New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-14
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The killing of Plehve has renewed talk OF
political reform in Russia. Even the strongest
champions Of Czarism seem to be convinced
that some change is desirable, while many con-
servative publicists are openly suggesting what
they call q responsible Ministry as little less
than necessary. The phrase has an suspicious
sound and intmates such introduction or con-
stitutional principles and practice as would
make Russia a comparatively free country
Yet. 10 the nstonshment Of many, the Car
himself who is one OF the foremost advocates
and promoters Of reform, is reported TO regard
the proposal with unhesitating and entire dis
approval Only to the superficial observer,
however. should that be surprising. II does not
indicate reaction en- the Cars Fart or opposi-
ton TO reform; but rather sound common sense
and a more 3udiclous knowledge Of Russia, her
needs and her capacities than the advocates OF
the scheme in question seem TO possess.
For what does 4 responsible Ministry
impy7 Obviously, a Parliament to which the
Ministry will be responsible, as Ia Great
Britain and France That may be an admlra-
bic system But II Is altogether visionary and
mpracticabie to think Of applying II TO Russia.
1t is not merely that Russia is not ready for 1t.
though She certainly is not. 1t is also that the
genius Of the Russian people units them, or
at least fails to 1t them FOR parliamentary IN
stitut!ons. We must dismiss the idea that ell
men are alike IN mind and temperament, and
that what is good IN civics for one people is
necessarily good for ali others. 1t is not so,
any more than that whale blubber would be
good diet in the tropics and fruits and vegeta-
bles best in the Arctic zone. II has long been
a truism with ethnologists that races differ In
mental constitution and in the method Of opeI-
atoms Of the mind. Some have a genius for
one kind Of government. and some for another.
TDar l{a arl+a riov nil has hpap iOe
Characteristic Of the Anglo Saxon and Teutonc
peoples. Among the Latins, so called, it has
never yet become so well developed. Among
the Slavs the parliamentary faculty seems al
most lacking. Note, for example. the de-
plorahle mess that has been made of it in
Austria by the Bohemian Slavs. ParIa-
mentary government there has really been
hane rather than a blessing, and most progress
has been made when the constitution has been
suspended and the government has been con-
Quoted arbitrarily b5 the Crown Now. the
Bohemians are much more enlightened. and
are much closer to the Teutonic and Anglo
Saxon standard Of temperament, than are the
Russians. and If they cannot make parlia-
mentaranism a success, still less would the
Russians be likely to do so.
We must remember that the Russians ere
not a European race. strictly speaking Neither
are they purely Asiatic. Perhaps they are best
10 De cIasSeQ as EuraSlanS. Iley possess some
European characteristics, and some that are
as pronouncedy Asiatic as those OF the Tibet
ans or the Malays. That is the fact that must
be borne in mind in considering their political
needs. 1t clearly realized by Rousseau.
when in his Social Contract he criticised
Peter the Great for adopting q wrong course.
Peter he said, had the genius of imitation:
"he had not the true genius which creates all
from nothing. He tried at first to make Ger
mans or English, when be should have begun
"by making Russians. He prevented his sub
"jects from ever becoming what they might
"have been. by persuading them that they
"were what they were not" That was a lust
judgment, and IT holds true. 1t may be too
much to say, as Rousseau said that the mis-
take was irretrievable, and fatal aud that now
'the Russians will never be truly civilized"
But we may say with confidence that their
civilization must be attained on Russian lines
and not on British or French or German or
American lines. Therefore It seems commend
able in the Car that he declines TO adont
precipitately an alien governmental system i'm.
posing it upon Russia as best for her, lust he
cause it has been found best for some other
land and for some essentially different peonle
Russia for the Russians is as true A pripcjn,a
as America for Americans: and Russia rnst
have the civil organization that is best fitted
to the Russian temperament and 10 the Rms
sian mind-whether ii be the absolutism of the
Car or restoration of the quasl-republics of
Noygorod ana Eieff
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