Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Russia In revolution is in the throes OF
death: that the pan-Rus-
Xne Alarmdst sian strike, announced. for
View. noon of the 21st instant,
| was the final act In the
great national tragedy. the death OF auto
cratic Russia
That the government il not entirely inactive
we may infer from the announcement by
Governor General Doubassof of a partial
state Of siege N Moscow and st. Peters,
burg. and the occupation of all railroad
stations by troops whose loyalty IL un-
doubted The situation is certainly critical
for administrations 30 deplorably ineffi-
Gent as shown from the commencement to
the end Of the disastrous Russo Japanese
war. The revolutionists have severed COM
munications with General Linevitch of the
Manchurian army: there is revolt In the
Caucasus: in the Baltic provinces: at Sc
hastopol. and at Kharkon. The fact remains
however. that revolutionary Russia constf-
tutes but very small part of Russia,
whilst eighty per cent OF Russia's one hun
bred and twenty million souls (the peasants)
are loyal to the monarchy. ukase from
the car giving land to the peasants will
bring the black band" to the cities, and
the revolutionists will disappear like chair
In the wind M. Milukoff. leader of the
constitutional democrats, has followed the
warning of Father Gapon. and has issued
an appeal to the proletariat organizations
against the general strike. declaring his
belief that 1t could not succeed, and would
lead inevitably to repression and great
bloodshed. and perhaps prove fatal to the
whole movement.
The author of a recently published book
entitled Russia From Within endeavors
to show that the present situation there Is
the logical consequence OF methods of gov
eminent the grand ducal clique, which
is the true cancer Of Russia, less by any
overt act than by the atmosphere of moral
rottenness it disseminates through all Of
fetal circles" The author passes In review
the dynasties and courts Of the Peters,
Pauls. Alexanders and Nichoiases and
finally Of Nicholas II he says: He is not
merely sick man: he is nefartOus SOW
ereign. The author expresses the belief
that "out of this ordeal a free Russia will
emerge" The expression is creditabIe to
the heart OF the author but to the locker
on, no such thing can happen. for the revO-
lutionary Russian is seeking revenge and
blood, rather than right and reason.
rs
The writer of the book in question dates
revolution from the assassination OF Plehve
and says: July IS, 1904,
Deatn OF was the historic date on
Plehve. which the freedom Of Rus
STA was quickened."
The writer cites further. because it is
sympathizer with the Russian revolution
who speaks, and important only as show
Ing the state of mind of those in revolt.
The history, he says, of the western
world presents other example of an at
tempt whose effects have been SO mrne-
preston of this man. Plehve was not
merely the chief representative but the ac-
tual incarnation of the regime which
brought the autocracy from Plevna to
Port Arthur and the nation from liberty
to ferocious slavery. There can be no doubt
that there was certain internal relation
between the piteous lessons OF the Rus
sian-Japanese war and the act of the two
terrorists, Sazonof and Sillorski, who pre-
pared the destruction Of this living en-
blem Of czardom.
The Importance of the assassina ton was
so well understood and considered neces-
sary, says the author, that the Grand
Duchess Elizabeth said to foreign lady
some time prior to the event that the as
sassination of Plehve would be the begin
ming of the end"
ward averting the threatened catastrophe
and with this object expended 100000 for
personal police protection. His carriage
was constructed Of peculiar shape. with
blinds OF steel, proof against revolver shots
and shrapnel Long and intricate. corridors
separated his official cabinet from the out
side world. every visitor unknown to the
high officials was obliged to submit to
search before admittance to his presence.
Five hundred personal agents ceaselessly
watched over him, tracked, arrested and
caused to be condemned those suspected
of designs upon him. The terrorists con-
fess that, up to the spring of 1894 they
had spent $4,000 preparing for the crime.
The author was one day approached by
revolutionist who said: Suppose Plehve
were ito disappear; do you think things
would change for the better?' Certainly"
This is really your conviction? You be-
iieve the Russian people are ripe to take
advantage of such situation?' obviously
so." remarked the author.
"Ah!' exclaimed the man with much ex-
citement. thank you. That decides me.
Plehve shall disappear. Consider yourself
one of the culprits!"
A fortnight later the Hotel du Nord at
ST. Petersburg was Quilted by violent
explosion. 1t appears that the authors
friend had arrived with bombs to carry
out his threat. He left them in his room,
but during his absence at a restaurant the
police entered, and in searching his bag
gage the bombs were accidentally exploded
and thirty lives were lost in the ruins. In
reciting the details OF the subsequent as
sassination the author says:
'In hundred years time this episode
will have assumed the rank of an historic
act of the first significance. From the day
of Plehve's death Russia was q changed
nation declared its existence. From the
czardom, whose brilliant exterior OF muir
derous omnipotence had till then dazzled
mitted from Genghis Khan to the Roman
offs, and from the Romanoffs to the de-
generate, morbid and Inflated German
dynasty Of the Holstein- Gottorfs entered
into it's death agony" A clear case of the
kettle that called the pot black
We follow the author that we may COM
prehend the animus Of the revolutionary
Russian. He continues: "Af-
The Cars ter the death of Plehve, and
r.1,,.roa when Russia was In arms
against the czars govern
nent when the fleet at Port Arthur had
been destroyed and the army In Manchuria
had met with terrible reverses, Nicholas
refused to appoint minister OF the In
terror He refused the appeals of Kuropat-
kin. chief. who urged
complete change of administration and
suppression OF the underhand intrigues of
which he was the victim. The car an
swered: Z have no time: have other
things to do. What things7 Great heav-
ems! It transpired that his majesty had
received q voluminous report from the min
lister Of public instruction. The car
tren1bled at the contents of this all-imS
portant document; the report submitted
thai hitherto only q few actors in the SUBJ
sidized theaters had received decorations.
ekr R,x} &c.,