The San Francisco call., 1903-09-03

n
! ~ Minister OF Finance to that OF President of
the Council authorities differ. Nominally the promo
ion places him at the head OF the imperial ministry,
but there is such a~thing as presidency that has
very little power and it may be that Witte has been
given an Office OF that kind for the purpose OF de-
lrxing him OF his former authority
For some years past. the distinguished Russian has
enjoyed high repute in western Europe and in the
United States He: has been credited with the au-
thorshp OF most OF the great policies OF finance,
social reform and internal development which have
Eeen undertaken in Russia since he entered the min
istry. Moreover, his work has been regarded as
highly successful and more than panegyric has
: been pronounced upon the statesman who could
achieve such .1narveIs in such a land.
While the tide OF western admiration was flowing
in his favor; little attention given to criticisms
OF his work and OF his methods. Such reports OF
antagonism came from Russia were set down
as :evidences Of the opposition Of barbarc conser-
= latisni TO progressive statesman. OF late, how
ever, there has been a more serious study of the
Russian situation by European economists, and the
results have been by no means favorable to Whites
reputation as successful minister for the showing
OF the empire either from financial or a sociological
: point. ot view Is ore Of impending danger.
r Recently Bioernson, the Norwegian statesman and
mar OF letters made analysis OF the financial sit
uation in Russia and pointed out that the public debt
has reached the sum OF S3,45o,oooOoo OF this ST.
za5l4oosooo. was placed at home and $855 10000
abroad In the past lour years Russia has borrowed
abroad S7oooooJooo and this does not include the
loans for railways. Taxes have increased to a
degree Of terrible eacon in the same period Boern-
son SAYS; Expenditures steadily increasing, but
The receipts can no longer keep pace with them. A
part of the railway system pays no dividends; does
not even pay for its running Taxes have reached
their ultimate limit This last point is confirmed by
=. Mitte in his report to the imperial council"
Bad as is the financial condition of the empire il
Is. by no means the worst feature of the situation
The industrial and social conditions are even more
threatening than the OF imperial bankruptcy
Professor Ernest Tarbouriech, who has made long
sojoufn in Russia and careful study Of the people
has recently startled Europe by the gloomy picture
which he presents of the Russian situation as whole
and by his deneation OF the portentous signs of a
coming revolution or insurrection that may involve
al eastern Europe in strife and disaster Other au-
:thorities confirm the report of Tarbouriech It is
stated that the present time in South Russia alone
there are upward Of 100000 men on strike, and so
Intense is the popular interest in the struggle that the
government for the first time in recent history has
been forced permit the press to publish reports
Of the event and keep the public informed of the
developments in the various districts where the
strikes prevail.
Berlin report Of date says the strikes are
merely covering for social revolt of enormous
proportions, which, starting in the Caucasus, has
spread rapidly in every direction The cause of the
outbreak is said TO have been racial antagonisn,
among the people of the Caucasus excited by the
efforts of the government to "Russanize" them The
closing Of Armenian schools is reported to have de-
prved 10000 children of their opportunities to OBJ
tain education in their native language and other
races have been badly treated as the Armenians
Il will be remembered that while the "Russihcation
Of the southern tribes has been enforced in that
drastic way similar policy has been applied with IN
equal barbarity Finland so that the extreme north
OF the empire is almost badly disturbed as the
south
Taken as a whole, the Russian situation is by no
means encouraging to those who desire the main
tensnce Of peace in that part of the world and If
is clear that control is needed in the imperial
council Whether the promotion OF Witte means
that he is have full power act in dealing with the
crisis, or whether It means that a new man is TO
have charge remains to be seen. The one thing
ndisputable is that If is high time for some one to
shange the imSsEial programme.