Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-30

istrate today but refused to make
any statement. A report is pub
lished this afternoon that the as
sassin attempted to commit sui
eide by shooting. He had a re-
voiver In his hand when seized.
The operation performed upon
him was so successful that he is
expected to recover.
Syracuse, N. Y, July 29.-The Post
Standard today says:
Former Ambassador to Germany
Andrew D. White was seen by Post
Standard reporter at the residence of
his brother, Horace X. White, In James
street, just before he left for Ithaca
this afternoon. When asked if he had
the acquaintance of M. Plehve, Rus
sian minister of the interior, Mr.. White
answered that he knew him we'll, hav-
Ing met him frequently in the course
OF official business during his stay in
st. Petersburg In 1892. 1893, and 1894
as minister from the United States to
Russia.
Was Formerly Reasonable.
In discussing Plehve and the assas-
sination Mr.. White said: cat that
time Mr.. Plehve had not arrived at
the position of full minister Of the in
terror, but was the first assistant min.
lister Of that department, and in that
capacity took up various American
matters, especially the dealings of the
Russian government with some of the
great American Insurance companies.
The Russian government had made
the companies great deal OF trouble,
and i was instructed from Washington
to discuss the matter, General Bachel-
Ter now Judge of the international
court in Egypt, very able represent.
Ing the companies.
Found Agreeable.
II think both General Bacheller and
myself found Mr.. Plevhe very agree
able, and apparently, as far as his
government allowed him, reasonable.
also met him socially at various
times and found him agreeable and in
teresting.
Il was therefore greatly surprised
at learning when he was promoted to
the first place that his whole charac-
ter seemed to change.
PIevhe and Jewish Massacre.
"His part in the horrible massacre
and plunder of the Jews, men. women
and children, at Kishineff, caused him
to be regarded with adherence by
the whole world. Even more frightful
has been his connection with the de.
struction Of the liberties of Finland.
In my mind that is the most wicked
thing in the history Of the last two
rpntIlriad Thnrn ic kz
1t here further than to say that 1t
has turned the best, the most civilized
the most educated and most loyal pro.
vince in the empire into a land in
which the opposite of all these charac-
teristics is more highly developed
than In any other part of the empire.
Other things done by him were also
calculated to bring most bitter hatred
against him.
Finland Superior to Russia.
He attempted to help his cause by
defense Of his conduct toward Fin
land which was published in an Amer.
lean magazine. But it certainly must
have failed to convince any thinking
man at all aware of the circumstances
During two summers lived mainly
IN Finland, coming frequently to st.
petersburg, and the transition in pass
ing from the cultivation and civilization
of Finland to the atmosphere of Rus
sia was the most depressing have ever
known.
Murder No Surprise.
II do not wonder at his assassina-
ton, although I deeply lament it.
Among other reasons for this regret
1t will doubtless be made a pretext for
new oppression and new cruelties to-
ward the Jewish population and toward
the Finlanders. Assassination always
defeats its purpose, and this will, |
fear, be no exception to the rule.
Victim of Circumstances.
II can only account for Mr.. Plehve's
atrocious. reactionary and despotic con-
duct since he came into the position of
minister on the theory that the CLIQUE
in control of the winter palace, men
and women, who seem to have brought
the present emperor into subjection to
them, Obliged Mr.. Plehve as condition
of his tenure of Office to do their will,
"His ambitions doubtless led him to
adopt their radical and religious hat.
red, as well as their detestation of any.
thing like constitutional government"
Mr.. White concluded by saying that
having lived twice officially in Russia
he had observed closely the condition
Of the empire, and that. though he saw
the most wretched condition Of things
during the Crimean war, the situation
lat present is the most desperate in Rus
sian history, and that it has been