The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-06
IN THE LAND OF THE CHAIR.

In no great nation, at least in modern times, has there been witnessed such a condition of affairs as now obtains in Russia. In all ages and countries there have been revolutions, but this cannot be designated by that term, nor can 1t properly be called a rebellion. It Is a revolt. but so spasmodic and un- harmonious that one never knows what may bs expected at the next move.
 Events may follow each other until a real revolution with horrors beyond conception may be the result. Proba- bly the only reason why . genuine revolution has not already begun is be- cause of the lack of communication and harmony among the dissatisfied ele- ments. In no great country of earth is there so much and dense ignorance as there. It Is an immense country in area and much moro immense in its ignorance and darkness. Communica- ton between different sections and sub divisions of the people is slow and djf- ficult at best. but now 1t ia doublylso so because of the espionage and suspicious of the government and the nobility.
 If inter-communication were as easy swift and perfect as 1t Is in the United States we might expect a revolution in due form at once. If the people of the various and widely scattered sections could know each day what was being done. said and proposed in all other sections 1t Is hardly to be doubted that there would soon be unity and combin- ed plans which would bring all the people together in ono mighty effort for freedom in some form. and the issue could hardly be considered doubtful The people are poorly armed and un- prepared. but their overwhelming num- bers largely offsets the lack of arms. Leaders would spring up as they history and the people would find weapons of some kind that would be effective in the hands of an almost savage people fighting for existence.
 And the common people of Russia have cause to fight desperately if the present disturbances should reach the stage of a real revolution. They have behind them centuries of misrule. of oppression. of serfdom worse than slavery, and of suffering. If they can be unified and in some measure con- solidated they will fight with all the courage of desperation and the result could hardly be doubtful in the end. Tho Russian autocracy would assuredly go down before a desperate and deter A~IA 4t.Y1 almost certainly win. but the cost would be fearful All the horrors and excesses of the French revolution would be mild in comparison with what would follow a general and concerted up- rising in Russia
 One of the unusual features of the present revolt Is that 1t has reached the navy, and no one may even predict the end of that innovation. The Russian navy is under such despotic regulations, and the field of operations is so small ron board ship. and discipline so rigidly maintained that 1t would seem almost impossible for anything like a general naval revolt to occur, but there. as on land, we have the same element of un-
 
 how general the dissatisfaction may be, nor can any officer be certain that there are not mutineers on his own vessel. The mutiny and capture of one vessel may be only a foretaste or beginning of what may occur on others. There may be dormant mutiny on every ves- sel in the navy. ready to break out at tr,- mensely to the program.
 And the question may we'll be asked. what would follow either a success full or unsuccessful revolution7 If this attempt fails. and If the revolt shall be put down by the autocracy. pay a fearful price for their failure? And if the people succeed in killing or crushing the rulers and the nobility their troubles have just begun. The Russian nation is composed of the least homogeneous people of any country on earth. There are more various and inharmonious clements in 1t than can be found in any other country The savage and the semi-civilized have so little in common with each other that 1t is difficult to believe that they could ever unite and form a republic. The probability is that if the autocratic government is overturned and the peo- pie find themselves in power the nation will be broken up and divided into a number of warning tribes or sections which will be eternaliy at each others throats. Then, perhaps. some Russian take charge of all the fragments and weld them together into a great nation. Who can tell. or even guess?
 DOWNING THE KING-PIN.
 One more notable chapter in Penn l x,olitlaa xxxar for |,