Russia’s Ruling Passion.
By Prof. Wells
Russia’s ruling passion seems to be conquest—internal and external, in the church, in the state, and in the school. For many years she systematically invited foreign, and especially German, immigration to her seashores, her river valleys, and her Southern plains. The call was responded to by hundreds of thousands, who came under the solemn promise that their nationality, their language, and their religion, should be sacredly respected. Russia called and received them as the bearers and messengers of modern culture, with a view thereby of having her own people taught in all the arts of civilization, and having the great monarchy developed in harmony with Western progress and refinement. And thus we find all over Russia, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, colonies of Germans, with creeds and without them, who have faithfully labored for the material progress of Russia. Wherever they have settled, they have been exemplars to the surrounding Russians, and have been their teachers in agriculture, industry, and commerce. Under their influence, the steppes have been taught to blossom and the rivers have been covered with craft. In all Russia, there are no such examples of culture of the soil and general thrift and prosperity as are to be found among the colonies of the German Baptists, of which there are several in the Russian Empire. But the mania of Russifying everything within her realms has gone so far that Russia seems to have forgotten all the benefits that she, as a nation, has received from these colonists, and is even ready to repudiate the solemn promises on the strength of which they came to a foreign land. Everywhere their language is rudely interfered with and driven from the courts, then from the church, and finally from the schools. They were promised exemption from military duty; now they are ordered to enter the army. They were promised a special administration for themselves over a given district; now this specialty is revoked, and the inhabitants are reduced to the level of the peasants on the crown lands. In this way they are taxed, when they were promised an exemption from taxation if they would come, and accept, and improve, certain lands; and the land, which was to be theirs inviolable, is now open for the purchase of those who may choose to buy it. These improved lands are, of course, desirable now to Russian settlers, and they come in and disintegrate the German nationality, and are favored by the government in introducing the Russian language and customs. In answer to the appeals of the colonists, they are told that, if they do not like the manner in which matters are proceeding, they may have ten years in which to emigrate, without paying rent during that time for their lands! Thus they see their nationality, their language, and their religion, wiped out. In case of a war with Germany—which is a very probable one—they are to be forced into the ranks to fight against their own tongue and blood, and at the same time their wives and children will be liable to insult and violence from the fanaticism of the ignorant and superstitious Russians, who are even now everywhere envious of the culture and prosperity of the German settlers. And this is no fancy sketch. A large German colony in Southern Russia is just now appealing to the German nation to obtain for them, in some portion of the world, a province whither they may go under the protection of their home government and live unmolested. For, though emigration would be to them the virtual confiscation of all they have earned and saved for many years, they prefer this sacrifice to the iron heel of the Russians. And thus the Baltic provinces still cry for relief; and they are answered by the removal of their noble German University of Dorpat to the interior of Russia, and the arrival of hordes of Russian officials to introduce the national tongue into everything over which the Government has any control. Their appeal for religious liberty seems only to lead to a more sullen continuation of the abuses complained of, and new troubles spring up in the attacks of the landless Russian peasants against the thrifty German landholders—burning their property at night, and killing or driving off their stock. The ukase has gone forth that the Poles must cease the use of their own tongue, and adopt the Russian, with penalty and punishment in case of disobedience. And the numerous Jews of the Polish provinces are so harshly treated that every few months we hear the wail of misery and appeals to their coreligionists to find them a home in some more hospitable region. This is the cruel home record. But Russia’s efforts at aggrandizement do not cease here. She is incessantly busy on all her borders in extending her power and Russifying the neighboring territories. This is especially the case on the Caspian Sea, which has virtually become a Russian lake. Her railroads, which she is building in that region at the rate of hundreds of miles yearly, have already reached the western border of this great body of water, and are now rapidly being built along its western shore. Of course, the enterprises are all in the interest of commerce, and are carried on with a view to fulfill the mission of Russia in these regions as the bearer of civilization. But, at the same time, it is very evident that two-thirds of the roads built are simply from strategical reasons. And now she is crossing the Caspian, and projecting a road that will connect these waters with the rich valley of the Oxus River. In this activity her troops and civil officers are ever preceding her, and, under one or the other motive, quietly annexing province after province. It is almost impossible for Russia to extend her commercial interest into these countries without introducing her political power and system. This always leads to antagonism with neighboring provinces, which compels Russia to punish them for their interference with her, and to subjugate them to prevent any further trouble. If this cannot be done by force of arms, Russian silver can generally easily effect it with most of these poor and sorry chieftains, who are always ready to betray and sell their people at a very cheap rate. In this way, Russia is rapidly passing over to the Chinese frontier, and bids fair soon to possess all Turkestan. She has already subdued and virtually annexed several districts tributary to China, but in rebellion against that power. It was necessary in the commercial interests of the country to have peace in these districts, and if China could not maintain it, Russia would; and this she is now doing, and so she is gradually encroaching on the Chinese Empire. The stubborn rebels of the Caucasus are now completely broken, and railroads are projected in this direction from the Caspian to the Black Sea, which will completely subdue this region. But, after all, the richest field for Russia lies to the south-east, by way of Afghanistan, to England’s Indies. This province is said to be overrun with Russian agents; and it is no secret that large sums yearly leave St. Petersburg to subsidize those who are loyal to Russian and opposed to English interests. Cabool, though on the very border of British India, is far more Russian than English; and, in case of war between these powers for the possession of India, would offer no impediment to the passage of Russian troops. It is very clear to those who closely study contemporary events in these countries, that Russia means to make a fearful struggle before long to dispossess England of the jewel that has so long sparkled in her crown. And she is yearly gaining in strength, as it were for that special purpose; although England seems yet to be blind to it. It is evident that the rival powers will meet there before long, at the rate at which Russia is now progressing; and it is not very probable that they will live as peaceful neighbors. And, when the battle comes, Russia will have the advantage of direct communication over her own soil to her base of supplies, and will be able to throw her troops into India with comparative ease. In the meanwhile, she can afford to wait while working at home and abroad with arms, money, and diplomacy.—PROF. WELLS, in N. Y. Independent.