Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-10-31
RUSSIA FREE,

Word comes at last from st. Peters
burg that the Car has formally sur
rendered Russian autooncy is to give
way TO constitutional government. The
rcvo'utoDists have, finally, won the
victory. Count Wiuc is the man Of tho
hour TO him the reconstruction Of the
government and the salvation OF the
throne have beon entrusted
Russia's liberal forces have fought
long and volantly Tor this reform. Be-
fore the death Of Alexander II the
buut Of battle was born almost entire
y b. the students, The older genera
ton took but little part IN the contest.
10 the world outside Of Russia the aims
of the royolutionlsts were but little
known. They We're all classed under
the generic name OF "nihilism." But
the various revolutionary, or rather re-
formatory organizations continued
their work Finally, W. Witte, IN en-
couraging the economic development OF
the country along Industrial lines, laid
the foundation for that ferment Of the
minds which led to those events which
took place I'm Russia during and since
the last weeks IN November last year
10 was the concentration of working
men in factories that facilitated the
propaganda and strengthened the lib-
eral cause until It grew beyond the
power Of the police. The afliliation Of
the worklngmen with the rural popu-
latIou made # easy for them to spread
the influence Of the agitation TO nearly
every part OF the country,
The Socialists we are told. have been
most active in bringing about the
change They have organized hundreds
Of clubs and societies, held meet
ngs aud made numerous dem
onstrations. And the Jewish
"Bund" has taken a very active part
I'm the work,wi,h its underground print
ing Offices and circulation Of literature.
But they would not have been able,
even with the aid Of assassination, to
influence the government to surrender,
~ IN the meanwhile all the liberals had
not united for concerted action. The
growing power OF the Socialists Of every
description IN Russia proper also called
forth strong sociall5tic organizations
In Poland, Finland, Georgia and the
Armenian districts. The weakness Of
the Russian government as shown In the
japanese war reused these organlza-
lions TO the realization OF their possI-
bilItles, and they met IN Paris and
agreed to lay aside their differences and
10 unite In a minimum demand Of re-
forms from the Russian government,
This concerted action has now resulted
in complete surrender on the part Of
the autocracy It was high time, too.
For lately the revolutloulsts have
proved themselves too strong for the
government During the last few days
industries have been paralyzed; the
railroads stopped running; famine
threatened the large cities; mutiny was
rife among the soldiers and the sail
ors, the credit Of the country was gone,
and the Gear was reported as contem-
plating an exodus The surrender to
the will Of the people did not come too
soon.
Count Witte Is a man OF the people.
In entrustlng the premiership 10 him,
the Gear has proved that he Is IN earn
est The measure he has now taken Is
the most important In the annals Of the
country, and he will yet, in the hall Of
fame of history be placed by the side
Of Car Peter the Great.
Tho liberation OF Russia Is an event
Of worldwide Importance, too For It
marks the fan OF another stronghold OF
tyranny and the progress OF human
rights. It IS a triumph for the prlncl-
pies upon which the American govern
ment is built 10 signifies that little
by little the great image must fan for
the little stone that Is destined to
grow and an the whole earth.