River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-29

- patches that seem to indi-
3N ME cate the near approach of
80 an epoch in Russian his
A tory. One of them con-
Germs the strike in the state railroad
shops at Rostov, which is significant
because of it's political character.
This item says:
The political character Of this strike has
not been concealed from the beginning,
The demands Of the strikers at the railroad
shops are in large part the same as INC
students have popular!Zed. namely per
sonaI freedom freedom Of the press ana
speech, and freedom Of organization anu
meeting The men also demand shorter
work day more pay. more tolerao'e shop
rules, etc
During the recent gatherings al RostoV
it is reported that from 10000 TO looV per-
sons assembled. in the streets, ana that rev
dictionary speeches were made. The COS
sacks were called in 10 break up the meet
ing. The first time they advanced on Inc
crowd the people threw themselves upon
the ground before the advancing cavalry.
The Cossack horses veered off al this unex-
pected spectacle. and the Solddery were IN
able to use their leaden-tipped whips 10 al
vantage.
Another dispatch, the significance
of which is apparent on the face OF
it. reads:
Finance Minister Witte and Minister Of
the Interior Plehve have reached set
Element Of the recent difficulties between
them. The terms Of the settlement, how
ever are rot known.
Both ministers are now being quoted in
the most positive terms as sef-conleSseu
constitutiOnaists and as ready to advocate
constitutional reforms In Russia as soon
as the countrg shall be ripe for them.
Minister Witte has admitted to Presldeht
Shipov. Of the Moscow ZemstVo executive
committee. that the constitutional era was
approaching rapidly. The ZemstVo people
say that Minister Won PIehve has expressed
himself in The same sense in private CONVEX
sations, although somewhat more guard
eddy. M Won Plehve Is reported 70 nave
said: II am convinced that a constitution
is necessary for Russia but there IS great
deal Of preparatory work TO be done first
(The ZemstVo IS an asse mbly composed or
the landed gentry, the duty Of which is to
maintain roads, bridges. take care OF pri-
mary education, sanitary affairs and other
duties which might fall upon city council
in Arerica.-Editor)
The Rostov strike might mean little
in itself, but it is only one of many in
dications that have caused students
OF Russian politics to assert that Rus
STA is about to face general uprising
that may amount to a revolution.
In the popular mind a veil Of mys-
terry has always overhung the politics
Of Russia. Yet it is possible to brush
this aside and to see the situation as
one of the worlds most interesting
examples of national development.
TO persons dwelling in free repub-
lies the apparent slOwness with which
the forces of freedom work in Russia
is extremely aggravating, but we do
not take into consideration the
weight of ages of bondage. While it
seems inconceivable that 1O0,000,G00
persons should be under the absolute
authority of one ruler it must be re-
membered that they themselves have
scarcely known what political state
they desire. The mass of the pOpula-
ton has little notion of the scope of
political freedom as we have it, and if
informed would doubtless consider it
a Utopian condition. The uneducated
peasants wish only to be relieved Of
the worst of their present sufferings;
and it is only by the slow processes of
education that the oppressed millions
begin to know that by natural right
they are entitled to more than anne
Iteration Of present conditions; even
to absolute political and religious
freedom. As soon as this right is per-
ceived by force sufficiently large, the
change in condition will follow as a
necessary consequence. The power of
government is always in the people
themselves; it is education which
makesNit operative. 1t is for this rea-
son that - recent revolts in Russia