New-York tribune., 1905-10-31

Count Serge Yuevitch Witte first Premier
of the Russian Empire, promises to De Inc
controlling force in the statesmanship Oh
that land, he was In the recent foFts-
mouth Peace Conference. He Is a man OF COM
manding physique well as OF dominating IN
tellect and all those who saw him on his recent
visit to this country were Impressed with his
innate forcefulness His training ana expert
ence have alike qualified him for the important
nosts he has been called to fill. II he shall in
deed succeed in bringing order out of the
chaotic conditions existing In Russia he VIII
gain place among the very foremost states-
men in the history of the world. IL Is TASK
to appan any one familiar from the OUTSIDE viii
the state of Reorganization and panic prefah-
ing in the chief cities Of the Muscovite empire
and what 1T must be to one who knows the 1uii
extent Of the paralysis OF power OF the au-
tocracy and the revolutionary tendencies OF the
nonrIar mind In that land can only be I'M
agined.
But Count witte, the one man In Russia
who has grasped the full significance OF the
revolution which is merely in its incipiency' ana
who has persuaded his royal master to afrx
b,s signature to the manifesto which will In
effect give the people voice in their govern
,oent has the knowledge and ability to do all
that is humanity possible to stem the tloe "hlch
would sweep the throne Of the Romanons INTO
the historical past. as the throne OF the bour-
hons was swept away in the tide OF the french
Revolution.
counz witte is now in the ffty-sixth year OF
his aga having been born in Tinis In 1o4o MS
father who was of German descent, was an o'h-
ctaI there and his mother. descended from the
DoIgorouki family. of Russia. was the daughter
OF Governor Fayaden. Of saraton. HIS youth
was passed amid the wild scenes of the eau
orIy Cd
the college or high school of Tiflts. Thence he
went 10 the new Russian University OF Odessa
in 1864 where he devoted himself to mathematics
with the purpose OF securing a professorship.
After four years he was graduated with gold
medal and a degree. but yielded to the persua-
sions of his family and entered on business
career becoming connected with a. railway IN
the south of Russia as a stationmaster, at Soo
a month. He at once set himself to master
the details of railway traffic, and one OF the
first fruits was a work on railway traff1c which
showed close study and grasp OF the sig
nihcance of details. This brought him to the
notice of the Russian Steamship Company, which
owned the line, and young Witte was made as
sistant superintendent of traffic In the South
western Railroad. and later general superin
tendent But the responsibility for a serious
accident was attributed to him and was the oc
cason OF his going to st. Petersburg while a
prolonged lNNeSliBdllOH WAS III pio6 icss. iHeIo
he was brought Into association with M. Wish
negradski afterward Minister OF Finances. who
had charge of the Southwestern Railroad. and
who placed M. Witte at the head Of it when he
took his portfolio. In the Russo-Turkish war
NJ. Witte did important work In managing
the transportation of troops to Odessa. In
1879 he was summoned to st. Petersburg by
Minister Vishnegradsk and put In charge OF the
railway trafic Of the empire. and directed to
prepare scheme for the unifcation of the
traffc system. So much ability shown In
this that when the post of Minister Of Communi-
cations was made vacant by a resignation fol-
lowing an accident to train carrying the Inn
periai family NJ. Witte was appointed TO the
post In 1892. NJ. vishnegradski VINO had become