The Washington times., 1905-07-30
Revolution in Russia in
The Far, Dim Distance
Real Uprising, Such as CONFUSED France,
Not Likely to Occur in This or the
Next Generation.

wheiming might to sweep away the
system and to trample on the fragments
of the broken machine. that will be
real revolution But they will live long
who live TO see it.
The trouble is that the Russian official,
indoient and incompetent as for the most
part he may be. is a model of energy and
hi minded devotion to duty compared
with the Russian revolutionist
The number of people in Russia who
desire an Improvement In the system Of
government is rather larger even than
is generally suspected. It comprises
the entire population, and includes the
Czar. most of the grand dukes. the
greater part Of the officials, the police
and the army of ali ranks, in addition
TO the peasantry and the professional,
commercial and Industrial classes. But
the number of people who are prepared
to take part In any active measures for
obtaining a better system is no greater
than the number Of those who consider
themselves qualified and entitled to be
a the head of the movement.
No Accepted Leader.
There Is no leader with whose leader
ship anyone else is content. The popu-
Iation IS dissatisfied with the existing
state Of things, but has not the fatntest
notion of how to set about improving
it. The so-calied intellectuals who fig
ure as the leaders of the various reform
parties do not possess the affectionafe
confidence or even the admiring respect
of the people at large. Professors, how
ever learned and able. do not lead great
popular movements, and as yet there is
no one else to lead.
There are many eminent and highly
qualified dEgypto1ogists, coleopterlsts, phil
osophers, philologlsts. astronomers ,~Jur-
psychologists and geologists in Russia.
and an immense number of students Of
these and other abstruse scienees, every
one of whom has q theory Of his own
as to the kind Of constitution which
would be most agreeable and convent
ent for Russia when the time comes for
a constitution to be established.
Trepoff a Positive Power.
Similarly IN other parts IF the world
there are large numbers OF amiable ana
respecta bic people who find q pietsing
soIace for their poverty IN rocking
chair speculation al TO what they would
do with a10,000 year If ever they
should have such a fortune left them.
The most practical OF the Russian re-
formers, as far as / have been able TO
observe, are those who look to the
benevolence and good will OF the auto
crat for some amelioratlon OF the evils
of autocracy.
That the Gear, II he live and continue
to reign, viii grant prudent concessions
of civil liberty TO his people is generally
conceded, and when they come to vote.
however little authority at first their
votes may carry, their vague discomfort
viii begin to crystaliize into clear ideas
of what they want and how they pro-
pose TO get il. When that has hap
pened a leader may emerge, and things
may begin TO march.
But at present the only man I know
of in Russia who knows just what he
wants to do and knows just how he
proposes to do it, and with a clear
purpose before him, throws himself
with energy and capacity into its
achievement, is General Trepon.
Reform is in the talking stage in Rus
sia at present. If General Trepoff had
happened 20 be born a revoIutionist the
reform movement might have taken a
more practical shape
CHARLES Z. HANDS.