THE UNREST IN RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 15

THE UNREST IN RUSSIA.

ST PETERSBURG, April 8,

The Czar has appointed General Vannoosiki Minister ol Education, and has promised a thorough reorganisation, of the scholastic system of the Empire.

The St. Petersburg correspondnt of the Sydney Morning Herald, writing on February 13, says: — The Russian students of both sexes continue to make disturbances, po that, to avoid irremediable scandal, on February 8 the University authorities resolved that the annual "'Act" should not take place. In St. Petersburg 30 students have been arrested for agitating and pieparing disorders. The severity of the punishment (two years' military service) does not seem to deter these e\alted youths fiom their purpose. They are led to the verge of insanity by the skilful work of experienced agitator-. The student reiolt has nothing m common with the activity of the anarchists. The Czar himself is popular among them. What they oppose with such strenuous exertions is the order of things at the University, which depends mostly upon the Ministers, whose ideas upon education seem backward and illiberal. What tho students want is the return of the University statutes of 18^3, introduced by Alexander 11, and subsequently annulled by Alexander 111, as he considered that the students abused the prerogatives allowed them. Thooe statutes, which are those of thi German universities, would, no doubt, have been reintroduced had not the students chosen coerch c and revolutionary means to attain their puipose, by which they only retard reforms against which, in principle, the Czar has no objection. The students are thus confounded with political agitators, and many compromise themselves beyond all redemption. Were these unfortunate youths left to themselves, and were they not mere instruments m the hands of hidden motors, most of these deplorable and constantly repeated misunderstandings would not occur. The severity of the punishment for revolt against the University authorities, the rector, professors, eec, has only served to exasperate the students, and it was certainly not the Czar who imagined this, means of repression, but those of his counsellors, who see no other means of governing than force, and who, by their ago and part fies>

\'cl^ doecrwiiß all honours, oruinot but be consulted on t ice ir.ipoita.nt quction= Al' ira.-onible people, cu'ii the mo-t liberal, find it improper that the imnprsities should be made atena= for political chsru^-ion. and that the student* should criticise c\rry act of the Government. It would svm that their bu-me=s is to study, but nowhere n there lc^ serious study than in the- e temples of science. Neither in Enqlard, France, nor Germany do the students aspire (o play a part in politics, nor c^n such things hr tolerated. It often turns out thut the cau-o of the mo^t violent disorders is sopp trifle not worth talking about. A lo.T-ned iTofpssor of p^j-chuitiy lately attributed all these nianife-tations to the* hi£>h degree of n n n oib untation brought on by c\oPt.M\o fauguo of the brain fiom youth. It l- certain that in this country children and a'liriU are too much fatigued with study, and ha\e too little physical exprci«e. The whole system of education require^ reforming, a"d. though a deal is hems; clone in tl at direction, until now it is found diffienl i to do away wit'i routine — that great obstacle to all progress.