The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
CRAFT IN RUSSIA.
EmpIre's Fate Now Hanging
In The Balance.
THE PERIL NOT FROM JAPAN
Corruption at Home May Cause
a Revolution.

Growing Indignation Against the Grand
Ducal Cabal, Who Are the Real Rulers
Of Russia-vast Corruption Chsrg ed
Against Then-The Four Men Ac-
cused Of Using an Empire to Enrich
Themselyes-WIl Other AssassinatiOns
Follow That OF De Piehve-Benevolent
Theory and Practical working OF the
nussian Autocracy-The Czar Weak.
ling Unable to Cope With His DIM
cultics-Tile Reactionary Programme.
ST PETERSBURG, Aug. 3l.--It ia but
natural that the worlds attention should
he ongrossed by the stirring campaign
in the Far East and that comparatively
little thought should be given to the equally
dramatic and more important crisis in the
life Of the Russian Empire which has de-
velopcd in its capital city.
Here in st Petersburg the fate Of Russia
is hanging in the balance. The war with
japan might close tomorrow, and Russia =
destiny would be but little affected by
the episode All the real elements in the
crisis are here, and here will be decided
the momentous question Of the rise or fall
of the present dynasty and Government.
The words are ominous. They seem
to imply pending revolution, but revolu-
ton in the form Of popular revolt 'vil not
come In no country on earth are the pre-
cautions against rebellion so complete,
and nowhere else would its attempt be so
hopeless But Governments are some
times overthrown from the top; and this
danger is never absent in an autocracy
which is presided over by a weak and vacil-
latng monarch,
The Western world has been told many
times during the past few months that the
real rulers of Russia are a group Of mobiles,
who, by one means or another, control the
Emperor and dominate the policy OF the
empire No one has ATTEMPTED to point
out who are these mysterious individuals
and what are their m olives and methods.
The late NJ de Plehve was merely their
representative, and a very able executor
he was of their stern and memorable policy.
His tragic and well deserved fate has pro-
duced temporary confusion and uncer-
tainty in the plans Of his masters. The
uncertainty is not due to any relenting
in the tyrannical designs of the real OPP
pressors of Russia, but instead TO some
natural reluctance on the part of the Car
to sanction still sterner measures Of re-
preston.
The people OF a free country can have
little conception of the peril to which this
unhappy man would expose himself in a
serious rupture with his mentors. Let 1t be
remembered that the assassins Of his grand
father were not Nihiists, as Russia gave
the world to suppose, but the agents Of his
own encourage, who took this means Of
frustrating the Cars intention to grant a
constitution to his people.
But it is necessary, in order TO under.
stand something Of the silent life and
death struggle of an empire, now at it's crisis
in Peterhof and st. Petersburg to breathe
the atmosphere of Russian institutions and
to seek to place ones self in the Russian
point Of view. So ask the reader to glance
for a moment at everyday life in this capt.
tai. and see wherein it differs from that
Of an English or American city.
There Ia nothing in the outward aspect Of
st. Petersburg to suggest the existence of
the most pitiess despotism of modern
fines.
The stranger is astonshed at the absence
of nearly all signs of authority. No uni
formed police patrol the streets of the Rus
sian capital
But the streets, nevertheless, swarm with
police IF you stop to examine the photo
graphs of the imperial family and of promi-
nent officials in a shop window, the chances
are YOU will soon he under The keen scrutiny
of three or four pairs Of eyes, and il your
interest should he persistent, you may
be SIRE YOUR footsteps will be logged un-
obtr1IsiveIy until your identity is estab-
iished
There il nothing offensive in the treat
ment Of foreigners by the Russian poll ce
system They may live with the same
freedom-unless. unhapriy they have
Semitic blood in their veins--as in any other
land, the only restriction being that they
must give days notice to the porter at
their hotel or to the concierge at their lodg-
ings Of any intended change OF domicile.
temporary or otherwise Then the intricate
machinery Of passports comes into or era
ton.
The Russian passport system is the most
effective safeguard against crime known
TO modern institutions. Its rules are strin-
gent and they are strictly enforced.
No person may remain away from his
ordinary domicile more than one night
without the fact being reported to the police
by the householder concierge or other
person in control of the building. The
arrival OF any person for similar length
Of time must likewise be reported.
One effect Of this surveillance, combined
with the severe punishments inflicted,
Is that larceny, entertainments and all
minor offences are far more rare in Russia
than in any country on earth. Escape is
practically impossible, once a crime is dis
covered
Employers are secure in the enforced
fidelity Of their servants. The domestic
servant problem. for instance, does not
exist in Russia. Thieving and absconding
servants are unknown. A cook who left
her place without notice would be promptly
lodged in jail
SO Il comes about that Russia is honest
in the non-criminal sense OF the word. 1t
is an honesty Of compulsion. perhaps, but
this form of Russian tyranny" is just
and equitable. Only in its public service
hn oaI