The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-01-10
From Darkest Russia

From darkest Russia, reeking with
revolutionary disturbances, has come
a letter to Fargo describing the condit-
ions as they now exist in the interior
and as an unbiased American sees
them. The letter was written by a rep-
resentative of one of the large machin-
cry houses which has an Office in Far
go, but owing to the: perilous condit-
ions under which the writer is living
and the frank truthfulness with which
he describes them, it is not thought
best to publish his name nor the place
from which.he writes. 1.-THE letter is,
however, dated from q large town in
the southeastern part of Russia. The
author has lived there for some time
and he writes of life and conditions
there from a full heart and with q Wig
orously descriptive pen.
From what he says the outlook
seems to be a very gloomy one. At
present the government has assumed
control and there is a lull in the tenn
pest which threatens to overwhelm the
empire, but these conditions cannot
last and the car and grand dukes
must either make concessions and in
stitute many new reforms or the revo-
luton will break forth more violently
than ever.
The letter, which speaks for itself,
is as follows:
Passing to matters less personal, it
is good to be able to say that affairs
Russian are on the mend. The pre-
dominant population, the farmers and
merchants, are tired of the foolish and
often criminal doings of the several
antagonistic forces and elements. The
parties may be classed into two, one
made up of the absolutists or bureau
Gratis, the other the revolutionists.
Both have gone, and are still resort
ing to terrible extremes, but accom-
plishing little. At present the govern
ment seems to again be in control and
the army is at least fairly loyal. A
certain degree of public safety is as
sured, so long as this continues and
all will be we'll if the promised reforms
+ carried out, but if not, Russia will
have all the horror, murder, pillage,
ETC., that characterized the events of
the past year, to pass through again,
only perhaps worse if such a indeed
be. have a pretty good notion of it
all for here we had two outbreaks last
year, the first lasting five days, during
which time fully fifty shops were plum
,dered clean, and then burnt, about 500
people killed and all business blanked
for two weeks. The estimated loss
was 10, 600, 900 rubles. The second
outbreak was more in the nature of a
revolution. Little property was de-
stroyed, but about 1000 people we're
killed and the city was practically in
a state of seige for twenty days. Dur
ing that time not a piece of mail nor a
telegram reached here, nor was there
a train of any kind run out of the city.
We yer simply cut off completely
from the rest of the world. Daylight
holdups and murders are still of fire.
quent occurrence and within the past
two months armed gangs enter Offices
and stores and steal whatever funds
are to be had. Troops of soldiers
stand guard at each of our banks and
all Offices of Importance keep their
doors locked. We do, too. This
condition will, of course, last only a
while, perhaps until April or May. In
the country districts it is even worse,
and no one even attempts across-the-
country travel. You can fancy how
this affects our business, when you
know that th%ree-fourths OF our clients
live in stations reachable. only by liv-
cry drives. Still our business is good.
It has been continuously since 1 knew
anything about it. The trade is rap
idly growing and in five years, If I am
any Judge, it will be, If Russia be-
comes internally settled and crop con-
ditions only normal, easily double
what it is now. Living conditions are
horrible, morals there are none. There
is nothing of that which we Americans
are taught to believe is right. We are
on the borders Of Asia and our popu-
lation consists of Russians, Jews, Tar
tars, Armenians, Turks, Greeks, Pers-
ians, Khirgis and Kalmicks. There
are about 1900 Germans, a few French
men and Italians, about twenty
Englishmen and I amthe only Ameri-
can. have often wondered what par
ticular crime I have committed that
deserves being so punished as to be
placed into this manure pile of human
ity. Some. day / will write ortell you
more fully about all this. I suppose
it is a part Of the big, broad plan that
the world is built on or after, but it is
the refuse spoto of the plan and plot. =
Fargo Forum.