New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-20

Russian writer Alexander Stolypin, who has
made special study of matters Of local self
government and has himself taken conspicuous
part in the work of the zemstvo. NJ. Stolypin
was formerly Editor Of Prince Ouktomsky's
paper, the ST. Petersburg 'evedomosti." and is
now political editor of the "1Iovoe Vremya.' NJ.
stolypin attaches the greatest Importance to
"the part played by the zemstvo in the political
development of Russia" Under this heading
he writes a. follows
In discussing the political development of Rus
sia, with especial reference to self-government,
L propose to devote myself, exclusively, to the
zemstvo Qand counciD, since the political signi-
dcance of the douma ttown counciD is, with rare
exceptions, practically nil, and 1t is only lately
that the town councils of certain large cities
have Joined in the general movement and have
even assumed a prominent part Such, Tor IN
stance, was the recent decision of the MOSCOW
dourna. demanding political rights for the whole
country and declaring that IN the absence OF
such rights the interests Of such large munlci-
pal centre as Moscow must suffer. But even It
the political Importance Of Russian cities snouid
at any time develop, shall witness only It's
beginning, while the significance OF the pro-
vincial institutions, zemstvos. as factors OF
great political Importance, is proved py Iorty
years of struggle for a predominance which the
State has never been willing TO grant AS d
matter OF fact, the establishment or the zeInst.
vo, January C18), 1854, brought the germ or
conflict in the vagueness of the organic leg1s-
lation, which, fearing 'unrealizable expectations
and liberal tendencies among the various
classes" limited the Zenstvo to an agricultural
sphere OF activity, but at the time, ylelaAs "
the spirit of the period, allowed the zenstVo al
most unlimited independence in this sphere.
Such liberty placed in artificial frameSi such
complete competency to a certain limit WheIs
began complete negation of rights; such an az
tttude toward the people, now tre4Ilns IIeHi o1s
grown up men, now as children-aH tnls pore
the stamp Of unprecedented disregard or prac-
teal considerations -, -
ministration and the free zemstVo, pldceu sl,e ,
by side, began to trespass on eton aiat +Ja od
ground. It was not to be expected that the du
ministration would voluntarily surrender par par
of its political rights to the zenstvo, ana thereDy
extend the latters powers ana II ,S was I
this administration free hand IN the natterS
which had been placed within the zernstVo Iul
control The event justified these appreheIl-
stems No sooner had the zemstvo begun its
work than accusations came from all sldes that
it was arrogating to Itself pontlcal chaFacIeL.
On the other hand the zemstvo retorteo, with
sincerity and justice, that its work was pelng
interfered with.
NO LAWS TO GOVERN ACTION
The most striking example of this was given
in connection with its efforts for national edu-
cation The zemstvo had been empowered TO
deal with this question, but under the foggy,
bureaucratic provisO. within the limits denned
by law" Now, the law, not having been
drafted with prophetic provision or the newly
created institution was mute on the subject OF
limits But when the zenlstVos began to build
schools and seminaries, organize libraries, etc.
the satisfaction which the Ministry Of Public m
share of its work assumed by other shoulders
quickly gave place to dread lest the Ministerial
progress OF education might De dlsEesd any
chiefly lest such powerful weapon for polttical
evolution as the education Of the younger gen
GRAFTON might fall into other hands.
Restrictions followed With the aid Of legis-
latve measures and circulars, public and secret,
the Ministry Of Public Instruction brought mat
ters to such q pass that the zemstvos after
voting the money and building the schools, were
forced to surrender them to the Ministry. AS a
slight concession they were, however, permitted
I to conduct primary schools, including not more
than two classes (standards), providing the
teaching adhered strictly to the government
programme, using only school books authorized
! by the Ministry and under the most stringent
control OF the government, all of which involved
enormous expenditure of energy and money.
It is of interest to follow the course of school
evolution in Russia, which is of such special i'm
portance for this country since it is the lack of
! education that keeps Russia a laggard among
! the European nations. Every peasant instinct
! lively feels the necessity of education. Neither
vexatious restrictions Draconian laws could
! discourage the villagers from attending school,
| Plenty of devoted schoolmasters and school
| nlistresses, unable to endure the government
yoke, were willing to serve the zemstvos, how
! ever humble and narrow might be the sphere
Of the zerstvo school. But the zemstvo budget
| is modest. 1t could pay the teacher not more
/ than average of twenty, sometimes thirty or
| fifty. often fifteen, rubles a month. For
this sum the teacher content to live in
remote village, often in a cold lodging, and give
| lessons under the most trying conditions, in
| small classrooms crowded to suffocation and
| with few if any class books.
| nous; still more of them become incurable in
| valids. They receive no pensions. Yet there is
| never vacancy open Students, both in the
| capitals and in the provinces consider it an
| honor and sacred duty TO take the places OF
| those who drop out OF the ranks. and enthusiasts
tically forsake their chances of a brilliant career
in order to teach the children of Russia TO pre-
pare the coming generation for better times
| than the present 1t is natural that these self
| made martyrs are not prone to bend the knee
before their administrative superiors. Indeed, it
may be said that the government does not find
in them the piable material 1t seeks for its pur-
poses. Latterly their efforts to unite themselves
| hensiOn to the government, and, it may be added
| the apprehension was not unfounded. Imprison-
ment, exile, police surveillance and the widest
| encouragement to informers have been resorted
| to, but have only served to intensity the IA
| naticism Of a class which is likely to figure in
| Russian history.
EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS SCHOOLS.
Judging by results and ignorant of the causes,
| bureaucracy reSorted to every means of offence
and defence, among these being an attempt tC
! offset parochial against village schools. This
has nothing in common with the conflict between
religious and state edu-aL0n in France for in
stance. Lay schools in Russia all COM
PEELED by the established programme to devote
| considerable time to religious instruction, and.
moreover, the Russian people are so devout that
| a school without religion would be fCredoomed
to failure. So the government had TO resort to
| purely religious schools In its fight against
schools that were three-fourths religious This
not remember that it originated within the bu-
| reaucracy of St Petersburg, which is totally
unacquainted with the people their lives, and
draws its conclusions from official reports.
Panicstricken provincial authorities and the
feactionary press had for years been trumpet
ing the intelligence that the ZemstVo teacher
| was a goddess revolutionary who was demoral-
izing the people, till at last they succeeded in
! frightening al-powerful Petersburg. The priest
hood, through the mOuthptece Of the strong
| bureaucratic organization Of which Pobiedonost-
self is chief prccurator, took up the cry declar-