The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
IN DEFENCE OF RUSSIA.
Time. an Observer Thinks, to Turn an
Old Picture Of Her to the Wall.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir. II
Is somewhat amazing to find one who
usually shows such breadth OF view and
knowledge of the worlds affairs as Ar.
Edward 5. Martin repeating threadbare
criticisms Of the Government and peo-
Pile of Russia. We are told that In
everything modern civilization calls for
Russia is "all a good deal in the rough.
people included" We also learn that
Russia may weller along from tyranny
to tyranny, from pogrOm TO pogrom,
with due proportion of her best in prison
or In hiding, and the long procession of
her progressives clanking on the road
to Siberia
Tush, tush Doesn't Mr.. Martin
know that there Is no country in the
world which has Initiated and carried
out constructive economic and social re-
forms during the last three generations
with less friction and better results
than Russia?
Doesn't he know that while America
was sacrificing $4,000 lives and vast
ing thousands of millions OF dollars in
powder and bail to abolish slavery Rus
STA was abolishing serfdom by a simple
financial operation. paying the MOBILES
for their land holdings by Government
bonds and providing a sinking fund for
the ultimate redemption of the bonds
out Of fifty year instruments. TO BIO paid
ny IL lililAN llfiNFA INhFAllN0s
Doesn't he know that almost at the
moment when the business of this coun-
try was living under "A reign OF terror
because NJ the antics Of a political ora
tor who declared that the gold stand
ard Is a conspiracy against the human
race" Count Witte, the Russian A.nis-
ter Of Finance. was quietly setting in
operation the machinery which accumu-
itted 5000. 600. 900 In gold IN the Russian
Treasury. brought to their knees the
spectators in Russian exchange and put
the country firmly on the gold basis?
Doesn't NE know that within the past
eight wears thu agrdrian problem, for
which our southern neighbors are she'd
ding their blood. has been settled In
Russia through an expert commission.
and that this commission has crowned
the work OF 1861 by giving permanence
and security to small land holdings.
gratuitous remission to the peasant pro-
p~rietors being made of the last install
ment of $4,000 900 on account of the
original compensation for their lands?
Doesn't he know that the Government
Of Russia has transformed Central Asia
from the rowing ground of predatory
bands of rehiz and Clrc1ssian horse
men into a land blooming with peacs
and plenty, the hone OF thriving cities.
with paved streets, tramways, electric
lights and technical chools?
Does Mr.. Martin really believe that
The educated society OF Russia is all
a good deal in the rough. people in
cluded'H To one who has sat down
with them and heard them discuss. in
elegant English or fiawless French with
their s!ngularly open minded detach-
mcnt Of View and cloarness OF vision.
the present state and coming greatness
OF their country, the intimation that they
are all a good deal in the rough
smacks of the Illusion OF certain back
WOODS communities of a generation or
two ago that there were no Roman
Catholics hut Irish peasants and no
Democrats who wore collars and clean
shirts.
Come. ONE. Mr., Martin. Throw away
YOU library OF KEENAN, legends about
Darkest Siberia" or Russia OF the time
before Peter the Great and Catherine
H., and Try to learn something OF the
Russia of to-day. one can find any
where what he looks for.
quite recently an attachc OF the Turk
ish legation at Washington said some
thiNgs about the United States which
We're highly uudiplond.iC. but which
perhaps sung because they had a sub
stratum IF truth such are
not representative Of the real Unite !
States and the talk OF Russia, with her
constitutional. Duma and hor progress
s.ve and constructive craftsmanship.
"wc.teiing along In m tyranny to tyr
amy has about IS much relation TO
the real Russia as tn. suggestion 81 the
suffrage m"egalomtu.i,s 100 uur own
country who paint black on she map the
cultured States Of the East that have
not swallowed their pet panacea.
II seems needless to recite the great
names OF Russian literature. known Of
all men. Blu has NJ. Martin never
wandered through the wonderful IRE
tiakov Gallery at Moscow and seen the
evidences OF national creative genius,
possessing much OF the finish Of French
art bu, with an added touch OF Russian
initiative and virility Has he had no
eye f.r the dainty genre auvasc Of Ma
kovsky and Icrov. the landscapes Of
Chicklne and Pulieuov. the speaking his
tDrical scenes Of FlavitSky. Vassnetsot
and many others, to say nothing of the
rreHt NerestChagin?
II he knows not these things there Il.
indeed a Russian peril still unre-
v,aled to him, he peril that the Russia
OF tomorrow. with her more than l50.-
600. 200 OF white men and women. will
continue the steady march OF recent
years under hey FIR GIFTED and en-
lightcned Ministers. ~huauciers, artists
and thinkers, to a front rank among
world Powers the 'or'h bearer Of order,
Of civilization and OF economic oppor-
tunity to millions In Central Asia as
vel as TO her people at home.
CHARLES \ CoSAST.
NEW YOUN. February 90