New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-12
PREMIER NOT HOPEFUL.
Coercion or Revolution Confronts
Russia. He BeHeues.

London, Dec. 1.-THE correspondent of The
Daily Telegraph at ST. Petersburg in a dis
patch dated December 10 sends an interview
with Count White, in which the Premier indi-
Gates that Russia is confronted with the alter
native Of a revolution or violent coercion.
Though the count has not abandoned hope, he
is not sanguine, and if forcible repression
should become necessary he will, according to
the correspondent, resign his task to other
hands.
Asked by the correspondent about the genesis
of the revolutionary movement, Premier White
attributed its rapid development TO the grant
Of autonomy to the universities and the high
schools, where the revolutionary forces, for
merIy doomed to secrecy, found asylum and
sanctuary and absolute freedom for discussion
When this freedom became license society still
looked on with stolid Indifference. The Pre-
mier proceeding to review the situation said
On nv return from Portsmouth 1 found the
country in a difficult position. from which there
were only two issues. The problem was thorny
ard fateful, but after long and careful delibera-
ton the Emperor. who needed no persuasion,
acted on his own initiative, and never doubling
tlat he could build upon the moral courage and
the political good sense OF the majority of his
subjects took the course of issuing his mani
festo of October 80. not only with alacrity, but
with pleasure
Clearly the vast changes which the manifesto
heralded required time and patience to carry out,
but what happened was utterly unexpected.
Sections of the communicating whole class Is
went to work Systematically to annihilate their
own means of livelihood and to ruin themselves
and the whole nation. Social instincts seemed to
have become atrophied. Instead of uniting to
preserve order the people quarrelled among
themselves and attacked the government.
The only people who acted in their own in
terests were the revolutionsts. They knew
what they wanted. They chose the most eff
fective means to attain it, and they are capable
of adopting these means, even at the price Of
O1j1tiC etc al
their quarrels and animosities and act together
for the end they have in view which spells de-
structfon Out of the resultant chaos they
nron1ise a new world and earthly paradise.
After admitting that the manifesto had indi-
rectIv intensified the revolutionary movement
the Premier said:
Unfortunately. people at large take the view
that II is the governments business 90 real
lie constitutional principles and 10 fight rev.
olutjon Doubtless the government can en-
ploy force, but force is only an evidence OF
weakness unless it is levelled by the social con-
science against the public enemy. If a COM
munity will not struggle against anarchy no
government can successfully cope with it.
Count Witte contended that the same argu-
ment applied to strikes. with regard TO the
Jewish question he said it impossible at
the present moment to proclaim equality of
lights because such a measure would provoke
appalling bloodshed.
In conclusion the Premier said:
1Trless all elements of society abandon their
o,,e,1 diferences of opinion and join hands TO as
s,et the government in checking anarchy and IN
oarrvine out the Emperor's manifesto, the sit
nation may be regarded truly disquieting and
Eorious with the moral help OF the community
s 3tb the eficacious measures of the govern
n T1% all may yet be righted, but without that
beIn anarchy will continue, until nnaIly the
nation may demand the suppression OF IeVo 1
e., J,x, force and then ii is not Impossible that
The nrinciples embodied in the manifesto may De
repealed or suspended
To the query. rs your e1celleney prepared Tor
-.co,,rse to coerofon?' Count White replied:
II this alternative comes TO pass , - = VII e
s,rndiy am not so qualified In this matter am
Ss,,oid of the requisite qualities and disposi-
ton.