Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-13
TRAVEL ELTHORNY PATH
Russian RsfOrmsrs Seem to Have Learned
Little of Lessons Of History.
ROUTE TO FREEDOM THROUGH BLooDSHeO
People Seem Determined to Pay Heavy
Price for Political Education.
ALL REFORM ELEMENTS ARE DlsTRUSTFUL
Think Present Regime is Only Temporary
and Hold AlSof
LIBERALS FAIL TO SUPPORT WTTE
Modcrntes and Ultra RevoIutionists
IL REFORM ELEMENTS ARE DIsTRUsTFUL
LIBERALS FAIL TO SUPPORT WTTE
MOdcrnteS and Ultra RevOIuttonists
Clasp Hands 20 Accomplish
Downfall of the
Autocracy,

ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. l2.--with each
days developments II becomes more APP
parent that Russian reformers have learned
little OF the lessons Of history and that
Russia is destined, like other countries be-
fore It, to travel a thorny path 20 Free
dom. 1t seems determined to pay the heav-
lest price for its political education. This
is not, perhaps strange considering that all
the intelligent classes are engaged in re-
volt against the old order of things, the
moderatists for the moment claspng hands
with the ultra-revolutionists to accomplish
the downfall of the autocracy. The result
is that all the reform elements are dis
trustful Of the government and take pride
in holding aloof. n everybody connected
with the government was contamnat ted and
there solid conservative element
to act as a brake on those who shrink
from no political experiments no matter
how reckless.
Liberal Groups Hold Aloof.
! The various groups into which the lib
| erals splitting and even those who ad-
vocate the very constitutionalism into
which Count witte is seeking to condoct
the government. seemingly would rather
let the country drift into anarchy than lift
a finger to aid him. The leaders display
anything but disinterested patriotism. hav-
J ing political ambitions and being convinced
that the present is only a stopgap govern
ment until the douma meets. They prefer
not to ieopardize their own future by talk
! ing office in government marked for sac
rihce, yet they appreciate, as does Count
Wtte, that the old faction which ruled 80
long at court would like to renew the
struggle for reaction, unhorse the new pre-
mier and jettison the whole reform pro-
| gram. They admit that Count Witte is
| tha opI,. a, ha Of tra0
sition capable of coping with the court
camarilla. nevertheless they refuse to as
/ sst him TO get firm seat in the saddle,
The danger Of reaction is hardly worth
serious considerable however. Even the
discounted advocates of the old regime
realize the emperor's step is irrevocable,
that he could not withdraw II II. ne would
4 and that any attempt simply to place him
in the attitude OF usurper OF the peoples
liberties would precipitate an Immediate
crash in which he would be sure to lose
the throne. Nevertheless. the failure Of
the reform clements TO break with tho
social democrats and TO cooperate with
Count Wtte may prove disastrous and
encourage the extreme agitators, which
will be apt TO provoke a continuance OF
clashes and excesses and in the end force
the government TO resort to extreme meas
ures, which being interpreted as a return
|
uprsings.
Liberals Recognize Danger.
Fortunately something like realization
of these dangers is coming home TO a small
but growing class of liberals. For instance,
Prince Eugene Troubetzkoy, who declined
to accept the portfolio of minister of edu-
cation, because the party with which he
Is affiliated was committed to a constituent
assembly. in an open letter to the public
advises the people to restore tranquility.
and Dmitri Shipoff and NJ. Gutchkoff who
also declined portfolios, have returned to
Moscow with the intention of organizing
"A distinct party of moderates to aid Count
witte
The influential Caslovo has been the
organ of "the party of order" and even
the Russ, while recording the action OF
the zemstvoists in refusing the offices,
thinks that they could with propriety Sc
lect a committee to act in an advisory
capacity with the government The spread
OF agrarian disorders in Ssratoff is a new
and threatening phase of the situation,
emphasizing the necessity os quieting the
country. 1t is significant m connection
with the fear of mutiny among the troops
that the council for national defense has
taken occasion TO issue a public statement
TO the effect that the army reforms for the
betterment of the conditions of the men,
including the improvement OF food and
b clothing and an increase OF pay are under
. consideration.
!. LamsdorR VIII Retire.
i The retirement Of Count Iamsdorff,
o minister OF foreign affairs, when the douma
3 meets is certain. but he may continue in
Office till then. lie is fitted neither by tenn
8 perament nor training TO hold office in a
70 ministry responsible TO a parliament where
I,, 70, int 1Tnffs
n NJ. DJswolsky, Russian minister at Copen-
q hagen. enjoys great favor at court and
doubtless would be the emperors personal
2 choice as successor TO Count Lamsdorff,
:. but the eXigences Of the situation later
might compel the selection Of another.
. The new policy OF national education.
= which is one Of the principal pIanks or
Count Whites platform, will be inaugu-
J rated by the transfer TO the ministry OF
J. education of all the imperial educational
q institutions, which are now mostly under
the protection Of the dowager empress.
| Their endowment Of SH5OOOOO will thus be
added to the national educational fund
:, Father Gapon has taken advantage OF
< the amnesty and is now on his way to ST.
j. Petersburg.
: Day Passes Quietly.
Y. The day passed quietly. No excesses are
reported from any part Of the city, but
the Jews are still apprehensive.
n Martial law has been abolished in
4 Kremeuchug and THIS ana their districts
No Autonomy for Poland.
Poland is not 10 be permitted TO become
:. a second Finland. The Russian govern
4 ment I'm d strongly WOrded communication
n published this morning serves notice on
" the Polish nutionalists that, for good Or
i IN, the ancient kingdom OF Poland has
(: now become, an integral part OF the Rus
sian empire, and that while the govern
" ment intends to fully observe the national
W rights OF Poland. any attempt 10 wrest
TX Polish autonomy from the emperor would
be considered an act OF revolt and would
W lead the Poles into the sorrowful paths
trodden by them IN 1881 and 1853
Tie Russian authorities TSeVgnizs The