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Russian families； who was greatly devoted to fruit…culture； and
sought to bring the products of his large estates in the south of
Russia into Moscow and St。 Petersburg。 He told me that he had
tried again and again； but the officials shrugged their shoulders
and would not take the trouble； that finally he had induced them
to give him a freight…car and to bring a load of fruit to St。
Petersburg as soon as possible； but； though the journey ought to
have taken only three or four days； it actually took several
weeks； and； of course； all the fruit was spoiled。 As I told him
of the fruit…trains which bring the products of California across
our continent and distribute them to the Atlantic ports； even
enabling them to be found fresh in the markets of London； he
almost shed tears。 This was another result of state control of
railways。 As a matter of fact； there is far more and better fruit
to be seen on the tables of artisans in most American towns；
however small； than in the lordliest houses of Moscow and St。
Petersburg； and this solely because in our country energetic men
conduct transportation with some little ambition to win public
approval and patronage； while in Russia a horde of state
officials shirk labor and care as much as possible。
Still another sufferer was a very energetic man who had held
sundry high positions； but was evidently much discouraged。 He
showed me specimens of various rich ores from different parts of
the empire； but lamented that there was no one to take hold of
the work of bringing out these riches。 It was perfectly clear
that with the minister of the interior at that time； as in sundry
other departments； the great question was 〃how not to do it。〃
Evidently this minister and functionaries like him felt that if
great enterprises and industries were encouraged； they would
become so large as to be difficult to manage； hence； that it
would be more comfortable to keep things within as moderate
compass as possible。
To this easy…going view of public duty there were a few notable
exceptions。 While De Witte was the most eminent of these； there
was one who has since become sadly renowned； and who； as I revise
these lines； has just perished by the hand of an assassin。 This
official was De Plehve； who； during my acquaintance with him； was
only an undersecretary in the interior department； but was
taking； apparently； all the important duties from his superior；
M。 Dournovo。 At various times I met him to discuss the status of
sundry American insurance companies in Russia； and was favorably
impressed by his insight； vigor； and courtesy。 It was； therefore；
a surprise to me when； on becoming a full minister； he bloomed
out as a most bitter； cruel； and evidently short…sighted
reactionary。 The world stood amazed at the murderous cruelties
against the Jews at Kishineff； which he might easily have
prevented； and nothing more cruel or short…sighted than his
dealings with Finland has been known since Louis XIV revoked the
Edict of Nantes。 I can only explain his course by supposing that
he sought to win the favor of the reactionary faction which； up
to the present time； has controlled the Czar； and thus to fight
his way toward the highest power。 He made of the most loyal and
happy part of the empire the most disloyal and wretched； he
pitted himself against the patriotism； the sense of justice； and
all the highest interests and sentiments of the Finnish people；
and he met his death at the hands of an avenger； who； in
destroying the enemy of his country； has struck a fearful blow at
his country's happiness。
While a thoughtful American must condemn much which he sees in
Russia； there is one thing which he cannot but admire and
contrast to the disadvantage of his own country； and this is the
fact that Russia sets a high value upon its citizenship。 Its
value； whatever it may be； is the result of centuries of
struggles； of long outpourings of blood and treasure； and
Russians believe that it has been bought at too great a price and
is in every way too precious to be lavished and hawked about as a
thing of no value。 On the other hand； when one sees how the
citizenship of the United States； which ought to be a millionfold
more precious than that of Russia； is conferred loosely upon tens
of thousands of men absolutely unfit to exercise it；whose
exercise of it seems； at times； likely to destroy republican
government； when one sees the power of conferring it granted to
the least respectable class of officials at the behest of ward
politicians； without proper safeguards and at times without any
regard to the laws； when one sees it prostituted by men of the
most unfit class；and； indeed； of the predatory class；who have
left Europe just long enough to obtain it； and then left America
in order to escape the duties both of their native and their
adopted country； and to avail themselves of the privileges of
both citizenships without one thought of the duties of either；
using them often in careers of scoundrelism；one feels that
Russia is nearer the true ideal in this respect than we are。
As a matter of fact； there is with us no petty joint…stock
company in which an interest is not virtually held to be superior
to this citizenship of ours for which such sacrifices have been
made； and for which so many of our best men have laid down their
lives。 No stockholder in the pettiest manufacturing company
dreams of admitting men to share in it unless they show their
real fitness to be thus admitted； but admission to American
citizenship is surrounded by no such safeguards： it has been
cheapened and prostituted until many who formerly revered it have
come to scoff at it。 From this evil； at least； Russia is free。
CHAPTER XXXV
〃ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN〃 IN RUSSIA1892…1894
Still another department which interested me was that known as
the 〃Ministry of Public Enlightenment；〃 its head being Count
Delyanoff。 He was certainly a man of culture； but the title of
his department was a misnomer； for its duty was clearly to
prevent enlightenment in the public at large。 The Russian theory
is； evidently； that a certain small number should be educated up
to a certain point for the discharge of their special duties； but
that； beyond this； anything like the general education of the
people is to be discouraged； hence the Russian peasant is the
most ignorant and helpless in Christendom。
There was evidently a disposition among very many of the most
ardent Russians to make a me