Russian Justice and Humanity

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2110, 14 June 1898, Page 2

Russian Justice and Humanity

In the current Contemporary Review appears tin artic'e by a recent English resident, who signs himself * Quorum Pars Fui,’ entitled the ‘Balance of Power/ We are tempted to-.quote hie tribute to the high personal characteristics of the Russian people because it supports our own - views on the sub-' ject. As we have pointed out ih these columns the feudal system still lingers in Russia and between the governing classes and the masses ruled by them M' Va rod of iron is drawn a broad impassable line of demarcation. While we cannot help despising the incoippetency of the Romanoffs—an? alien race whom political upon the throne of the cannot help pitying them. JEOne early part of the next century will see their sun set, and th§-' tyrannical nobles swept away as their brethren were iu France,-- By the end of the next century there will be few monarchies left in Europe- Europe will be ruled by the people, for the people, and Russia with its population of 130,000,000, will play a mighty part in the regeneration of the world. The following is the extract to which we referred : ‘ I found that the Russians by temper-' ament were without exception the gentlest, most easy-going- and humane nation in Europe—and I havef seen them all. Their defects are many, but the leading feature in the Russian character, high and low, which stands above faults of which they have their full share, is an enthusiastic, generous humanity, easily moved to sadness and tears; full qf expansive gratitude for kindness; free from.meanness, petti; ness, and conning greed. 'ln Short, it struck me, the'more I contemplated the Russian character, that they; were the; only people { u Europe who possessed Several of the better characteristics of ourselves. The Russians are not so fond pf fair play, not; so truthful, not so energetic, not so manly as we are; but; on the other hand, they areleas hypocritical,: more truly modest, gentler, more tender, more truly religous, more humane, and less brutal and violent in every way. This being so, I decline to believe that the Bus aian nation, as a body, or the Russian Government as its representatives—which shares the virtues and vices of that body—would ever lend itself heart and soul to an aggressive general War for, mere purposes of spite and plunder ; and in this matter/ far inferior though the Russians are to thldr new allies in intelligence, wit, vivacity, and many other noblei qualities, they are infinitely superior to the French. They are a juster race, with less venom. 7