Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-31
AurocRAoY BREEDS ANARCHY,


| Very few outside of Russia realize
the utter failure of the paternal gov
| eminent of the Car, to protect life
and property, In the empire, or provide
the means of development. Anarchy
and misery seem to be In evidence.
everywhere, but the reports that reach
the outside world generally fail to con-
vey the full truth.
General Alikhanoff who was assas-
sinated short time ago. was but
type of the creatures the Car places
in responsible positions. He was
man who regarded the people as the
property Of the tyrants. 1t is related
of him that he even permitted his
officers and men to outrage women.
One of General Alikhanoff's officers. so
the story goes. rode into Tifiis one day
and inquired the meaning OF certain
gathering then being held in the town
han. He was informed that 1t was
a congress of women school teachers
met to discuss an improved curriculum
in the local schools THE meeting
rnust not go on" replied the officer.
Then turning to his Cossacks, he said:
These women are yours" Fancy such
outrages committed by government
representatives.
The manner in which this officer col
lected taxes Is described by writer
in the Boston Transcript who was an
eye witness to some of his exploits.
Speaking of the destruction of the city
of Koutais, he says:
"There is a clause IN the terms OF
agreement between nations concern
ing the conduct of wars which reads:
The attack or bombardment OF towns,
villages, habitations or buildings which
are not defended is prohibited kou-
tails was not defended. The people We're
starving poor and unable TO pay taxes,
Alikhanoff was trying to collect the
taxes-with machine guns and Hight
field artillery.
There is another section adopted al
the second convention Peace Confer
ence at The Hague, which reads; Pill
iage Is absolutely prohibited Yet
had not been half a day In Koutals
when I saw shops plllaged and the loot
carried off to the Cossacks' barracks In
pushcarts
II saw n great many houses burned
down, sometimes whole block OF
buildings swept away When ! asked
General Alikhanoff about this he told
me frankly that his soldiers set fire
10 certain houses at his command, and
OF course they did not always have
time to see that other houses did not
burn Also little later / was in the
village of Kevril. on the borders of the
River Rion. General Alikhanoff or
dered certain houses burned, As usual
s1s-... 1GEN
after adjoining houses and as there
was a strong wind blowing up the Rion
valley, the flames spread rapidly. and
practically the entire village was wiped
OUT
A commission that succeeded In OBJ
tanning testimony concerning the deeds
of this general on his exped ton OF
"pacihcation.' reported many reyolt-
ing crimes committed by the Cossacks
of his command. But the chief point
Is that the government quietly ac-
qulesced in the widest outrages, The
Gear decorated Alikhunoff for his zeal
and effectiveness. and gave him abso-
lutte power to deal with the provinces
under his jurisdiction according to his
own methods.
Patornal government has proved
dismal failure in Russia. though the
Czar claims unlimited power. Anarchy
prevails. And unless the people obtain
hold OF the relns, the reckless course
of the government must end In n dis
ostrous catastrophe. All eyes are now
turned toward the third Douma that
will be elected IN accordance with n
new ukase. WIN II be In position
10 suggest n remedy, or win II be
merely n tool In the hands OF the
tyrants?
Sometimes democracy Is blamed for
outbursts OF anarchy, and It is thought
the natural tendencies Of old democrat
cies Is back 10 autoerncy ns defense
against such destructive agencies But
countries like Russia are less free from
anarchy than any other country In the
world. The remedy against the ills
OF anarchy is not a return 10 autocratle
tyranny. but to honesty and impartiali-
~ In the administration OF self-goy-
eminent.