New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
WHAT RUSSIANS SUFFER.
Indignities Against Which People
Haze No Protection.

It Is difficult for American 10 imagine the
conditions under which the people OF Russia
who do not happen to be Of the official class or
members of the RomanoH family are compelled
to live. They are in constant danger OF nnoIes-
tation from the secret police. either for pur-
poses Of bIackman. revenge or because OF some
suspicious action which might be construed as
seditious.
The following is a composite picture Of actual
experiences:
A weIl-to-do Russian is seen on the street
with a person who for some reason is under 20
lice surveillance. Naturally he does not know
this From that moment he also is under sus-
picion- The official zeal Of the whole. widely
ramfed police organization is exerted in an ef-
fort to find a reason for taking him into Gus
tody. Letters directed to him do not reach him.
If some do, they bear mark showing that by
a remarkable accident they were found open In
the letter box and had to be sealed Up officially
Some night he is surprised by the visit OF an
officer accompanied by a dozen surly police
officials. They drag his children from their beds
and search the house from garnet to cellar. II
there should happen to be found in his posses
sion German translation Of a novel Of Toll
stoy's, or any book or newspaper which is on
the police list. unknown Of course. to him, he
goes to prison with the agents Of the law. An
investigation follows This lasts from three days
to six months, as the case may be, according To
his popularity, or to the influence which his
friends are able to bring to bear. He may b
well known householder. busy physician
lawyer. not likely to away, but that makes
no difference. To prevent the danger Of collu-
sion. so that he may not hide the traces OF his
crime. he may remain to the end under lock and
key with the invaluable right to maintain him
self at his own expense. He viii endure this
little inconvenience calmly as becomes man.
hoping that his friends will take care Of his
wife and children during this time and not per-
NIT them actually to starve. 1t is certainly
unpleasant if his pretty daughter attracts the
eye of the officials and is carried off some night
as political suspect, and he find by no
pleading in what prison she is kept pending in
vestigation- II is still more vexatiOus for him
to know that his young son, a student, Is in the
hands of the police. since this young man has
not yet learned self-control and may possibly
come to blows with his tormentors. 1t does not
add to the comfort Of Imprisonment TO learn
that in order to put an end TO his sufferings the
son has set himself fire with his own kero-
sene lamp and ended his life. The father. ac-
cording to the degree of his offence. is expelled
for several years from the place Of his abode
where he may have built up practice as a pro-
fessiOna1 man. Possibly he may be exiled to
Archangel or Siberia. In order to accomplish
this crime his part is not necessary. II is
sufficient that he is not found loyal and re-
spectful to the police.
Even the judges cannot be depended upon To
deal out justice. In fact, it is not expected OF
them. This is one of the reasons why the ig-
Eorant Russian peasantry endeavor to present
their grievances directly to the Gar. 1t is said
that not long ago seven Russian judges were
promoted by the Minister Of Justice because OF
the support they gave to some Moscow Million