The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
AS RUSSIA SEES HER FAULTS,
NO NOTE OF HOPELESSNESS IN
THE PUBLIC PRESS.
The War Thus Far Only the Beginning Of .
Long and Desperate Struggle" Says
the "NOvoe vremya''--Deeds. Not The
cries, to He Faced-Mirsky's Record.


the "Novoe vremya''--Deeds. Not The
ories, to he Faced-Mirsky's Record.
Special Cable Despatch to THE SUN
, LONDON, Sept. 10.-THE Suns st. Peters
burg correspondent writes that not even
Teuton contemplating other peoples
troubles could be more phlegmatio than
Is the Russian in his own. He has been
outgeneralled in the war and now he is
discussing with composure the likelihood
OF his being outgeneralled all the time.
The Noroe Vremya catches deity the pre-
vailing public opinion when it says:
THE extraordinary stubbornness and
courage Of our troops In the early fights at
Liaoyang would have subdued any adver-
sary other than the Japanese those same
Japanese who were so recently total stran-
gers to us, and whom we never imagined
would be strong nation. Such phe-
nomenon as the appearance Of q new and
powerful factor, influencing the course
Of civilization, must always be extraor-
binary. 1t isn't enough to be warned
against 1t, its existence must be proved
by Deeds
aNow we are facing deeds. The per-
severance and devotion to duty of the
Russifn soldier are opposed by qualities
still more active 1t Is more appropriate
to speak now Of the future, for the half
year Of the war is only the beginning OF a
long and desperate struggle. Our people
e.e awakened by a series Of economic
disasters, society Is infected by pessimism
the machinery Of State is reduced to merely
the current routine.
MANY ascribe the depression to the
dead weight Of bureaucracy, and this 10
partly true. II We are to enliven our sad
slow existence, II We are to forge weapons
against the enemy, then with the same
zeal we must forge new reforms for the
defence Of the country
This world be an empty platitude in
any other country, but here 1t Is regarded
as bold protest against great national
evil. The appointment OF Prince Mirsky
as Minister of the Interior is an event OF
really momentous Importance, but its
significance is noHyet clear. He is not
identified with the grand ducal cabal, but
his policy is quite unknown. He has a
record simply as a conciliatory and success
full administrator. His selection at the
present moment is regarded as a direct
consequence Of Gen. Kuropatkn's defeat.
The post was kept vacant pending great
victory which the Emperor believed would
mark turn in the tide. At the beginning
OF the week, when the issue looked blacklist,
the Minister responsible for the internal
order was appointed hastily and the prof.
ect for separating the police administra-
ton, with the other radical reforms, was
abandoned. Prince Mirsky was appointed
with the same functions as the late M.
de Plehve. His record shows him to be a
man Of conciliatory personality. He was
appointed two years ago to replace M.
Won Wahl, Governor Of wilma, who was
shot after a chronic period OF disturbance.
Prince Mirsky restored comparative order
without melting attempts against himself
His previous appointments included an
interim as chief OF the st. Petersburg
gendarmerie. where he smoothed an en-
FILTERED situation. He Is q man Of 45
personally popular. and may develop an
entire new policy, but 1t is quite impossible,
from his record. to judge what he will do
with the enormous power with which he
has been entrusted suddenly.