444
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[June 16, 1902.
RUSSIAN POLITICS: INTERNAL | Moscow on the 22nd February The meet-recent agreement with Persia to erect -a
AND EXTERNAL.
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The
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44
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Without laying too much stress on this admission of failure from a competitor evidently merely intended to draw off at- tention from the more important point of Russia's game in the Far East, it is safe to recognise that even in her strongest point she has had to acknowledge failure. It has in fact been brought home to her rudely that the time has come when Great Britain is likely to ask her to show her hand, and
ing) was of course a challenge to Govern- telegraph line from Kushan to the frontier ment, but might have been diverted by a of Baluchistan, no great thing in itself, little tact into a demonstration in favour the Novoe Vremya thus delivers itself: (Daily Press, 9th June.)į
of order; but no such feelings actuated the “It seemed that the South African war, which was employing all the forces of * Even the foul bureaucracy that has super wretched faction which has u urped the “ seded the Crown in Russin must feel that it functions of Government, and whose main"Great Britain, would influence the inter- 'national situation of that country and has not come with any semblance of honour weapon is the knout. A baud of savage
fetter its liberty of action. It turns out, out of recent events in China, and that Cossacks was let loose amongst the unarmed “ Russia, though appure tly successful, is crowd, and by such measures the cause of" however, that this peculiar state of things "order" was attempted to be vindicated." does not in anyway prevent British really in a far worse position than at the commencement of the troubles. She has, in Furthermore, without any pretence at legal" diplomacy from achieving very substantial fact, in putting her full force forward in form, and solely on the responsibility of triumphs, and that the diplomacy of Eastern Asia, made the mistake so frequent the "Government" itself, wholesale arrests" Great Britain has decidedly and greatly were made amongst all classes. The Official" increased in Persia during the last six in nations in her stage of civilisation of exposing her weakness; and rotten, as she Messenger acknowledges 537 members of the "months; and," (it significantly adds)
in the East, prestige is everything." is at the core in Europe, she has ceased to university, 111 students of other establish- ments, and 34 besides of both sexes and of be a terror to the continent.
occupa-
No pretence of any legal tion of England in South Africa was in the various ages).
foru in these arrests was made, nor usual, fashion of nations of her genius taken occasion of to make the most unblush any attempt to enquire into the offences ing encroachment recorded in the annals of charged, and as a consequence many of those eren Russin, and the effect has been to arrested were totally innocent and had show the utter weakness and hollowness of merely been arrested on the information of her pretended power. Of one thing she has unknown spies. As the trouble of sending assured the world, and that is that it was these regiments of prisoners to Siberia from no feeling of right nor consciousness appalled even a Russian Government, it was of justice that she has retired her preten-resolved to divide them over the Empire, at this unpleasant moment comes the com- sions in Manchuria, but from the know. those whom the chiefs of the reaction fession that she is at heart as rotten as was ledge that she has already overgrown her thought most dangerous being condemned France at the period of her revolution. to go to Archangel, where in 65 degrees Like Russia, France in the conscioumess of power, and that any strain on her internal resources would result in the entire collapse north latitude and in temporary prisons her ill-doing tried to turn her subjects' from misdeeds at home by of the whole ill-assorted fabric. The run up for the purpose it was hoped that the attention
in her measures being taken by the Government frosts of that inclement region would soon ex-pointing to triumphs abroad, but the in Europe to restore confidence amongst tinguish the sparks of revolutionary ardour very steps she took resulted its own people are singularly fatuous, and still existing. As a natural reply to this own political extinction; so in the present show the utter ineptitude of the crowd who lawless proceeding pu the part of the case not the least noticeable feature is the have assumed the direction of government, bureacracy the others replied by the evident fear with which Russia regards whom they Japan's challenge to show her hand. The Last year the then Minister of Instruction assassination of the man M. BOGOLIRPOFF, whose reactionary con conceived the most concerned in these reac fact that England's hands are at last free duct had incensed the eatire of the rising tionary measures of brutality, the Minister must increase the dissatisfaction of the classes in the universities, was murdered. of the Interior, M, SIPIAGUINE. Illeg-Russian Government that she has by her Although the better disposed classes in ality has been met by illegality, and the own folly allowed