The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-08
RUSSIA BEFORE THE PEACE.

ST.. PETERSBURG, Aug. 2e.--The years
interval since the writer last described IN
some detail In THE Suns columns the Nus
sian situation invites some interesting COM
parisons. The only outward eign OF change
in the two Russian capitals due to year
Of war and Of incipient revolution 10 an
armful Of flowers surrounding an loon IN
tiny fenced of enclosure within ono OF the
gates Of the Kremlin at Moscow. the
flowers cover the bloodstains on the pave
ment where Serge fell In expiation OF q
tyranny which even Russians could no
longer endure In st. Petersburg the
bloody scenes OF tho day Of massacre IN
January are no longer an ever present
memory. The life OF this metropolis Ii
outwardly as gay and the populAoe Is ap-
parently as oontented as though Russia
was at peace with herself and with al man
kind.
One Secs bodies OF troops moving through
the streets rather moro frequently than
twelvemonth ago, and now they often
march to the strains Of stirring martial
music, which was an unusual feature earlier
in the war. The stream OF heavily laden
carts from the wharves or various termM
to the Moscow station still continues. Inc
volume Of these war supplies Is not 80 great
however, az year ago. Linievitoh's army
draws its supplies from q greater variety
Of sources than did Kuropatkin In the ear
lier stages OF the conflict. The impression
which has gone abroad that the REINFORCE
ment Of the Russian forces at the front has
dwindled or been suspended since the peace
conference was arranged is wrong one.
A single trip between Moscow and st. Peters
burg quickly disproves this and other pre-
tensions Of Russian expectation OF peace
which deceived the world when the ENJOYS
first met at Portsmouth. One sees heavily
laden troop trains on the sidings all bound
for Manchuria. noticed attached to two
or three Of these trains last week several
trucks loaded with strong two wheeled
carts intended for transport OF light loads
across rough country in Manchuria. Rus
sia is really learning some practical mill
tary lessons from her experience, and the
immense superiority OF the Japanese trans
port facilities taught her one OF them.
One important change OF great signih-
canoe cannot fail to impress the casual
visitor to Moscow or st. Petersburg. 1t Is
the increase Of freedom Of speech among all
classes which has grown up during the last
year. Criticism Of authority, even the high
est, has become commonplace. where be-
fore it was INDUCED in only with the great
est caution. Discussion Of representative
government and other forms Of what was
yesterday sedition throughout Russia goes
on on ali sides. Visitors to st. Petersburg
and Moscow have often wondered at q
popular taste which would tolerate the
continuous shrek Of rauoous gramophones
and other so-called musical instruments
in cafes and restaurants. 1t had to be
explained to them that this ear torture was
really for the protection Of the public. II q
discussion should turn to political topics
and in an unguarded moment should be-
come seditious, the ever present spy would
make notes Of utteranoes which might
land their authors few days later In the
grim Fortress Of Ste. Peter and Pau! CO the
Neva. So the thoughtful cafe proprietor
shielded his guests by providing mask
for their conversation. This means OF
protection is no longer in suoh general
use, for everybody talks politics now, and
the Government cannot lock up tho whole
population.
change in currency has begun which
will be regarded by Hnanoiers as significant,
although 1t has not yet attracted attention
abroad. More paper money ID being put IN
circulation, and although gold Il not yet
scarce, its use 10 beginning to diminish.
Ten-rlble notes began to appear few
weeks ago, and the public has not yet be-
come accustomed to them. heard Of
several cases in the suburbs Of st. Peters
burg where shopkeepes had refused them,
preferring to give customers credit to Civ.
- d. 20 hav
Notes OF three, five and twenty-five rubles
have composed the ordinary paper cur
rency for some years past. There Is as yet
no sign of public boarding OF gold, nor is
any preference shown for gold over paper
of the ordinary denominations. Should
any public apprehension OF deteriorated
currency arise there would, OF course,
be speedy disappearance Of gold from
circulation.
The points enumerated above give but
small indication OF the real changes Of ire
mendous import which have taken place
during the past year in Russia. A revo-
luton in reality has begun-a revolution
which may possibly be comparatively
bloodless, but which IL bound to 60 on to
final success. The war has little to do with
1.-THE war. In fact, acts as a deterrent
Should peace be made Immediately 1t would
tend to hasten the internal orisis-another
motive which induced the controlling au-
thorities to resist the essential demands
Of Japan.
The spirit OF unrest in Russia a year
ago was not insurreetionary; it was not
sufficiently widespread to threaten the
existence Of present political institutions.
To- day it insists upon radical reform and
a genuine measure OF sef-government.
A year ago it was formless protest against
intolerable abuses; to-day 1t is an organized
demand for definite political rights. A
year ago the Government believed it could
subdue discomfort with Cossacl1s' whips
and rifles; to-day It temporizes and tries
to humbug the people with empty con-
cessions.
Not even on the day OF the st. Peters,
burg massacre in January had the reform
movement gained a really representative
character. That was protest Of laboring
men. They are not q large class in Rus
STA in proportion to population. The peas
ant is almost exclusively an agriculturist,
and he tills hia own leaaed land The am