The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
RUSSIA'S HOPE IN DE- WITTT.
BANISHMENT OF GRAND DUKE
SERIOUS A HOPEFUL SIGN
Europe Eagerly Watching Development
or the Internal Crisis-Uneaslness
over Russlas Note or Chinese Viola
tlons OF Neutrality -SeekIng Our Aid.
.sp.elal cn,l. n.,patea % TnE SUN.

ness and perple kitty. One day we are told
that supreme effort of the ducal cabal
has changed the Cars decision to submit
solution Of the crisis unreservedly to
81 de Witte, and the next we hear that the
great Finance Minister is really In complete
cen roll
Unofficial advices from ST. Petersburg
have been hopelessly conflicting through
out the week. Official news tends to show
that the Gar il still trying 10 placate both
part les In his hopelessly divided empire.
One report had it that the Cars first de-
,ison under NJ de Whites advice was TO
grant constitution In response TO the
Eemstvo appeals and that the ukase had
been written and sent TO the printer
Then the Grand Duke Sergus arrived
from Moscow and promptly fomented a
riotous demonstration in that city. He
urged this upon the Car as a reason for
altering his decision. The Car again
consulted NJ. de Witte, who gave way upon
the question of tho constitution. There
upon Prince Svlatopolk- Mirsky resigned as
Minister of the Interior, and NJ de Witte
became the object Of the hatred Of the
Liberals.
However that may be. to-day's official
announcements show that the Grand Dukes
have lost considerable Of their influence.
The Grand Duke sergius, former Governor
OF Moscow, has been sent to the Caucasus
as Governor. and this virtual degradation
OF one OF the blacklist scoundrels in Russian
public life Is at least a hopeful sign.
THE SUN's st. Petersburg correspondent
is of the opinion that NJ. de White will be the
controlling force in the Russian Administra-
ton during the immediate future. The
correspondent writes contrasting the sit
uation now with that at the last Russian
New Year. VI. de Witte was counted spent
force year ago, Since then the coalition
Of his enemies has gone down before him,
man after man. by successive strokes Of fate,
and il has not been necessary for him TO
lift n hand Admiral Alexieff has evap-
Grated, NJ. de Plehve is the name OF dead
system. and the failures OF the war have
bent the most arrogant Of the Cars rea-
tves enough TO induce them to keep out OF
sight.
NJ de Witte Is left to contemplate the
wreckage. not without grim satisfaction,
What his unquestioned primacy in the
Cars councils will mean Is sure only to
the extent that he will resume the policy Of
economic development and endeavor TO
allay the constitutional reform agitation
by an intelligent. honest, personal admin
istration, Already he has placed NJ. Kutler,
his former lieutenant in the Ministry Of
Finance, at tho head Of the Provincial
Accounts Department Of the Ministry Of
the Interior.
Racial and religious elements In the inter-
nal controversy should abate under NJ. de
Nitte, il only for the reason that he has no
personal predictions for the Jew, the
orthodox Russian, or the Roman Catholic,
but only for his ability. His Is the most
difficult problem ever offered to statecraft.
There are those who hold strongly that
even NJ. de Wtte will not ride the storm
for long. The entire strength OF the reform
movement is striving for the end of pater-
nalism and for the trial OF policy which
will give the productive element Of the
country share in the government.
Other st. Petersburg correspondents
agree that NJ. de Whites concessions will
utterly fail to satisfy the Liberals as when
he IA willing TO grant concessions the other
members OF the committee Of Ministers will
veto the proposals. A curious instance
occurred at the last sitting OF the committee,
when bill was brought forward rendering
the Ministers and other high dignitaries
liable to be impeached for their public acts.
The object OF the bill was to carry out the
Cars desire to see arbitrary rules replaced
by the statute law. The scheme met with
serious opposition and was finally thrown
out. The Ministers and high dignitaries
will therefore go scot free In the future, as
in the past.
The fear Of great internal events in Russia
increases daily throughout Europe. and the
diplomatic world contemplates the situation
with tho most serious misgivingE, An
ordinary observer scarcely realizes the
worldwide effects OF The disruption or
paralysis OF the Russian Empire.
The Spectator points out few OF these
to-day, Such an event, IL says. would. for
example. leave Germany mistress OF the
continent. II might shatter the Austrian
Empire for her Slav majority would no
longer have the fear OF being buried In the
Russian morass. 1t would intensity to a
high degree the quarrel which Is always
smoulderng between the OttomAns and
the remnant Of their Christian subjects. the
result Of which Europe already perceives
in the new arrogance which the Divan is
displaying in the Balkans. The Turkish
command in Macedonia officers whose ono
idea of order is TO keep down recalcitrant
subjects by massacre so wide as TO suggest
the intention Of extirpation.
French society would be shaken to its
heart by the new liability Of invasion, and
with it a fresh proclivity to panic. Even
Great Britain. though still encompassed by
her inviolate sea- would feel the influence
Of great change, for India would be as
safe from invasion as herself, and. being
safe would be apt to indulge in dreams Of
large ambition.
Russia's crisis, therefore, ia OF greater
concern 10 the world. outside Of the Ameri-
can continent, than anything which the
immediate future portends.
1t must be borne in mind, however, that
even the crash OF revolution could not de-
stroy Russia, nor would It be likely to de-
prive the Slav race OF national unity
more than temporarily.
The efforts OF a section Of the Continental
press during the current week to revive
the yellow Peril scare have not met with
much success, NJ. Kadomas vast scheme
for Japanese ACKNOWLEDGMENT, whether
genuine or apocryphal, deserves some
attention, il only as an expression OF the
natural ambition which everybody erpects