her shame to become a law byword. The conclusion of the peace in Russia as elsewhere are quite aware of the assassination of this outrager of ill effects on the cause of good government and order by the only tribunal in Russia's South Africa, though it may hasten the unfor-progress of events in Eastern Asia, has of a policy of assassination, it is acknow- present position possible must ledged, even by the reactionaries, that tunately be held to cover a political crime already been pretty well discounted; and personally there could be no sympathy with with the eclat of martyrdom. Once lighted, Russia may be prepared for the future to the victim, who had outraged in bis conduct the torch of revolution, especially when, take her position in the rank from which the outrage she never should have been permitted to of his office every principle of right and as in Russia, founded on justice. In his place, as a sort of sop, by a corrupt government of all that is emerge. Is it too much to attribute the General VANNOVSKY was appointed to the right, is difficult to extinguish; and it resignation of M." WALDECK-ROUSSEAU to a post, and General VANNOYSKY would, it is is unfortunately owing to these last out-feeling that the policy of putting her de acknowledged, have willingly done all that rages doubtful if the time for amendment pendence on a rotten reed is beginning lay within his power to redress the acknow. have not already passed. At all events, from already to dawn on France, and that she ledged evils that were making Russian north to south, Russia is in a state of perceives that her sacrifices are likely to universities a byword. But
revolution, either open or smouldering. result in discredit to herself? Few who Whatever in the Far Fast may be our have watched the French Minister's career was only a puppet, and it very soon became evident that he was intended to be nothing interest in these movements in Russia her will deny him the possession of rare gifts their influence of statesmanship. In other quarters he else. The university students had hitherto self, it is chiefly in borne the brunt of the contest with the on Asiatic politics that we mouen has distinctly raise the position of his` Government, and the Government had tarily concerned. Hitherto the Asiatic country from a state approaching chaos, flattered itself that all that was necessary policy of Russia has been one of sheer bluff, and has won the respect, if not always the to be done to keep under the aspirations of and her previous successes, as she is well affection, of her neighbours; nor was he the the nation, and continue to exercise its own aware, have been die neither to the skill originator of the policy of subjection to ill-savoured authority, was to suppress the of her generals nor to the courage of her Russia, which oven France is beginning to students, who were quietly and without troops; both probably have been as bad realise as compromising her position in trial of any sort removed, either by private as ever existed in a state pretending to Europe. Now that Russin bas declared execution, or by being sent wholesale to civilisation. She at the beginning of her herself the enemy of civilisation, it was Siberia. But even students, as the Govern- march came across nations in still more hardly conceivable that France should any than herself, and longer back up the policy of reaction so ment began to find to its cost, bad not only paltry_condition relations and friends amongst their own gradually and almost imperceptibly acquired opposed to all her own dearest traditions; class, but had sympathisers amongst the the art of terrorising her weaker and and it may well be that this was the nation at large. A demonstration was occasionally more corrupt neighbour. China motive that eventually led him to resign accordingly organised, and as the Official | bad for centuries been living by the same office after the country had unreservedly Messenger itself acknowledges: "At the arts, and when she found that Russia was given him in the recent elections her entire "same time these leaders, recognising how the more able of the two, she for confidence. At all events the motive put powerless the students were to realise by time collapsed. Thus in 1900 the contest forward, that of ill-health, is one that does themselves the objects of the movement, in the Far East assumed the character not often sway statesmen in the full career
Russia of success, entered into intimate relations with the of a gigantic game of poker.
was calculating in all this that Great Britain, existing revolutionary groups and clubs. Animated by the same spirit, they carried with her hands occupied in South Africa, on an illegal propaganda in the com-was out of the game, and probably the munity and amidst the workmen of the other Powers shared the opinion with her. lar re towns."
5. One of the results was They were, however, better informed than calling a demonstration intended to be Russia, and quietly found means to hedge Speaking of A peaceable to take place in the streets of or go out of the game.
ANNOVSKY
are
The British community at Maoso originally intended to hold a dinner and have, some fireworks in honour of Coronation day has now been decided instead of this to of Macno will be invited. ball and supper to which the leading reside
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