New-York tribune., 1905-01-23
CAR WITH THE PEOPLE
BIT Russian Baron Says 4ristocrats
Would Kill Him If He Yielded.

FSaron Heftler. q Russian staying at the Wal
so-f last night said TO a Tribune reporter that
Ne was convinced that the uprising in Russia
,rouId be al over in forty-eight hours, but that
!, was guile possible that several thousand OF
,be strikers would be killed by the Cossacks be-
.ore peacc was restored. The baron declared
.hat ne did not think the time was ripe for a
~,,olution but he prophesied that within ten
,,ea-x a revolution and the overthrow Of the
sutocratic party might De confidently ex-
,e,ted. The Gar is IL close sympathy with the
1onrnon people. according 10 the baron. and
mould listen 10 the plea for justice. but is forced
= close his ears out OF fear OF the autocratic
,-v which would assassinate him SAID the
s-or II he attempted TO assert himself.
The haron asked 10 be excused from speaking
-, the obfec; OF his mission 70 this country. He
,g man advanced IN years. and speaks English
fuenuy.
= do not believe that the present uprising in
u,,ssia which I read about in the papers. should
- called revolution" ne said. i am certain
,hs, the reports have been exaggerated and the
s,st,,-bance is nothing more than an industrial
s+-,lre the game as you have in this country. II
], nossi,,c that il viii be bloody strike, for the
,-,esscl,s are brutes. who win show mercy,
and il necessary, viii kill hve hundred thou
&C uaea. women and children TO teach the
,rouhle VIII be over by tomorrow night. The
death list probably viii be appailingly large, but
!, VIII be the rioters and not the soldiers who
viii swell it. The populace will be knouted into
srhr1ission. The lInout is a terrible weapon
one blow from # viii render a man helpless for
dsys after.
The time is not ripe as yet for Russian
revolution
why Go you emphasize the words as yet'?'
asked the reporter.
Because" replied the baron, earnestly. L
think il is only matter Of time-perhaps not
more than ten years-before there will be
revolution in Russia as bloody that OF the
French Revolution. Now there is no chance Of
such g tragedy. The people lack organization
You can't have q revolution confined 10 one city.
snd there is now no interorganization between
,he people of the various cities. The lower class
Of Russia aIe TOO ignorant TO couspire. Just
,birF ore hundred millions OF the population
~ Russia can neither read write. The
French Revolution WAS the result of fifty previ-
o1s years of Underground work by the middle
,lass There is 10 middle c,ass ia Russia, nor
have the people airy real revolutionary leaders"
Asked whether DE thought ;hst thc soldiers
were likely to join hands Win The mob. the
baron repliel
Most enpaatically no The Russian soldier
IS nothing more than a brute who follows the
commands OF his oficers, and the officers Pre-
intsnsa,y loyal 70 the Gar The COssack never
thinks or holds an opinion or hts own. The
army would never revolt unless the highest Of
fcers turned traitor 70 thei- sovereigrs Thai
is why ! am confident tlet that grapeshot az
fair 81 The Winter Palace was nothing but
accident No soldier del iberately fred al the
royal family. I an Csrta.r. TIE Gar Is a good
man He is cernoI1at ana i''es as people.
He would listen their plea ana grant them
every reform they seek, but he stands in deadly
fear Of the aristOcrats. They would kill him
Immediately il he were 70 go over 10 the people.
The autOcTacy stands in constant fear of its
oWn downfall The autocratic party knows
that il is doomed but seeks 10 postpone the evil
CAV Prince Mrsky is the greatest man in Rus
sia to-day. He has bitter enemies among the
Hristocrats though, and they are leaving no
means unturned 10 accomplish his overthrow
The baron said he was confident that the pres
ent trouble had nothing 10 do with the recent
refusal OF the Car 10 grant all the demands
~ the ZelstvOs.