The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-12-31
RUSS1A'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

| KUSSIA'S CHRISTMAS GIFT
NO matter what view people may
| take of the war in the east, and no
matter where their sympathies in that
struggle may be, there is no doubt but
that it has resulted in some positive
good to the people of Russia The
recent ukase of the Car granting
certain liberties to the people is
sufficient evidence of that. 1t promises
Il full and equitable enforcement of
existing laws. 1t assures the Zemstvos
of the fullest possible measure of self
government now existing in their be-
half. 1t prcmulgates Il scheme of work
mems insurance, extends liberty of the
press and promises It full legal trial
to all persons accused. These con-
cessions are probably in full accord
with the impulse of the Car who has
always been regarded as liberal in his
views but who has been restrained by
the reactionary bureaucracy around
him. The granting Of increased liber-
ties to the people at this time is due,
no doubt, to the fact that Russia is
already engaged in hard struggle and
can not afford to have trouble at home.
The ukase comes at time, however,
when it may be considered in the
nature of Christmas or New Years
gift to the people. 1t has been the
custom of the despots in all ages to
display their powers at this time by
granting unusual gifts. Unfortunately
their gifts have often been of the most
undesirable kind. The most usual
expression of despotic power at the
Yule-tide has been the pardoning of
large numbers Of criminals. "Now at
the feast the governor was wont to
release unto the people a prisoner,
whomsoever they would. Plate said
unto them, "Whom will We that I re-
lease unto you; Barrabas or Jesus
which is called the Christi" They
said 'Barrabas." Now Barrabas was
robber." PLATE released Barrabas,
and this was not the first or the last
example of despotic pleasure. In fact
despots have been inclined on such
occasions to do the most undesirable
things and the most unreasonable
things in order the better to display
their despotism. We have relic of
this custom even in our own courts
when courts and pardoning boards
without any reason or sense of Justice
release prisoners as Christmas gifts.
The act Of the Car than can no
be regarded as simply IL display
this despotic power 1t must rathe
lie regarded as Il concession to til
people. Viewed as such it will be II
"ardcd by the lovers of liberty IT,
world over as the one valuable result
of the murderous conflict in the east
1T is concession to democracy; a
victory for the great common people,
and this is of far moro Importance to
tho world and civilization than the
question as to whether Russia or
Japan Shall govern or own Manchuria.
If temporary defeats Of the great
Russian army shall result in further
grants of power to the people there
is no true American but who will wish
for that result. We are not among
those who believe that Japanese
fatalism is preferable to European
christianity, but if the temporary
success Of the yellow man shall result
in further increased liberties to 14O,-
100000 Of white men, then we are in
favor of such Victories We have no
fear that Russian civilization will be
replaced by the Japanese. We are
rather among those who believe that
the Russian civilization will be benefit
ed through it's struggles with the
yellow men pressing OH from the east.