Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-15
.RUssIA'S PEACE ENVOY
Personality and Characteristics
 of Sergius Julius Witte.
IN BRAINS, GEAR OF THE GEAR

Chief of Russian Monnrch's Peace
 Mission Was an Earnest Opponent
 of the Policy Which Led to the Rus
 so-Japanese War - Tall of Stature,
 Master of High Finance and strict-
 ly Honest.
 The czar's appointment of Sergius Julius Witte, president of the commit tee of ministers, to be chief plenipo- tentiary representing the Russian gov ernment in the peace negotiations be- tween Russia and Japan to be soon conducted in the United States, is an other proof that a subordinate who knows what he wants can dominate a master who knows not his own mind, says the New York World Nicholas II. hates Witte, but this is not the first time he has sought his aid in an ex- tremity, for in brains Witte is czar of the cZar.
 Wittes appointment makes for a last ing peace. He has the real tact that feels the right way to goal.
 "I have no hesitancy in saying that if we all took to availing ourselves of all our rights there would be no living on earth" he declared when debating a vastly important question in the coun- cil of the Russian empire. Right is often the enemy of expediency and compromise the safest mainstay of in- terest."
 It will interest Americans, who will soon see this great Russian, to know that he is tall of stature, heavy in build, stiff in department, awkward in gait, cold in manner, unpublished in address and of temper so quick that it has added many to his enemies. AL though he is nobleman by birth, he was born poor and is self made man quick to think and slow to talk.
 NJ. Witte is about fifty-siX years old and worked his way up from the posi- tion of an underpaid railroad clerk who occasionally acted as porter to that of leading statesman of Russia, in spite of the fact that his enemies are numerous and include some of the most powerful men in Russia. NJ. Witte has the reputation of being harsh to his subordinates He is what is known as a well hated man. but his honesty and ability have never been doubted even by his worst enemies.
 One of the reasons for his unpopu. larity is the fact that M. Witte is only remotely Russian. His father was of Dutch descent. and he himself was born in Tifis. Caucasia, the headquar- ters of the present revolutionary move. ment in that part of the empire. NJ. Witte was created a count in 1901, but be has generally been referred to as NJ. Witte.
 He is without question an honest man. He has had absolute mastery of more millions than any minister of finance in the world, yet he was in a modest white stone house on the un- fashionable side of the Neva, house that would be dwarfed among the Fifth avenue mansions opposite Central park. He never tried to fill his private ac- count when all the taxation of Russia was in his hands. He is a master of high finance in its truest sense; he knows nothing of low finance. He is thorough business man in the best A ,,,artaa, of ba r-ard
 Witte is thoroughly familiar with the far eastern question in all its bearings. He understands the Japanese position and fully realized before the war that the aggressive policy pursued under the lead of Alexeieff. Bezobrazoff and the adventurers connected with them would drive Japan to the sword. Practically It was witte's disapproval of Russia's far eastern policy which caused his downfall as minister of finance
 During his trip to Port Arthur in 1903 witte was invited by the Japa. nese government to visit Japan. The Japanese probably will welcome him as plenipotentiary. Witte was op- posed to the seizure of Port Arthur in 1898. but was overruled by the advice of the late Count Muravieff. then for eign minister. who submitted alleged proofs that Britain intended to seize the port if Russia did not.
 After the Boxer uprising witte pre- scented a memorandum to the czar pointing out Manchuria and Korea as territory for extending Japan's grow Ing influence and activity. adding that Russian occupation of that territory was bound to lead to war. When he again was overruled. Witte advised the immediate construction of the railroad for strategicsl purposes. Later. witte urged al least withdrawal of the Russian forces from Manchuris He then wrote to the czar. Instead of mak- Ing an enemy of Japan we should win her friendship. strongly advise a friendly solution We need to popu- late our eastern provinces and have vital interests to defend in tho even tusl war with the yellow race Ia or- fer that the peasants of Russia may what they arc fighting Tor But all of his warnings were 1nheeded.
 Witte sought to prevent the hlccd ettIng in St- Petersburg last January. Ills powerful enemies thought they lad crushed him. Now the ear needs . he greatest statesman in his domain. !.
 Camping Song.
 Has your 5i--z- E-st fts saver