Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-07
ToLsTors WARNING.

Count IOlSIOl son Leu, III All diuCiC
upon Great Britain's constant desire to
embarrass Russia, declares Great Britain
is preparing her own grave and hasten.
ing her own end if she forces war with
Russia, "as France, Germany and Italy
are bound to realize that their interests
lie with Russia's.
Regarding the peace talk abroad, NJ.
Souvorin, editor of the st. Petersburg
Novoe Vremva, in a signed editorial in
that paper yesterday, passionately de-
clares that the voice Of the nation should
give an answer in order that the world
might understand once and for all Rus
sia's position The Emperor, he adds,
should consult with representatives OF
the land as his predecessors did before
the days of Ivan the Terrible.
While papers abroad now say that
peace could be concluded without dis
honor, if peace we're made they would
declare it disgraceful. What the people
want he (tI. SOuyOrin) cannot affirm,
but the idea Of ending the war at this
iuncture is abhorrent to him aud, he be-
lieves, to the Russian people.
If the inscriptions on the banners OF
demonstrators and the action of some Of
the zemstvos in favor of peace repre-
sented the voice of the nation it would
mean the collapse of all OF Russia's as
pirations and farewell to her position In
the far East and her dreams OF an open
road TO the sea, and the creation OF a
yellow peril in Asia which would threat
en- civilization and mean Russia's 8 retire
ment into her MuscOvite shell aud the
disappearance from the stage OF this
great power. The army, NJ. Souvorin
further says, holds the honor and fate OF
Russia in its hands. NJ. SOuyorin then
reviews sorrowlully, the record OF bitter
humiliations suffered thus far and the
chances for the future. In concluding,
he declares the government must decide
and weigh we'll the consequences, but
the editor insists the people must b"
united, as ''disunion riots and revolu-
ton mean the downfall OF the faiher-
land"
1t is significant that Prince Hilkof,
minister of railroads, comes to the de-
fense of the governments programme in
along interview upon the internal situa-
ton 10 which he deprecates the agita-
ton which Is stirring the country, and
appeals to his cOuntrymen to calmly and
soberly consider the general interests OF
the country as citizens, and not as
enemies,
He insists that the emperor is striy'
ing earnestly to accomplish the reforms
which the country needs, but the ques-
tions involved are too vital to permit of
a solution in the haste Of passion.
Despite The different conceptions OF
what is required, Prince Hikofl ex-
presses the firm conviction that the re-
form promised in the imperial mani
festo opens a wide horizon by extending
the importance OF the zemstvOs and mu'
nicipal and social institutions, thus meet
ing the present requirements.
II know that many people believe We
need a constitution, the Minister con-
hnued, "but to my mind this is prema
ture. The conditions are not ripe. i
certainly would be mistake TO borrow
a constitution from abroad at present
IA long residence in constitutional
countries has convinced me that they dc
not everywhere respond to the require
ments of the country, and especially tha
constitution would not meet the con
ditions in Russia, where the people arr
in various stages of development, and th'
vast majority without even elementary
education.
"The nation also suffers from distinc
tions of caste, which is one of the great
est obstacles to the introduction OF
constitution, while many nationalities-
Poles, Firms, Jews, Circassians and Ar
meniaus-have had created for then
special laws. What We ueed, first o
all, is the eqality of all citizens, such a
the Emperor proposes. When that
assured the other requirements and th
eventual form Of government will becom