Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-14


nature of their political necessities.
Above all, in the disturbances which have
just swept over Russia there were no
concert of action, no uniformity of de-
mand and no solidarity of purpose. In
St. Petersburg, it seems as though the
industrial misery of the strikers was
made a pretext by the socialists and rev.
olutionaries, representing but small per-
centage of the discontinued, to make po-
litical demands which were really revo-
lutionary in character. Like a flock of
sheep the strikers followed their revolu-
tionary leaders, paying with their lives
In many cases the penalty of their conf
dence and credulity. And In other purely
Russian centers the condition seems to
have been similar. In the cities of Po-
land and Finland the demonstrators, as
should be expected, were better organ
lied. There the principal of nationality
was involved. The Poles and Firms not
only demanded increased political rights,
but are utterly opposed to Russian gov
eminent and sovereignty in any form,
and if in The near future a formidable
revolution is to occur in Russia it will
have Its beginning and its greatest sup
port among the oppressed nationalities of
Finland and Poland.
Not Ripe for Revolution.
Viewing the situation dispassionately,
there does not seem an encouraging
chance of successful revolution in Rus
STA In the near future The justification
for 1t exists-causes which in other lands
would speedily subvert the government
sustaining them-but the Russian people
have not as a whole reached that degree
of development, that stage of political
aspiration, which would lead them
through blood and fire, through sacrifice
and suffering, to free institutions and po-
litical supremacy.
The peasant classes of the country
were little affected, II at all, by the re-
cent turmoil and they constitute an ele-
ment without which revolution is impos-
sible. The industrial workers Of the
cities form only two per cent OF the pop
ulation, and not all of these look higher
than the mere means of sustenance. Evil
IDENTIFY then the day of successful revo-
luton in the empire of the Gar is far
distant.
Yet the disturbances may have q salu-
tary effect upon the government They
faction speaking in the only way that is
open in country where freedom of the
press and freedom of speech are denied,
and sooner than have that voice growing
in volume and intensity, threatening the
stability of institutions and undermining
national loyalty and fealty to the throne,
the government may see the wisdom of
granting reforms, which may stave off
that day which, sooner or later, is bound
70 come, when the people shall enter into
possession of their rights and wipo out
the rule of caste, so long the bane of
Russia and the whitening blight upon
the development of her people.
The Rioting at Warsaw.
While the disturbances are not yet
ended in Russia, they have reached
stage where their futility is self-evident.
The world is aware how they were ex-
tinguished in st. Petersburg in the blood
of their authors. The same repressive
measures were applied in Moscow, Riga,
Libau, Saratoff and other centers of agi-
tation, and the mailed hand of militarism
is enforcing obedience to the reign of the
knout in Warsaw, LODI and other cities
of Poland.
At Riga, eight miles from the Gulf of
Riga, the soldiers and mob came into
bloody conflict. When the soldiers open
ed fire great crowds rushed down the
entertainments of the river Duna, hoping
to escape across the ice. The latter gave
way and scores are said to have been
precipitated into the water, where they
sank to death in its icy embrace At
Riga the disturbances were purely polit-
ical and were fomented by students from
other parts of Russia.
The most serious disturbances of any
outside of St Petersburg were the dis
tinguishing features of Warsaw, Poland.
There, too. the agitation was political in
nature and there too, the demonstrators,
to greater degree than elsewhere, bold
ly faced the soldiery, using revolvers and
knives against the representatives of au-
tocracy and repression. In the desultory
fighting which was carried on in the
streets 100 persons, it is estimated, were
killed or wounded.
One phase of the Russian situation
that created deep international interest
was the posting of proclamations in va
rious cities, wherein ii was charged that
English agents were fomenting the trou-
bles and furnishing the necessary funds,
in order to embarrass Russia in the work
of sending re-enforcements, naval and
military, TO the far East. Great Britain
took exception to this, acting in diplo-
matte channels, and the plaeards were
pulled down and rebuke was admins
tered to those responsible for them.
Another incident which once threat
ened to take on an international impor
lance was the wounding by Russian
troops of the British consul and vice
consul in the streets of Warsaw. The
affair, however, was purely accidental
and the matter quickly subsidized.
Rr;ef Ne~a Iferna