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

Correspondence Of The Associated Press)
st. Petersburg March 4.-Another review of
the present political situation in Russia is con-
tributed to The Associated Press by prominent
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. M Stolypin
was formerly Editor of Prince Ouktomshy's
paper, the st. Petersburg "vedomosti.' and is
now political editor of the ''Novoe 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 as follows:
In discussing the political development of Rus
STA, with especial reference to self-government,
L propose to devote myself exclusively to the
zemstvo Qand counciD, since the political sign1-
ficance of the douma (town 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 prominent part. SUCH, FOR IN
stance, was the recent decision of the MOSCOW
doufnas demanding political rights for the whole
country and declaring that in the absence of
such rights the interests of such large munich
pal centre as Moscow must suffer. But even II
the political Importance OF Russian cities snould
at any time develop, shall witness only lts
beginning, while the significance or the pro-
vincial institutions, or zemstvos, as factors OF
great political Importance is proved py iorty
years of struggle for g. predominance whlcn tns
State has never been willing TO grant. AS d
matter Of fact, the establishment OF the zernst-
vo, on January 1 3d. 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 zernstvo to an agricultural
sphere OF activity, but at the time, yielding 70
the spirit of the period allowed the zemstvo al
most unlimited independence IN TINS sphere.
Such liberty, placed in artificial frames; sucn
complete competency to certain limit. "neIs
began complete negation of rights such an at
titude toward the people, now treating tneIn as
grown up men, now as children-anz TINS M Dofe
Of disregard
teal considerations. -, -
The Inevitable consequence was that the al
ninistration and the free zemstvo, placed sue
by side, began to trespass on eacn otheI .
ground. Tt was not to be expected that the au-
ministration would voluntarily surrender a part
of its political rights the zemstvo and thereby
extend the latter's powers, ana II was equdliy
difficult to expect that the Zenstvo would allow
this administration a free hand IN the matters
which had been placed within the zernstvo's full
control The event justified these apprehen-
sions. No sooner had the zemstvo begun lts
work than accusations came from all sloeS lhdt
it was arrogating to itself political character
On the other hand. the zemstvo retorted' with
sincerity and justice, that it's work was pelng
interfered with.
NO LAWS TO GOVERN ACTION.
The most striking example Of this was given
in connection with it's efforts for national edu-
cation. The zenstVo had been empowered TO
deal with this question, but under the foggy.
bureaucratic proviso, within the limits oetneo
by law" Now, the law, not having been
drafted with prophetic provision Of the newly
created institution, was mute on the SUBJECT OF
limits. But when the zemstvos began to build
schools and seminaries, organize libraries, etc.
the satisfaction which the Ministry of Public m
struction should have felt on seeing a great
share Of its work assumed by other shoulders
quickly gave place to dread lest the Ministerial
progress of education might be disregarded ana
chiefly lest such powerful weapon for political
evolution as the education Of the younger gen.
GRAFTON might fall into other hands.
Restrictions followed. With the aid of legts-
lative 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
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 q laggard among
! the European nations. Every peasant instinct
! ively feels the necessity of education. Neither
| VexatiOuS restrictions DraConian laws could
! discourage the villagers from attending school.
Plenty Of devoted schoolmasters and school
| nistresses unable to endure the government
| yoke, were willing to serve the zenlstvos, how
ever humble and narrow might be the sphere
| Of the zeTnstvo school. But the zemstvo budget
| is modest. 1t could pay the teacher not more
/ than average of twenty, sometimes thirty or
| fifty. more often fifteen rubles month. For
! this the teacher content to live in a
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.
The mortality among the teachers is enor-
nous: still more Of them become incurable in
| Valids. They receive no pensions. Yet there is
never a 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 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 pliabe material 1t seeks for it's pur-
poses. Latterly their efforts to unite themselves
| into organization have caused great appre-
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 attempt to
! offset parochial against village schools. This
has nothing in common with the conflict between
religious and state educaI,on in France, for in
! stance. Lay schools in Russia are 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 foredOomed
to failure. So the government had to resort to
purely religious schools In its fight against
schools that three-fourths religious. This
| strange idea would be inexplicable If we did
not remember that 1t originated within the bu-
reaucracy of ST. Petersburg, which is totally
unacquainted with the people or 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