Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-11-01
THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

The headline artist has been az
forded an uncommon opportunity 10
exercise his ingenuity when the news
was sent out by the Associated Press
that the Russian czar had yielded TO
the demands OF his people for a con-
stitutional government. or course.
seuch a trivial matter as sticking to
the truth couldn't concern the afore-
said artist. Such an opportunity for
flights OF a vivid imagination was not
10 be passed over easily.
Big papers and little city dailies
and county weeklies come to our ex-
change table glaring with headlines.
which. In our humble opinion fail en-
tirely to express the sense Of the
articles they introduce. Here are
a few headlines taken at random from
papers as they were picked mp: Rus
sian Empire Falls-'Has Melted Like
Snow In the Glance OF the Lord =.
"Abdication Of Emperor Nicholas"
Russian Car Surrenders;' Russian
Empire Passes Into History Good
bye to Proud Empire OF the Russias;"
Russian Emperor Surrenders:"
nicholas Yields an Empire"
In view OF such mn array Of head.
lines as quoted above. we are almost
tempted 10 believe we were mistaken
In our Interpretation Of the dispatches
from st. Petersburg. Those dispatches
say that the emperor has yielded to
the demand for a constitutional gov
eminent, that a national assembly
with law-making functions will be
created, that the rights Of personal
liberty and free speech will be pro.
tected. These are great and sweep
ing reforms: these are the reforms
that have long been demanded by the
masses and which we're bound to be
granted sooner or later: but there is
no hint that We can gather Of the fall
OF the empire. The empire has been
made stronger than ever. The power
OF the car has been made greater.
the dynasty OF the Romanoffs IL o
influential than before. The masses
OF Russian people have 10 wish to
weaken the empire. but to strengthen
II by securing a voice In its govern
ment. Russia, with a constitutional
government, must be a vastly strong
er power than Russia under the rule
OF an autocrat.
II Is more than likely that a large
part of the opposition to the granting
OF a constitutional government has
been caused by a belief among the
ruling classes that the peasants were
incapable Of carrying out the prin.
ciples OF self-government. II must
be admitted that AS far as capacity
and intelligence Is concerned, there Is
a vast difference between the bril-.
liant, aggressive Muscovites which
have 20 longstormed the Russian rul.
ing class and the drunken, immoral.
ignorant Slavs which constitute the
masses. Many Of the keenest stu
dents OF Russian conditions In this
and other countries have expressed
the belief that the Russian masses
were not ready for any measure Of
self government.
But as the maxim I'VE learn to do
by doing" applies In the philosophy
OF education, 80 should II apply In
the philosophy Of government. Doubt.
less the stupid Russian masses will
make many mistakes. will adopt poor
and vicious laws, will use their new
found liberty for purposes Of oppres-
sion, but In self government they will
find the only road which can lead up
ward into the light.
The progress OF principles has been
very, very slow. ven In this country.
The advance has been checked by
ignorance and dishonesty. by corrup.
ton Of a hundred kinds, BY the ten.
dency Of the people to flock like sheep
after a few leaders. by the unfit. |
tness Of thousands to be trusted with
their own interest. There seems to be
drawing q In this nation
the time when honesty and In
telligence applied to the principles OF
sen-government. shall. triumph over
corruption and vice which place the
people and their interests at the
mercy OF the few.
The struggle will be much longer
IN Russia. because Of the condition OF
the majority. II Ia still a question II
those stupid children would not be
better off II they could be directed
BY a wise Little Father. But many
their rulers have been unwise and I
oppressive, the simplest principles OF I
iberty have been denied, the policy
much OF the time has been to keep
he people in ignorance. The masses
= the Russians follow their leaders
With little thought. They viii long !
% AT the mercy OF those shrewd har- !
les who will represent what In Amer !