RUSSIA AND THE CZAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 3

RUSSIA AND THE CZAR.

In “ Scribner’s Magazine ” for October tie chief feature is the first of a series of articles by Mr Henry Norman, M.P., on “Russia, of To-day,” from which we take the following extracts: What is Russia? The unfettered, irresponsible, limitless, absolute rule of one man over a hundred millions of his fellows --ris that it? The ikon in t/he , comer of every room where the language is spoken, the blue-domed basilica in every street oi great cities, the long-haired priests chanting in deep bass; the pedestrian ceaselessly crossing himself; the Holy Synod, whose God-given task, it is to coerce or cajole a heathen world to orthodoxy—is that Russia? Or is it the society of the capital, speaking all languages, familiar with all literatures, practising every art, lapped dm every luxury, esteeming manners mote highly than morals? Or is the vast and nearly roadless country, where settlementsare to distances like fly-specks to windowpanes, where the conveniences, the comforts, and the decencies of civilisation may be sought in vain outside the towns ■ and away from the lines of railway; where entire villages are the prey of unnamable disease; where seven people out of ev’ery ten can neither read nor write?

Siberia is Russia—five million ■ square miles, in which whole countries are a quivering carpet of wild flowers in, spring, a rolling grain field in autumn, an icebound waste in. winter, stored full of every mineral, crossed by the longest rajlwiiy in the world, and chiefly inhabited by a’ population of convicts and exiles. Central Asia is Russia—a million and a half square miles 'of barren desert and irrigated oasis, the most famous cities of Asia ■ and the greatest river, a few years ago the ho%-d of Mussulman fanaticism, probably the cradle of the human race, and possibly the scene of its most fateful conflict.

The Eastern'.Question is: .How will Russia try again to get Constantinople? . The Far Eastern- Question is ; ■ Will Russia succeed in dominating China?' The question of questions for the British Empire is: Will Russia attempt to invade India?

The Triple Alliance is a league against Russia. The Dual Alliance is Russia’s reply. Russia called the nations to the Conference of Peace.

It would be easier to say what is not Russia.

Unless you realise that in Russia the Czar is everything, literally everything; that not only is his will law, but that it is also heaven-inspired right, that his land and his subjects are his to dispose of whol’y as he will—l am speaking, of course, of the masses of the people—-you will not grasp the fundamental condition of Russia to-day. In a Russian bat-tie not long ago, the artillery, urgently deeded in front 1o save the day, was stopped by a deep ditch. The. .soldiers thereupon flung themselves in until the ditch wa.s full, and the artillery galloped over their bodies. The incident illustrates the relation of the common people of Russia to their Sovereign. As you go higher in the scale the fact remains, , but on_ a different basis. Official rank (“ tchin ”) is the standard of position—-a greater or less “tchin” determines a man’s honour and influence, and of course all conceivable “ tchin ” culminates in. the Czar. If you have nob yourself a high “ tchin,” you must be “ protected” by somebody who- has. Officials of high rank will hardly deign to notice you at one nj-inute,” and the next they are ' wholly at your service, if they' have learned that yon are well “protected.” And in the highest society' of all, whatever views they may privately hold and express, the Czar, as the source of promotion and the fountain of honours and emoluments,; dwells still alone upon -the heights. In material things it is the same. I was once discussing with a Russian administrator the military capabilities of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and I remarked that there would not be rolling-stock enough to convey masses of troops in a short time. “Every engine and carriage in Russia would be put there if necessary.” “ But,” I objected, “ that would disorganise the whole commerce of the country, and bring tens of thousands to ruin.” “You don’t understand,” answered this official; “if the Czar gave the word to take every 1 railway ’carriage in Russia and run it across the Siberian, Railway' and throw it into the China Sea at the other end, who, I should like to know, ■- would prevent it?”