THE UNREST IN RUSSIA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 144, 23 June 1902, Page 3

THE UNREST IN RUSSIA.

Owing to the strict censorship jmaintained by the Russian authorities over the press in Russia, it is difficult for Western Europe to know exactly what is the real state of affairs in that country. But the facts that keep leaking out reveal a disquieting condition of things. According to the Information, a Vienna news-sheet, which is said to have exceptionally good sources of foreign intelligence, a state of terror prevails in Russia, but its extent is known only to the Government. There is scarcely a single town where banishments and imprisonment are not constantly occurring. The Odessa correspondent of a London paper says the Jews play a prominent part in the present unrest in South Russia. Over half the rioters arrested in Odessa and Kieffwere Jews. Taking into account the overcrowding and poverty of the Russian Jews, and the large number of Jewish Socialists 'and Anarchists abroad, this fact is perhaps not surprising. Great changes have taken place among the working-classes during the last 20 years. The large towns have now a settled artisan class (generally well paid as wiges go in Russia), a fair number of whom have received some elementary education. Within the last 12 years " auditoriums," large halls for concerts and lectures generally with libraries attached, have been erected for the people in every town of importance. Lectures are delivered, in university towns generally by the professors, and the more intelligent among the working classes, more especially the mechanics, have been quick to avail themselves of these advantages. The savings banks instituted by M. Witte have been also very successful and popular. There is therefore a certain amount of culture and thrift among the artisan classes, and these classes will have to be reckoned with in the future. On the whole therefore the outlook for Russia is not reassuring.