The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-07
THE LAND OF THE CAR SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF BRYAN
A Vast Realm Whose Possibilities Impress All Who
Visit There. The Car More Liberal
Than His Advisors.


toons, articles and even paragraphs had |
been made illegble by an obliterating
stamp.
The Government of Russia, as the
world knows, is an autocracy. All power !
is vested in the Emperor, and all authori-
ty emanates from him. Being an auto
crazy, Russia has, of course, no legisla-
tive body such as is now a part of the
government of nearly every civilized
country on the globe. 1t has not trial by
jury, and it knows not the writ OF ha-
beas corpus.
The custom of exiting or banishing
without trial persons Objectionable to the
Government is still practiced. A large
number of Firms, many of them persons
of prominence, have been deported from
Finland since the decree of 1899, which
limited the self-government which the
Firms had enjoyed since Russia annexed
their country.
MR.. BYRAN'S VISIT TO THE CZAR.
While in st. Petersburg I was, by the
courtesy OF the American Ambassador,
Mr. Mccormick, given an opportunity OF
meeting and chatting with the Emperor
of all the Russias, the Emperor Nicholas
IT.
I found him at his Winter residence,
the Palace of Tzarskoe Selo, which is
about an hours ride from st. Peters
burg.
OF all the Emperor's palaces, Tzarskoe
Selo is his favorite. 1t stands in a mag
nificent park, which at this time of year
is covered with snow.
PEN PICTURE OF THE CZAR.
nh kar
been born in 1868. He is not more than
five feet seven or eight inches in height
and apparently weighs about 100 pounds.
His. figure Is slender and erect, his face
is boyish and his eyes are light blue.
His hair. which is blond, is cut rather
short and combed upward over the fore
head. The Car wears a mustache and
short beard The general expression OF
his face is gentle rather than severe, and
he speaks English perfectly.
He informed me that about 65 per cent.
of the adult men of Russia can read and
write, and that the number is increasing
at the rate of about 8 per cent year.
This increase, the Car said, was
shown by the recruits to the army, and
as these come from all the provinces OF
the Empire and all classes of society, he
DeHeNeu IL 10 De lar IeSC VI TIC PSo-
pie as a whole.
The Car declared himself deeply inter.
ested in the spread of education among
the people, and seemed to realize that
opportunities for education should be ex.
tended to men and women equally.
/ referred to decree issued by him
about a year ago promising a measure
of self-government to the local commu-
mites.
The Car said:
Eyes, that was issued last February,
and the plan is now being worked out"
CARS INTEREST IN PEACE
COURT.
He manifested great qualification at
the outcome of the proposals submitted
by him which resulted in the establish
ment of The Hague Court of Arbitration,
and it is a movement of which he may
justly feel proud, for while it is not prob
able that The Hague Tribunal will at
once end all wars, it is certain to contri-
butte largely to the growth of a senti-
ment that will substitute the reign of
reason for the rule of brute force.
The Gar spoke warmly of the friendly
relations that had existed for years be-
tween Russia and the United States.
He said that the people of his country
had rejoiced in the growth and greatness
of the United States.
CZAR ON KISHINEFF.
Then, speaking with considerable feel
ing the Car said:
The attitude of Russia in the Kish-
ineff affair has been very much misrep-
resented by some OF the press, and l
wish you would tell your people so When
you return to the United States"
The Russian officials deny that the
Government was in any way responsible
Tor the massacre, and I was informed
that the Government had caused the
prosecution of many of those implicated.
The Emperor showed in his conversa-
ton that he respected public opinion in
the United States and was anxious that
his administration should not rest under
condemnation.
1t seems to be the general opinion of
those with whom l had chance to speak
IN Russia that the Emperor himself is
much more nrOgressive and liberal than
his official environment
If he were free to act upon his own
judgment, it is believed that he would
go further and faster than the office
holding class surrounding him in broad.
ening the foundations of the government,
and from his words and manner during
my conversation with him 1 am inclined
to share this opinion.
RUSSIA'S GREATEST NEEDS.
What Russia most needs today are
free speech and a free press-free speech.
that those who have the welfare of the
country at heart may give expression to
their views and contribute their wisdom
to that public opinion which in all free
countries controls to greater or less ex-
tent those who hold office.
To deny freedom of speech is to aues-
ton the ability of truth to combat er.
ror; it is to doubt the power of right to
vindicate itself
A free press would not only enable
those in office to see their actions as
others see them, but would exercise a
wholesome restraint
Publicity will often deter an official
from wrong doing when other restraints
would be insufficient, and those who are
anxious to do well ought to welcome any
thing 10