The sun., 1905-09-10
CHECK TO RUSSIAN LIBERTY.
SUDDEN PEACE TAKES AWAY THE
REFORMERy OPPORTUNITY.
Had Made Much Progress, but With tho End.
ing OF the War in tho Far East the Bu.
reaucracy Resains Its Fect-Peopie
! May Have 10 Fight for Emancipation.

Special Cable Despatch to THE SUN.
LONDON, Sept. 9.-It Is becoming evident
Cha, the advent Of peace at the prese mt
moment is not an unmixed blessing for the
fortunes Of Russia in their broadest aspect.
desire to stop the Far Eastern conflict have
TO some extent lost sight Of that other
/ cause which must command the SYM
: pathies Of civilization-the emancipation
of the Russian people.
. 1t has been obvious to all who know
the internal conditions in Russia that the
war created an opportunity which would
probably enable the oppressed millions OF
that great empire to throw OF the tyranny
which for many generations has crippled
the national life. Organization to this end
was necessarily slow, but much had been
accomplished in tho last few months.
The reform leaders had got the bureau-
cracy nearly down. They had forced their
way past it and had told the Car in plain
terms the kind of rotten misgovernment
he was giving his people. They will not soon
! Re able to do that again. Peace has set
the bureaucracy on its feet. With no for
: egn war to shake it's nerves and the restora-
ton of financial credit to strengthen its
great and only weapon Of oppression. it Is
not afraid of independent reformers just
yet.
The return Of the army Is mentioned as
the greatest menace to the old regime,
but with new supplies Of money repatria-
tion Of the troops need not be the dangerous
experiment. it would have been had physical
want been added to the soldiers contempt
for the system they have served under.
THE SuN's st. Petersburg correspondent
writes that the active reformers are still
In confusion in all their plans by reason Of
the unexpected peace. They are agreed
only on one point, that the Portsmouth
reace has put the clock back in Russia.
1t must not he inferred that tho cause Of
liberty has been lost or abandoned. 1t
means only that while liberty might have
teen won by constitutional methods If the
war had been allowed to continue a little
! longer it must now in all probability be
<, fought for That struggle, there is only too
good reason to fear, must be far bloodier
! in order to succeed than the more civilized
warfare which has been waged in Man
churia.
=. Against this idea Of the Russian reform
leaders that peace was premature there
must be placed the broad consideration
that President Roosevelt's successful inter
: vention has removed the very real danger
! that the Far Eastern conflict might lead to
general European war. 1t is question
, for casuists, perhaps, whether the safe
guarding Of the peace Of the world was
; service to humanity which demanded tho
, ,nperllng Of tho cause Of Russian liberty.
The sudden peace has distinctly forced
the hands Of the revolutionary party in
the Caucasus. The awful conflict there
this week Is no spontaneous racial war.
but thoroughly organized insurrection
! directed against Russian authority. The
nisns Of the revolutionaries were thoroughly
--expiaiae6 to the writer in June last by one
; Of the leaders who game to London to ar
range for further shipment Of arms.
Their first move, he said, would be to de-
stroy completely the oil industry. When
asked the reason for this wanton destruc-
ton he said the object was to paralyDe
transportation in the Caucasus and south
ern Russia, where or was the sole fuel for
railroads and steamers
He added that not only do the bulk Of the
population favor revolution, but large
part Of the Government employees also
The latter fact enabled them to ship arms
through the custom houses with impunity.
The coldblooded spirit of these revolu-
ticnaries Is well illustrated by bit Of con-
yesation with this leader. He urged the
writer to send a special correspondent to
report the revolution, saying that he would
guarantee that this man would have the
only information sent out.
How will you manage that?' was asked.
Perfectly simple was the matter of
fact reply. we intend to hang or shoot
every other correspondent in the country
what would happen to our correspon-
dent II ths revolution should not suooeed2'
was asked.
oh. he would get short shrift from the
Russians said this leader, 4but we are
certain to succeed. and the danger isn't
grelt.'