RUSSIAN STUDENTS’ GRIEVANCES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 May 1901, Page 4

RUSSIAN STUDENTS’ GRIEVANCES.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Sydney Mofning Herald, writing on February 18th, says:—

The Russian students of both sexes continue to make disturbances, so that, to avoid irremediable scandal, on February Bth the University authorities resolved that the annual “ Act ” should not take place. In St. Petersburg thirty students have been arrested for agitating and preparing disorders. The severity of the punishment (two years’ military service) does not seem to deter these exalted youths from their purpose. They are led to the verge of insanity by the skilful work of experienced agitators. The student revolt has nothing in 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. Wbat the students want is the return of the University statutes of 1863, introduced by Alexander 11. and subsequently annulled by Alexander 111., as he considered that the students abused the prerogatives allowed them. Those statutes, which arc those of the German universities, would, no doubt, have been reintroduced hacFnot the students chosen coercise and revolutionary means to attain their purpose, 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. If these unfortunate youths left to themselves, and were they not mere instruments in 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, etc., 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 age and and past services deserving all honors, cannot but ho consulted on these important questions. All reasonable people, even the most liberal, find it improper that the universities should be made arenas for political discussion, and that the students should criticise every act of the Government, It would seem that their business is to study, hut nowhere is there less serious study than in these temples of science. Neither in England, France, nor Germany, do the students aspire to play a part in politics, nor can such things be tolerated, It often turns out that the cause of the most violent disorders is some trifle not worth talking about. A learned professor of psychiatry lately attributed all these manifestations to the high degree of nervous irritation brought on by excessive fatigue of the brain from youth. It is certain that in this country children and adults are too much fatigued with study, and have too little physical exercise. The whole system of education requires reforming, and, though a great deal is being done in that direction, until now it is found difficult to do away wit]*' routine-that great obstacle to all gross, ■