Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-23
The Russian Outlook.

While the agitation and unrest
which pervade Russia are universal
and would naturally seem to call for
identical treatment everywhere. there
are so many races with such differ
ent ideals and aspirations. and such
widely varying conditions TO deal with,
that il has been impossible so far for
Count Witte TO hit upon any plan suf-
ficiently satisfying 10 a large enough
number OF people to bring about the
restoration of tranquility and conf
dence.
The grand ducal coterie and the
bureaucracy are openly opposed to the
concessions the car has granted. The
student and educated doctrinaire class
demand much more than he has been
willing TO yield. the small middle class
of merchants and traders are averse to
anything that makes disturbance and
stand uncertain which way TO turn.
so far giving adhesion to no party, and
the peasants seem TO be wait
ing for some one TO drive them.
So it happens that Count Witte finds
little sympathy or support in the com
plicated and most difficult task he has
undertaken of creating and setting i'll
operation a new government in Russia,
for that is what il amounts to. That
he feels keenly the need of support
is apparent from the moditi-
cation ne has felt called on to make
in the provisions adopted as TO suf-
frage II was agreed TO limit it, care
fully combining it TO those who have
sufficient property and education 10
give them an intelligent and conserva-
tive interest in matters political and
qualifying them TO have a voice in
the country's affairs. Now, on the de-
mand of the radical and revolution
airy element. that manhood suf-
frage. sO-caled. is panacea for all
the ills of state, he has put that into
his program in what appears to have
been the vain hope of conciliating
them.
The situation of Poland seriously
complexities the whole problem. There
has never been a people, who, in spite
of overwhelming odds and long dis
enlargement. which might well have
become despair. has so perSistently
chung 10 its national ideal. though its
realization has long seemed impossible.
Now. when nations are being born
in a day. Finland getting back her
old constitution and autonomy and Nor
way becoming wholly Independent, il
is natural that renewed lOngings for
liberty should stir Poland If Count
Witte could deal with her independent
ly he might be disposed 10 go as far
as he has with Finland. though the
cases are quite different. but unfortu-
nately Germany and Austria have Po-
fish territory and Polish subjects and
have no purpose or disposition to lOos-
en- their hold on them. Consequently.
to avoid friction and complications
with them. Count Witte must steer a
course which they approve of, and this
necessity has led already to the inaugu-
ration of rigid repressiye measures. To
make real liberty prevalent through
out Europe It is quite possible Ger
many and her autocrat will have TO re
ceive a heavy jolt
Meanwhile conditions in Russia are
exceedingly mixed, new outbreaks are
reported almost daily. and the hope of
tranquility ana good government
emerging from uncertainty and confu-
sion does not seem quite as rosy as il
did Not by any means that it has
been abandoned. and in spite of the
horror the Jewish massacres have
aroused. every government should do
anything possible to hold up Count
Whites hands and see him through
Humanity demands it. But should he
fail the horrors we have Witnessed so
far would seem insignificant in com
pariSon with what is certain to happen