Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24

academy.
This matter Of transcendent impor-
lance. says the author. took precedence
for q month over such trifes as the fate
OF the army at the front or the future of
the Russian government"
| The author tells a story of the cxar's
conplacency IN matters Of graft which
seems Incredible. Some time ago question
arose as to the advisability of confiding
the management OF one OF the largest
financial associations of Russia to the d.
rector of the imperial bank. The czar sent
for this f,inctionary. who respectfully
pointed out that his compensation was al
ready twice that to be derived from the
pronered post But" said the car. there
That ~ all very well. majesty replied
the director. for those who prefer gratui-
ties to the interests of the ssate but I am
The c,ar, iirst amazed, and then furi-
Gus, said: And you will not do what
everybody else does, dourak, pachol! Idiot,
away with y0ni" According to the author:
The cnar and court are nothing but the
belly OF the bureaucratic devil fish,
The author tells us about bureaucracy, she
| bane of Russia: Zone OF the most notable
particularities OF the anti
Ine Inlfd aristocratic movement in
Estate Russia is undoubtedly the
fact that II Is directed by
| the nobility. 1t seems likely that this lat
ter class is destined to play the same part
in the Russian revolution that the tiers
etat or third estate did in France"
Mention of the third estate recalls the
memorable apostrophe of the. Marquis de
Mirsoeaii In the states general In 1889 who
dsavowed by the nobility and as deputy
OF the third estate, said to Marquis de
Dreux-Breze, the master Of ceremonies Of
Louis XVI: Go tell your master that we
are here by the will of the people and that
we will not leave except by the force of
bayonets.''
third estate Of Russia is up to this hour
an unknown quantity or COMPOUNDED with
the aristocracy(D.
This state OF things" continues the
author, results from the formation OF a
bureaucratic caste. the consequence OF the
democratic reforms of Alexander II twho
acceded to the throne In 1853 abolished
serfdom in 1868. but was assassinated in
1881. The direction of political affairs was
concentrated in the hands of the nobility
under the personal surveillance of the car.
The appalling revelations of the Crimean
war exposing the incapacity OF the regime.
obliged Alexander II to undertake the great
reforms of the sixties.
'The abolition of serfdom, simultaneously
with the establishment OF the zemstvos and
other reforms in connection with the ad-
ministration of justice the press and public
education, threw open official employment
to crowds of young men of all classes on
the sole condition of their showing ca
pacity. Once the great official colleges were
made free to others besides the mobiles,
aristocratic supremacy verged to Its close
and the bureaucratic power was virtually
established Capacity was now the one
thing needful to pave way from the lowli-
est to the most exalted office In the empire.
Within few years this middle class had
appropriated all the official appointments
"Then a psychological characteristic
known to all came into play. Their hatred
Of the nobility, their masters OF yesterday,
remains undated. while the intoxication of
power led them to subject the ordinary eiti-
zen who was intrusted to their mercies as
rulers. to intolerable oppression These
bureaucrates proved traitors to all sections
of the nation: to the government which had
appointed them with view to having
loyal scrupulous and capable officers; to
the nobility. which hoped by the infusion
of fresh blood to build up "a new nobility
Of merit to the middle classes, which
looked to be faithfully represented in the
administration by their fellow citizens; and
finally to the masses (the peasants), which.
crushed beneath the burden of serfdom.
crayed IL not an increase Of well-being, at
any rate some approach TO common JUS
tice."
The writer submits that the confessions
OF the author are bewildering and startling.
II 1t be true that this caste called bureau
cracy which sprang from the people proved
false and treacherous to the generous in
spiratfons of its creators then the wrong
Is not all with the car and the conserva-
tfyes who are Justly suspicious or COM
hitting Russia to class already recreant
and unworthy.
Prince Won Buelow's speech to the reichstag
on the 7th instant has created wide discus
sion and Germany's rela-
Germany's lions to Russia In this mo-
a44:4,.ao ment are interesting. The
prince premier says:
L., %t,n
1--WE abstain from all interference IN the
affairs of Russia. We sincerely wish tnat
the evolution of Russia may be accom-
plished in pacific way because politically
Interested in our neighbor We do not OF
fer succor or intervention of any kind, and
this is said with particular reference to
poland. in which we are attributed the
most absurd intentions.
"An important journal has said that Rus-
STA will be forced to give autonomy TO
Poland If Germany wished 1t, and that the
state of siege there had been declared at
Germany's suggestion. Absurd inventions!
How the Russian situation viii end de-
nends upon Russians themselves. we VIII
moi suffer. 1t Is understood, that disorder
shall invade our territory and THAI we snail
n,atyutain order ait home you may be as
sured.' ~,
zen,styos there are individuals of value
s,rch az Goutchkof, Heyden, Stakhovlcn,
MiIcoukof, Roditchef. Struve and others
Unfortunately the most part OF the MEM
hers are men with taste for abstract ideas
of dangerous and impractical conceptions
The stagnation of business and the losses
incurred in all industries aggravate the
general political situation, while the with
drawaI Of money from banks and savings
institutions has created panic
M Struve. addressing an assemblage IN
Moscow, said:
CIT is not the revolutionary agitation.
nor the resistance of the reaction which
alarms me most. fear the economical dis
organization of the country. II events con-
tinJ,e to develop on the fatal bent declared;
If the people abandon themselves TO agdta-
ton which only quickens the march to
ruin, the crisis may eliminate in another.
Some general on a white horse Will accom-
pQish the conquest of the empire and re-
store an antocracy more insupporta'ble than
the one of which Russia is endeavoring to
break the yoke"
general on a white horse, indeed On any
colored horse, Gen. Linevitch, for example.
who seems to know how to command,
would be an acceptable change from the
redgn of revolution and anarchy.
We are reminded frequently that Russia
10 in the commissions of a difficult accouche-
ment II one only knew what 1t was she
was to be delivered OF it would quicken the
"a ffsf,. i,f5