Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

none" When acting in that region as
a deputy revenue officer Of the United
States government met Joseph Han
son, a native Russian, whose name had
been changed for convenience's sake
when he arrived in this country. His
original title bore at least sixteen syll-
ables and ten u.s." "y's" and 'z's."
Hanson recognized that this was a
country of notwithstanding He cut
of syllables and. unpronounceabls
things.
On night we met in cabin on the
shores Of Mile Lac, writes H. l. Cleve-
land in the Chicago Post, and while
we talked he said to me some things
Of what discipline In the Russian army
and navy means-he had served in
both-and why in both there is dog
at the bottom and dog at the top.
Hanson was intelligent and already in
touch with American ways. He had
even forgotten to touch his fingers to
the rim Of his cap when he met, say,
State Senator, or Congressman, or
land surveyor.
Thus he spoke of the change: "In
Russia we have two dogs-the man at
the bottom, who is not allowed to
think even II he wishes to, and the
man at the top, who Is master, with
out thinking.
LET me explain, for you are an
American and cannot understand. One
third of Russia is born by the grace
Of God and the blessing Of the gov
eminent and the church; two-thlrds
are born because they cannot help 1t,
without the grace Of God or the bless
ing Of government and church. That
is the theory of all control in the en-
pire.
For every one born two are created
to serve, blindly. Are you of the ditch
and you have daughter, young. clean
faced7 One Of the upper class sees
the light in her eyes. She Is then no
longer yours. Some day she may
crawl home to die at her mothers
breast You forgive, but you cannot
forget.
81 am not telling impossible things
Il was put as common soldier In
the ranks at Moscow. Food came to
me and my comrades as they chose
to give 1t to us-what the dogs above
swept from their tables for the dogs
underneath. stumbled one day in
the presence of an ofhcer-caught my
foot unfortunately. He kicked me full
In the face-the mark Is yet there.
That night was knouted for having
protested and given three months in
the prison on foul bread and water.
Seew
He held up three twisted and knot
ted fingers on his left hand.
1.-THE cold and misery Of that prison
bound those fingers that way. Still
I loved my native land and respect
ed the car. l thought he could not
know such things were done. Yet
could not show him what l had suf-
fered.
Il was transferred to tho navy for
duty in the mess Of Black Sea battle
ship. My injured hand took me out
Of the active list One day. being lone
some, asked my superior for leave Of
absence to visit my family. He struck
me full in the face before all about
him, and was again sent to prison.
"Six months lay In that prison for
having only asked for the right to see
my wife and child. When l came out
was apparently no good to either
navy or arm. was given qualified
discharge-that is, they could call me
back whenever they saw At. Trans
portation to my home was furnished
me, but no food or money.
For nine months after l reached
my home I figured how to get out Of
Russia. Through the agents of q
steamship company finally made my
fight, taking my wife and child with
me. The wife had been patient while
was in the service and had saved
little. At New York we found old
friends who sent us here-now am
prosperous and a man. need be
afraid Of nothing but my own con-
science.
But on the other side, as I have
told you, there are two dogs-one hun
cry, starved, not daring to think, ut
the bottom, and one on the top who
has everything. We have no middle
class in Russia as you have here;
everything there is an extreme-very
bad or very unhappy. If were to 20
back would be sent to prison. Or
they might put me In the army or navy
again. shall never see again my
birthplace. shall build here new
thoughts, new hopes"
OF this Is Odessa.