New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-16
PUSSTA,S NEW MOVES.

Three significant bits OF Russian news come
simultaneously TO hand. One is the positive
declaration Of the Russian Ambassador TO
America that his government proposes to fight
the war out TO the bitter end, disregarding or
rejecting all suggestions Of compromise or
peacemaking. Such declarations have been
made before though scarcely with the direct
ness and emphasis of Count Cassini's. There
can be no doubt that the Ambassador thus
voices the mind Of the war party" IN Russia,
which means a considerable and often domi-
nant part OF the Russian government Never
1heless, il is not TO be supposed that any such
declaration or any such intention is necessarily
of permanent binding force Just as positive
declarations have hitherto been made. and have
soon afterward been modified or repudiated ac
cording TO changed circumstances. 1t may be
so with this one. Or il may be that the declara-
ton will be literally fulfilled. In the latter case
we must hope for some more decisive campaign
ing than the Russian forces have yet given us.
A mere war Of slaughter and devastation. in
definitely prolonged, without the gaining of any
specific end would be intolerable.
The second item tends very much TO sustain
Count Cassinis grim warning 1t is that the
Siberian railro l is to be double tracked as
speedily as possible. That Will be the most
practical and hopeful move Russia has made in
this war. It indicates that she is awakening to
q
US the chief need Of her armies, namely, en-
larged and improved transportation facilities
between them and the base of supplies. The
utility Of trying to wage a great war at the
further end Of five thousand miles of single
track railroad has been apparent TO everybody
outside Of Russian bureaucracy and the war
party that supposed the Japanese would come
out TO fight with paper fans and bamboo lances.
AS we have hitherto said, second track across
the continent would be worth more TO Russia
than g whole army corps, and il was one Of
The most striking examples of official blindness
and laundering that Niceroy Alexicff and his
clique deliberately provoked the war before
such track was provided. 1t will be well now
10 20 ahead with the second track as rapidly as
possible. BUT it viii scarcely be possible TO
complete il within couple Of years; and mean
time Russias armies will have 10 suffer the
awful handicap Of lack of il.
Third, and most important, is the contest over
the liberal policy OF the new Minister Of the
Interior. Of which we have probably not yet
heard the last. 1t would be we'll if the En-
peror should support the Minister and If there
fore, il spite Of all the phantoms OF boyle
men conjured up by the reactionaries of the
Pobiedonostsen type, the promised national as
sembly Of zemstvo presidents should be held
This would be The first such convention, and,
while its results might be meagre when meas
ured by the standards of free countries il
would doubtless mean much for Russia and
would prove the opening OF a door that would
not easily be closed. There would be no no.
liticai significance in II, in the ordinary mean
ing Of that word. There is. no politics in
Russia, as there IS In other countries The
assembly would be more like a national con-
Eention Of charities and corrections. Of school