The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-02-29

81. PETERSBURG, Feb. 2a.-There is
more on trial than the Russian army and
navy in the present war with japan. Her
navy was suspected of being rotten and
was proved the first shot out of the bag
Her army, believed to be good, will moi
have fair test until the vast reinforce.
ments on their way East are lined up in
Manchuria. But the biggest test of all
Is upon the Russian government itself.
In one of my letters / explained why
revolutionary movements in Russia do not
amount TO much. The population is too
scattered and far too ignorant for them
TO be effective. Besides, a war in Russia.
as elsewhere, has tendency TO make peo-
pie drop their small grievances and stand
up behind their rulers, whoever they may
be.
But no nation is above the necessity of
being efficient, and the supreme test which
the present war will place on the Rus
sian government will be whether or not
it il competent for the job in hand. Rus
slams at this crisis are not going to de-
mand reforms Of any particular kind will
not rebel against increased taxation and
greater cost Of living, but they win insist
that Russia shall win. The nation is in.
tensely proud and will not submit tamely
TO a drubbing by the Japanese. Ii the
present rulers Of Russia cannot win, there
viii be a ground swell movement, taking
in every grade of Russian society. demand
ing leaders who can win.
When the Russians under the lash OF de-
feat, begin to take stock of how it hap
peend they will see plainly what every for.
eigner Of intelligence sees, that there is
any amount OF rottenness in their present
system Of government. The Capitalization
of everything in St. Petersburg. which
puts not only the army and navy. but all
the state business OF Russia, into the
hands Of stupid and dishonest bureaucrats
viii be sized up for what it really Is. The
car, it may be predicted. will not be
criticized, as in Russia for many day to
come the ear will be above criticism
whatever happens, SO all the wrath OF the
deceived people will fall upon his minis.
tiers and advisers.
The car himself win be in the position
OF every man IN Russia who is not grind
ing his own AK in St. Petersburg bureau.
OF wanting TO win at any cost The ear !
hrst proclamation was addressed not to his
admirals and generals, but to the people
Of Russia, and as the war goes on The
tendency viii be to draw the czar and the
people closer together.
II the bureaucracy muddles everything
as it is likely to do. starves the army
through lack Of proper transport system
loses the navy through inadequate prep
aration and allows Russian prestige to faf
in heap from both these reasons. il ma,
come that the ear win appeal over ths
heads Of the officials to the people d
Russia for counsel and support.
Such a state of affairs would soon brin,
new men to the front, and they unques
tionably would be younger men than thos,
now at the head Of affairs. and would hav,
more liberal ideas. Then under the stres,
of renewing great war in a distant prov
ince, friends of Russia might hope that
the police system and the present tyranni
cal appurtenances Of autocratie power
would one by one be dropped. The fall
of the bureaucracy and the initiation O
new ideas would lead to the dawn of dem
ocracy aud new Russia. But all this 4
q long cry from the present conditions
and before il can come about all that ha.
been characteristic Of Russia for nearl,
SO years must fall to the ground.
Since the war with Turkey, Russian poll
e. has been tyranny at home and aggres
sion aboard The foreign aggression par
Of IL is already receiving severe body blow
from Japan. and it may soon come t.