necessity Of
a strong government to keep
out the Tartar invaders.
How does the government operate?
The whole legislative, executive and
judicial power is vested in the car,
whose will is law. IF the car should
order every locomotive and car in the
empire" said an educated Russian to
Norman, ito be run across the
Siberian railroad into the China sea,
{ would be done" Russia must make
peace at the cars command and 1t
an go to war only at his word.
Is the car, then, absolute?
No. He is hedged about by tradi-
ion. He could not change the ma
religion, for instance, and al
h,ugh he would like to reform the
"a andar he does not venture to do SO.
How does the czar govern?
Through ministers and through the
great councils Of state. Most of the
responsibility for legislation falls on
he ministers who, however, must be
lble to secure the cars approval of
heir plans.
Is there no local self.government?
Yes. in the commune, or mir. The
commune is the parish. 1t controls
III the land and allots it to individual
peasants year by year. Communal as
emblies, made up of all the peasants,
meet as occasion requires to settle the
business of the village. An elected
lder is the executive head. The com
nune has a large degree of control
,ver Its members. 1t can even Danish
hem.
Are there other self-governing bod'
es? |,
Yes. the communes are united In
antons with assemblies and cantons
nto districts. and these into provinces. /,
he authority granted the assemblies
s meager, and all of them, from nose
f the commune up to tt 80 y
,r~oyince, a~--~p@ n -
49,. uie under constant super
by the central government.
How does Russia compare in area
nd population with the United
European Russia is not quite two
birds as large as the United States.
With its Asiatic possessions Russia
las $500, 900 square miles to Ameri-
as $500, 900. The United States has
bout four.ffths of the population OF
European Russia.
How do the two countries compare
n length of railways?
Russia had $4,000 miles in 1900; the
States 1000.