The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18

which cannot be ignored by the most ardent
advocates OF liberty and free education.
II Is not sufficient for their refutation to
point to the nseries OF the Russian peas
antry / have failed in my preliminary
presentations of Russian conditions If /
have not made II clear that peasant suffer
ing Is due not 80 much to ignorance and the
form of government as IT Is to corrup-
ton, overtaxation and the false economic
restrictions imposed by Church influence.
1t is quite possible that the Russian, masses
might be fairly prosperous ana ENJOY
good share Of human happiness under an
autocracy honestly administered and free
from religious intolerance.
Liberal Russia has no definite programme.
1t cannot have under existing circum-
stances, for all agitation and political organ
ization liz prohibited. II hopes for constltu-
ton and for the creation OF representa-
tive national Legislature; i believes IN IN
ment of internal commerce, in the ex-
tensive development of manufacturing in .
dustries, in the improved treatment OF
natural resources, In freer education-in
word, In national progress as understood
by Western nations.
These ideas need no elaboration for en-
lightened readers. In Russia they scarcely
penetrate to the masses Of the people and
they are by no means living issue in the
body polite They spell sedition in the
/
short Of revolution can bring them within
the area of practical politics
The present relentless application Of
iron heeled oppression throughout Russia
and in Finland is largely due to the alarm
among the mobiles caused by the intro
duction OF the liberal policy of M. de Witte;
1t must not be inferred that this enlightened
statesman advocates for Russia reforms
which would bring her within range OF
Western ideas of progress, He Is lar TOO
wise to place himself in such position.
He has not sought to distur b existing
institutions. His influence has been con,
! fined strictly to commercial, financial and
economic problems. So far from con-
| demning, he has not hesitated to make use
OF the severest weapons OF the autoeraey.
Of his financial ministry Will illustrate
this. A st. Petersburg banker, exasper-
ated by one Of NJ. de Whites measures,
exclaimed angrily in conversation with
some friends on the steps OF the Bourse:
de Witte is a damned swine
That afternoon the banker disappeared.
His friends ascertained by dint OF ener-
| getic inquiry some days later that he was
in jail by administrative order. ihey
brought every, possible influence to bear ear
| unfortunate mans release, but his bank
ceased to exist from that time.
M. de Witte, nevertheless, Is the ablest and
most progressive public man IN Russia.
His enemies, who have deprived him OF much 3
| of his power, and who would destroy MIN II
they could are unable 70 90 80 because b US t h,
country in dealing with the financial prob
| lens of the war.
The story Of his overthrow is the record
| Of the triumph of the Grand Ducal regime,
which now controls Russia a,t and wmoh Is
| The Grand Dukes gained their ascendancy
| over the Emperor but gradually. Neither
| De Witte nor Lamsdorf is an expert courtier,
| and they were not able TO spend much time
in syoophancy or in safeguarding the Em-
perors confidence in themselves; They
were undermined with elaborate and insidi-
GUS skill.
Their danger first became apparent when
the Gar created the post OF Minister, OF
Commerce for Grand Duke Alexander.
and, having failed he was indscreet enough
| to make difficulties in the financing OF the
new department.
| Alexander soon demonstrated his superior
influence at court, and the decline OF the
De Witte policy was rapid 1t became the
aim Of the Grand Duoat group to throw all
possible political power into the hands OF
be Plehve and Alexief. In this they sue
De Plehve won his position by sheer ability 2 H,
executor OF the reactionary policy. He
was honest. broad and implacable. He
was also cruel, merciless and mistaken.
He filed the prisons, massacred the
| Jews, sacrificed the liberty Of the Firms,
and finally melted the only retaliation
sassination. The wonder Is that a man
of his intelligence should have brought
upon himself so inevitable fate.
| But those who supported him are still
mistaken in their policy. That they are
determined and INSCRIPTIONS men goes
| yitholt sayinp
1t must not be inferred that their motives
are altogether corrupt. Some Of them
are so. The well known story OF the .falu
timber conspiracy, which is largely re-
sponsible for the present war. is sufficient
| proof of the greed and dishonesty which
largely prevail among the Russian aristoc-
Alexieff's retention in power, by the way.
is mystery which e1cites no surprise in
Russia The explanation so generally ac-
cepted that it almost amounts to common
knowledge is to the effect that the Asiatic
Viceroy Is the son OF Alexander ii. by an
| Armenian mother and therefore the natural
uncle of the Car. 1t is quite the custom
in Russia to provide literally for the left
hand side" Of the family.
| There is plenty of honest support OF
reactonary policy among the RUSSIAN
mobiles. They have not robbed the Govern
ment and they do not seek to do 80. They
believe, for reasons already described, that
| the safety and future wellbelng OF Russia
can only be secured by the firm, strong
hand of authority. Their influence: COM
bined with that of the personally ambitious
and dishonest conspirators, dominates the
| present situation.
But the Grand Ducal policy has already
| been carried too far. The murder OF Plehve
was not an isolated protest it was one OF
the signs that the limit of endurance has
| been reached.
| The mad recklessness Of policy which
has plunged the country into a war for
| which il was utterly unprepared, which has
driven its most prosperous province to the
verge of rebellion and has alienated the
sympathy of the entire world, is bitterly
resented even by many who are opposed to
Whites liberalism. The war is intensely
unpopular outside the official classes.
Open resistance to the prevailing policy
is hopeless. Passive resistance is exercised
to an extent which Russia is striving to
conceal from the outside world.
The orders for reserve troops to join the
colors are entirely ignored in whole prov
inces, and the Government has not force
enough TO compel obedience. The Cars
attempt to arouse patriotic response
by his public appeals during his recent tour
was complete failure His name is openly
revile1 daily in the streets and cafes OF
Odessa. Throughout southern Russia his
prestige is gone and loyalty has disap-