The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-12
W|TTE'S VIEWS OF
 RUSSIAN CRISIS Revolution by People or Coercion
 by the Government THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE Universities the Hot-Bed of the New Order-Effect of Czar's Manifesto. RevoIutionists United and
 Self-Sacrificing.
THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE

London. December 1.-The correspon- dent of the Daily Telegraph at St. Peters burg. in a dispatch dated December 10 by way of Eydtkuhenen, sends an interview with Count Witte, in which the premier indicates that Russia is confronted with the alternative of a revolution or Vlo- ient coercion. Though the count has not abandoned hope, he is not sanguiae, and 1T forcibIe representation should become necessary, he will according to the cor respondent, resign his task to other hands
 Questioned by the correspondent as to the genesis of the revolutionary move ment Premier Witte attributed It's rapid development to the grant of autonomy and the universities and the high schools, where the revolutionary forces, hitherto doomed to secrecy. found asylum and sanctuary, and absolute freedom Tor dis cussion. Further when this freedom De- came license, society still looked on with stolid indifference.
 Continuing, M Witte said;
 Witte's Significant Words.
 "On my return from Portsmouth found the country in d different position from which there was only two issues The problems were thorny and fateful but after long and careful deliberation the emperor who needed no persuasion, acted on his own initiative, and never doubt ing that he could build upon the moral courage and the political and good morals of his subjects took the course or issuing his manifesto of October 30, 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 or the community-nay, whole classes-went to work systematically to annihilate thelr own means of livelihood, and to ruin themselves and the whole nation. Social instincts seemed to have atrophied. h. stead of uniting to preserve order, the people ouarrelled among theselvcs and attacked the government.
 ''The only people who acted In their own interests were the revolutionaries. Ihey knew what they wanted They chose the most effective means to obtain it, and they are capable of adopting these means at the price of heavy sacrifices. The revo- lutionists hide all their quarrels and their
  they have in view, which spells destruc- tion. Out of the resultant chaos, they promise new world and an earthly para dise.'
 Society and the Government.
 After admitting that the manifesto had indirectly intensified the revolutionary movement, the premier said:
 .sUnfortunately the people at large take the view that it is the governments bus mess to realize constitutional principles and to fight revolutions. Doubtless the government can employ force, put force is only an evidence of weakness, unless 1t is levelled by the conscience against the the public enemy. If community will not struggle against anarchy no govern ment can successfully cope with 1t.
 Count Witte contended that the same argument applied to strikes. With regard to the Jewigh question, he said II was im- possible at the present moment to pro- claim equality of rights, because such measure would provoke appalling blood shed.