Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08

dependent of all law, and that me exercised
that right. Let us suppose further that this
governor could not be removed from office,
how long do you suppose such being
would be permitted to live by an inteif-
gent and Christian people? Should they
be branded as assassins and murderers Tor
cutting him of? Would they be anarchists
anywhere outside of Russia. The common
law of England and the written law OF the
United States declare the right OF the
people to keep and bear arms to protect
themselves from such injuries.
The American people know little OF the
conditions in Russia. and what they think
they know is largely erroneous Inc prih-
cipal cause of this ignorance lies In the
misleading news that We get from Russia
by the telegraph and the comments OF the
papers on these dispatches, which COM
ments assume the dispatches to be reliable
Now the censors allow nothing to go over
the wires that has not their approval;
hence nothing which would be distaste-
full to the autocracy. They not only pre-
vent the circulation Of the truth, but they
order the publication and spread of what
Is known by them to be false.
Aims Of the Revolutionists.
Now, let 1t be understood that the anarch-
lists and murderers are to be found among
the minions of autocracy and that those
who direct the revolutionary movement are
neither madcaps nor dreamers. but are SIM
ply seeking relief from despotism In the
only way possible to secure it. The moujik
is as fit for liberty as any citizen in Wash
ington. I mean liberty to enjoy the fruits
of his labor. freedom from arbitrary arrest.
Punishment, torture and shame. The right
to immunity from official blackmail and
molestation is as precious to the subject
of the car as to the citizen of the United
States. To secure these rights for people
ground to the earth by Asiatic despotism
is the aim Of the revolutionists in Russia.
There is no need to seek for causes which
have led up to the present reign Of terror.
For centuries the rulers of Russia have
been waging wars for the lust of territory
and for the glory of autocracy. They have
sOwn the wind and are now reaping the
whirlwind. The useless war with Japan,
stirred up for the enrichment of the i'm
perial family and their henchmen, has OPEN
ed the eyes Of long-suffering people to the
iniquity of the autocracy, and as result
the whole country is running with blood.
Russian bureaucracy thoroughly deserves
the fate which is overtaking 1t, for It, is
waging relentless war upon Its own people.
Before We shed tears over the sudden re-
moval of despotic officers of the czar by
the hand of the revolution let US look
fairly and squarely at the appalling condi-
tons which prevail throughout that I'M
happy country, brought about by the inefh-
cheney. indifference and brutality of the
ruling classes.
There are upward of fifty million people
in Russia today on the verge of starvation.
Coarse black bread has become a luxury
in spite of the fact that Russia Is one of
the greatest grain-producfng countries In
the world. Even the Volga district, which
few years ago was the corn store OF
Russia, has been reduced to such dire pow
erty by the ruthless hand of autocracy
that there are large villages In which the
entire population lies half famished In their
i'll, n to-, &c tpot
themselves to do with as little food as pos
sible by falling into kind Of winter sleep.
whereby the waste of their bodies Is ar
rested and saving in food and fuel is eff
fected. This condition Of decay Is general
In the agricultural provinces OF central and
eastern Russia.
1t is difficult to adequately describe the
wretched conditions which greet the eye
everywhere In central Russia. Enormous
distances without passable roads, dilapi-
innumerable matched huts. a rich soil
which often does not return even the seed
grain; prehistoric plows and other agricul-
tural implements which kill or the few re-
naming horses and cows: churches which
do not improve morals: schools in which
reading and writing is not taught; spirit
ual famine increased by physical hunger,
and an all-pervading feeling of hostility.
Of terror and death.
How the Peasants Live.
Let US take a walk through a village of
central Russia and observe how the vast
ma jority Of the peasants live and what is
their material and moral conditions. From
a fourth to a third of the population live
in low and narrow huts. covered with
straw. These huts stretch along the VIII
lage street; a vegetable garden at the back:
on the opposite side of the street, beyond
the never~cleaned refuse heaps a farm
building, If there Is one. No tree, no
shrub to be seen far and wide. The vii
age has thousands-2.OOO or more inhabi-
tants "A shop or two supply the peasant
with what he does not make for himself
No doctor. no drug store. only a few old
women quacks. A smith. a shoemaker and
the vodka monopoly store. -. =
Now let us take a look at the howell in
which the peasant lives. In this wretched
ceiling overhead. Sometimes there is one
small glass window. but usually a hole
cut in the wall and covered with glazed
paper or cloth. The walls are roughly
plastered, without an ornament Of any
kind except an ikon on niche in enc
corner of the room. The word exon
means Image" and the image may be
either of the Savior. Of the virgin or one
OF the saints. There are no beds, chairs
or tables. Two boards put on barrels
The chimneyless brick stove is the principal
fixture and Is the center and citadel of the
peasants cabin around which everything
may be said to revolve; it keeps the family
warm and serves the purpose of a bed for
the entire family. 1t is heated in the old
Tartar fashion. by whom it was first intro
duced. The stove is filled with wood and
lighted. and a binding volume of smoke
fills the hut. The door stands open, re-
CARELESS of the cold. and the inmates stretch
themselves on the floor to avoid swallowing
too much of the smoke. When the wood is