The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-03-03

ASSOCIATION Dy PROFESSOR MiCnaeI
Won Reusner, who is recognized
as the greatest European authority
on Russian affairs. In the famous
Koenigsberg trial for high treason
in 1904, the German government
summoned Professor Reusner to
Russian conditions. In the sub
joined article Professor Reusner
give evidence as an expert ON
has given his views on the future
of Unsatisfactory
y BY Michael Won Reusner.
Copyright, 1905, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association.
The Russian crisis is fast ap-
preaching an end. The car, blind
and deluded. announces daily his
intention not to yield and to pre-
serve the absolutist regime. The
barriers which have hitherto with
held the great depths of the ma.
tion's wrath will be broken down
If not today. tomorrow, and with
one blow the whble filth and
shame which has paralyzed for
centuries the mighty organization
of the Russian nation will be
swept away.
With painful curiosity, all eyes
are directed toward the east.
where a historical drama has be-
/ gun, and everyone Is peering with
, anxious curiosity into the morning
, mist of the revolutionary move
ment. What form will .his awful,
fatal and unavoidable catastrophe
/ take? is the question on every
ones life. How will the colossal
collapse of traditional administra-
ton begin? Where will the first
blows of the awakened nation fall ?
Where will the first breach be
hewn in the firmly riveted armor
of the martial and bureaucratic
leviathan?
Prompted by recent events. l
shall attempt to point out many
weak places in the cars tower
of strength against which the at.
tacks of the revolutionary army
may be directed, and I shall en-
deavor to specify various tactical
lines which will followed by
different parties, all of which
however, have one goal in view
namely, the abolition of Russian
despotism.
A Blow From Within.
In the very first instance,
should like to emphasize the great
possibility of dynastic palace
revolution. 1t must not be for
gotten that Gar Nicholas II. does
not possess the brutal power Of
his father, and hat he has never
been able to prevent the full de
velopment of party quarrels and
disputes between members of the
dynasty. The struggle between
the fright" and the left" wings
between the adherents of patri
archal despotism, with the dova
ger empress at their head, and the
supporters of a police absolutism
countenanced by the czar and his
consorts, has Deen raging for 9
long time. {
The liberal and cultivated ten
dency which has manifested Itself
in the grand ducal line of the
Constantines for many genera
tions, nthe other hand, was al
most obliterated long ago. Under
Sipeagin's regime, Grand Duke
Constantine Constantinovitch, the
last scion of the house and presi
dent of the academy of science
was publicly insulted. He was
obliged to put up with the insult
offered him. and at the same time
to retain the Office of president.
Grand Duke Constantine had
proposed to the academy thai
Maxim Cork be admitted as ar
honorary member, but was forced
t oconsent to the Russian authors
name being struck from the list
by the minister of police, who die
not even inform the academy Of
his purpose.
The differences between the "pa
triarchal and police" parties
have become more acute. The
dowager empress right hand man
Pobiedonostseff, attributes as the
cause of all evils the fact that the
throne is not occupied by a strong
willed man with a mailed fist, wh(
could hold court, ministers and The
army
In His Iron Clutch
and thereby represent to the ma
ton the incarnation of absolute
power tempered with mercy. En-
deavors have repeatedly beer
made to represent the Gear Nicho
las II. as being an invalid, and tt
place Grand Duke Michael, hi:
brother, on the throne, for the lat
ter is said to possess a strong
character, free from any democrat
izing influences or vacillation, ant
proof against the dangerous influ
ences of the fair sex.
All these attempts. however
have been frustrated by the stub
born opposition of the youthful
car and carina. both of whom
desire to see their descendants, a.
any price, on the throne of the
Russian empire.
The extent to which the enmit,
I between these two rival parties
goes is almost indescribable, an(
as each party numbers many ad
herents, possessing enormous
means and belonging to the high
est circles of Russian society, l'tht
struggle is carried on with gfea
bitterness. q
This division at court is no
confined to courtiers, but the
guard itself is separated into two
camps, and the Dowager Empires:
Maria, as well as Empress Alex
andra, has her favorite regiments
which would support her in thu
hour of need.
This dynastic enmity has lately
been intensied by fresh and i'm
portant occurrences. Among cour
circles and the higher aristocrac l
Car Nicholas ii. is made person