New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-16
RUSSIA.
The GrOzcth Of the State Studied by
a Friendly Historian.

The way in which Air. Shrine opens this study
OF Russian pOlity and Territorial growth during
the nineteenth century calls to mind Mr.. Her
bert Paui's recent unqualified declaration that
a non-partisan historian is not worth his salt.
Mr. Shrine is clearly OF the same opinion. lie
IS Russophile OF an advanced type. Holding
with Sir Mountstuart Z. Grant DUFF and other
notable Englishrnen that the British conception
OF the Bear the traditional enemy OF the Lion
Is erroneous. he has written a work designed TO
promote comfy between the two countries. For
tunstely his scholarship prevents him from
rushing 10 the rash extreme OF clarifying the
Russian genius. dszzled by its exhibition OF
power High colored as are his pictures OF the
AleXanders and the Nicholases and blind though
he appears TO he 10 the deadening tyranny Of
b the Greek church-than which. strange 10 say,
he finds none more tolerant in principle-he has
not closed his eyes to the inherent defects OF the
system under which the Russian masses have so
long groaned. on the other hand he renders
distinct service by clearing away the dead
brush OF prejudice and opening to his readers.
and especially 10 his British readers the long
closed path to a better understanding Of the
aims and aspirations Of Russia. bis work OBJ
tstns added Importance from his intimate &C
ouaintance with mass Of information OF high
value. largely ernbalmed hitherto in statistics.
Step by step he traces the growth Of the Rus
sian Empire from the accession Of Alexander I.
containing himself with a bald preliminary
statement OF the beginnings made during the
relgnr OF Peter the Great and Catherine IL
Alexnncer's tortuous course IN the Napoleonic
wars Is closely followed, and here as in treat
ting h,s domestic policy, the author paints this
puzzIing monarch a prodigy Of idealty. Al
ways he finds Alexander animated by lofty aims.
The wreckage OF his generous projects" for his
lat 1,Fs
a. was but the fruit OF contact with the civiliza
zion Of the West" More fowery than in
cord with cold fact is his assertion that of
Alexander Il may truly be said that no mon
arch ever welded unlimited power with a
higher resolve TO promote the happiness Of his
people. And not theirs alone, for he sympa-
shszed with all the myriads doomed TO suffer-
ing by false Ideals and effete institutions" Too
often we nnd Mr.. Shrine overgenerous to his
benencent autocrats, the 'harassed lords" Of the
Russian millions.
Many are the bypaths into which he strays
he wR-rns to his work His book might aptly
be called "a Century OF Russian History" so
thoroughly does It cover the ground. The i'm
porrant historical events Of the various reigns
are related In detail In the growth and de-
cline OF NIhilisr1 the author finds congenial
study, writing always one who holds the
movement IN adherence We forget the secret
arrest, the farcical trial Siberia. as we follow
his Indictment Of the enemies OF the Car. Mi
hflism." he thinks. failed because it never
grasped the fact that a revolution is accom-
plshed IN the body polite only when il has
sunk deep into the mind Of the individual In
Russia devotion for the person Of the Car and
regard for religious sanctions are too deeply IN
grained to be ousted by principles from which
reason recoils in horror" This is abundanty
horne out by the attitude Of the Russian prole-
tariat Of the present day, and was perhaps
never more strikingly illustrated in the past
than AZ the bloodmarked accession Of Nicholas
7 Says Nj Shrine;
7bo Car 5fsnatcfed his chief % the star to lead
.hs Se~nenorsl1 Recment eainst the mutineers.
and ordered the Horse Guards under arms lie en-
sce oTstory 10 iapl6re divine protection and con-
year the custody - the chaSseufs OF lhe ~,
fish Guards Then. clad fl the uniform OF The
ne no Ia &c Of rank save q broad blue Gordon. he
left the palace and entered the square on It's SOUTH
Ie5es con,evire their masters to the Accession
re penn and frErred by a mob which stood silent
and perpiexed. Nicholas advanced 10 their midst
end while his figure lowered above the sea 9- .L.
covered heads he read the manifesto in resonant
tones. Lne c lIe!! 1 ,ie ebo,,ted I've viii tear
in pieces those who attack him!'
The autocracy OF the Ronanovs had been put
on trial and had survived as It survives 10 this
day OF the tests to which II was submitted by
conquered provinces Mr.. Skrine writes at great
length, dealing particularly with the revolutions
OF Poland-the ireland" Of Russia Not alto
Eether devoid OF sympathy for the Poles. he IS
yet OF the opinion that their present condition
IS far better than the estate which they would
attain with freedom. since they have proved
themselves incapable of guiding their des-
TIMES" To this view, he afirms the Poles
have themselves come realizing that their only
choice lies between the Russian and the Ger
man yoke: ana they prefer the former" Thus
OF & people whose nationality Russia. with all
her repressive laws. has been unable 10 eiface
and who exhale with the oldtime fervor the pa
triotic sentiment, 1T IS not yet all over with
Poland. not so long as we liver" Earnestly the
author speaks Of the material prosperity OF the
Poles under tbs wise guidance OF Russian law
makers But he cannot keep out Of the back
ground the phantom OF the Polish dream-free-
dom from Gar and Kaiser alike.
canlag, finally, TO close examination OF his
main theme he traces the root OF the territorial
expansion OF Russia TO the peasants instinct for
colonization, to which must be added the neces-
sity OF obtaining icefree ports for the extension
OF foreign trade. Following the line OF least re-
distance. this instinct has carried the empire
eastward, IN which direction the movement has
been furthered by the fact that Russia is an
Assatic rather than a European country. From
our authors point Of view, Europe should be
pleased rather than otherwise by the incursion
OF the Bear into Asia England, TO whom he
addresses himself directly. has too long looked
rpon the Russian advance with distrustful eyes.
There is really no possibility OF the DOGGY Of
an invasion Of India becoming an actuality.
Arraying himself with the advocates OF mastery
inactivity ne adduces their familiar arguments