The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-03
What Revolution Would Mean
for Herself and Europe
A HEMISPHERE AFFECTED
English Writer Tells Of Moment
GUS Consequences Of Great
Liberal Movement
in Russia.

produced or eXasperated by the war. Is
by far the most interesting question
now discussed in Europe aud the one
which presses most closely on all diplo-
matists. says the London Spectator.
1t is clear that the struggle in the far
east, though it is not yet over. has de-
veloped unrest in Russia of a danger
GUS kind, and all Instructed western
men are watching the direction which
the danger may take with anticipa-
tons at once eager and perplexed.
There are so many conditions TO the
problem TINT 1t seems almost insoluble
BY human intelligence. and yet on its
solution the immediate future will al
most certainly depend 1t is not only
the future of Asia which is at stake.
but much Of the future of Europe. We
are not talking of the yellow peril. .
which may be real or imaginary, but
Of the changes within Europe itself
which any radical change in Russia
would involve. A paralysis Of that
great empire which for more than a
century has hung like heavy cloud
on the eastern frontiers of the really
civilized sections of the world would.
for example, leave Germany mistress
OF the continent. 1t might shatter the
Austrian empire to pieces. for her
Slav majority would no longer have to
fear being buried In the Russian mo-
rass.v II would intensity In high de-
gree the quarrel always smoldering be-
tween the Ottomans and the remnant
Of their Christian subjects, result OF
which Europe already pereeives signs
In the new arrogance which the divan
is displaying In the Balkans The
Turkish ministers have already APP
pointed to high commands In Macedo-
mia officers whose one idea Of order Is
to keep down recalcirant subjects hy
massacres so wide as to suggest an in
tention OF extirpation. French society
would be shaken to its heart by new
liability to Invasion and with it q
fresh proclivity to panic Even Great
Britain, though still "encompassed by
her inviolate sea. would feel the In
fuence Of the great change, for India
would be as safe from invasion as her.
self and, being safe, would be apt tc
indulge In dreams of large ambition
1t is not only natural, therefore. but
inevitable, that the world, though it is
getting weary of the war considered as
drama, should watch the course Of
events upon the Shaho with fascinated
eagerness.
While, however we perceive this
clearly, we do not understand so well
why so many thoughtful men believe
that the progress Of the unrest will be
fatal to the autocracy or why they are
so possessed with the notion that II
that great catacIysm occurs Russia viii
be weaker for It's occurrence. As vel
all the symptoms point rather to vast
jacquerie "a revolt Of PEASANTS than e
what is commonly known as a revolu
ton. From province after province OF
Russia come up stories which show
that the suspicion of the proprietary
class so long smoldering among the
peasantry is breaking into flame; that
chateau after chateau Is menaced: that
in district after district the landlords
are sending their families or flying
themselves for protection to the great
cities. The plumber to which the re
servists so often betake themselves Is
] as much an expression of hatred 1e
4 the rich as of desire for a fna reye
and is accompanied IN many Instances
4 BY d destruction Of property Which car
in 40 way benefit tie mutineers
/ The peasantry, it must be remember
ed. are suffering severe economic dis
tress. partly caused BY increased taxa
ton. They cherish at heart the Asiati'
4 idea that whose is the sweat, his /.
the soil" They thought themselve.
cheated In the ultimate result Of ths
emancipation decree, and they hay,
some ground for believing that Il thea
rise the central government woulJ
show itself on their side 1t Is admit
Il ted by the great landlords themselves
i who are promoting the movement O
4 the zemstvos toward greater liberty
that one at least of their motives i
dread OF an agrarian revolution a
sanguinary as that Of 17S9-03 in France
we 10 not imagine that the govern
ment would actively aid that revoiu
ton, though 1t must be remembere'
that whole classes OF the smaller pro
prietors were ruined at a stroke by tn
decree OF emancipation But It IS no
impossible they would remember tina
their soldiers are peasants and woul'
passively watch revolt that wouli
then end IN Russia composed Of a
absolute car and millions of small
freeholders. The middle classes i
Russia have no physical force wit
which to resist either the army 0
the peasants. There is no proof 0
their control over the opinion of tn
masses, and terrible and successful
jacquerie is at least conceivable q
I tentative to a aolltical revolution.
! louis XVI. had been man with tt
I great qualities Of the earlier Bourbon
I the French revolution also might haY
ended iii that way The army hate