The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-02
ANSWERS COUNT sHARzYNsKI.
Native Russian Disagrees With Him
About Education.
no the Editor Of the State journal.

To the Editor of the State Journal.
In yesterdays issue Of your valuable
paper l notice an interview between a
governor of a free country and rep
despotism and crushed by tyranny.
Governor Stubs speaks as a free
American, while SharZynski speaks as
the cunning tool of the Russian gov
eminent. Why should not freemen the
world over offer their solemn protest
against these Servile attempts to glaze
over the facts in the case. 1 myself
emigrated from Bylostok, and am
fully acquainted with the unequal life
and adverse conditions of the Russians.
Let US see if the count is right. He
says that the Russians do not want
free schools. If this is true, then Rus
STA has no right to be classed among
the civilized nations of the earth; and
is therefore not to be even classed with
the Turks who have accomplished some
thing for substantial progress and in
dividual liberty. My heart aches and
bleeds for Russia; for I know that
pie inspired with the highest ideals
for the betterment of mankind. The
lack of schools is not the fault of the
people, but it is the fault of the re-
dictionary government that is afraid
to foster them. 1 can state for myself
that I was fortunate in being one of
the 5 per cent in getting a privilege
to attend school. And also I know
what kind of stuff the few Russian
schools teach. Nothing for the uplift-
ing of mankind. And if the students
wish to read any of the works of the
great men, they must read them in
secret, with the danger of being placed
III jail if caught in the act Think OF
not being able to read John Stewart
Ills Political Economy or such auth
torities as Spencer, Huxley, Darwin, and
Emerson is absolutely unknown in Rus
STA. The count says that the people do
not want schools. Then why is 1t that
thousands of young Russians go to
Austria, Germany, and France to at
tain a college education, when 1t in
wolves a great sacrifice and a heavy
expense. The people of Russia want
schools, and the right kind of schools.
The count says, that Russia has so
many different people, and yet among
the 100000 900 Poles. there is very small
per cent who cannot read nor write.
And among the 100000 Jews, you will
find none who cannot read nor write.
The ones who are illiterate are the "a
600, 900 of Russian natives. and the Uni
ted States stitistics on emigration
will bear me out. Count SharZynski
himself is a Pole, and how does 1T
come that he has attained an educa-
| ton? Every Russian citizen knows.
left Bylostok when 16 with no desire
| to see that country again under the
| heel of the car. Although I am doing
all I can and sending all the spare
money 1 can to help the revolution, the
evolutionary process seems slow with
such counteracting influences as the
count is in this interview attempting
to bring to bear. 1 will continue to do
as in the past until Russia is free and
will give the people free schools and
| liberty to participate in the manage
ment of their own government. Yes,
Russia is numbering thousands of the
best of her citizens from 16 to 20 years
of age, who had been doing all that is
| in their power to make Russia the equal
! of all civilized nations.
l. GILBERG.