The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-06
DOWN WITH THE WAR"

There is little regret in Russia over
the defeats that chagrin the Gar and
the reactionary tyrants by whom he is
surrounded. The real sentiment of
the thinkers and toilers in Russia was
expressed on Sunday afternoon by M.
Novikoff, former mayor of Bakn, who
said: Let us all by rising show re-
respect for the victims. Down with
the war. We have had enough of
blood" The police broke up the meet
ing, arrested M. Novikoff, and the i'm
potent little father will be told that
the incident was only an anarchistic
attempt to make treason popular. But
all intelligent travellers in Russia know
that beneath the surface there is
dormant revolution, of which the ut
terance of Novikoff is but the faintest
echo, and that some day it will be an
active volcano sweeping the Car and
his beaurocracy out of existence Has
ten the day..
The only hope for a fair chance at
home and voice in government in
Russia depends upon the defeat of the
Russian government in this war wag-
ed: first, for conquest; and second, to
postpone the consideration of the just
demands of the Russian people for
redress of their grievances. The Car
and those who control him insist upon
the notion of government that pre-
vailed centuries ago. The Russian
IL Il
Frenchmen, the German and the Eng
lish enjoy. 1t is an irrepressible con-
fiict, but the result will be victory of
the people after revolution and blood
shed. Better revolution than suppress
sion of millions by the despotic few!
Instead of learning the lesson that
defeat of his armies and his navies has
taught, the Gar shuts himself up in
his castle and issues orders to suppress
all agitation and to prevent any pub
lie assembly of the people, thus add
ing to the wrath of the people, who
will one day be avenged of all the
serfdom government inf1icts upon
them. A wise Car would recognize
the changed condition, he would grant
the right of the people to assemble and
petition for redress of grievances,
he would enlarge liberal laws and dis
charge his corrupt officials, he would
remove the fetter from the press, he
would ask friendly powers to help end
the war upon as favorable terms as
could be secured. He would save his
crown by justice and by showing a de-
sire to promote the welfare of his peo-
pie. If he fails to do this-read the
history of the world, to ascertain his
fate.
The men most to be congratulated
upon the result of the war are not the
victorious Japanese. 1t is the Russian
masses-the men who toll and the men
who think. A victory for Russia would
have deferred the day of Russian lib
erty half century. 1t is no defeat of
the Russian people, but defeat of the
Gar and his recalcitrant advisers and
unworthy generals. Love of money,
power, luxury, drunkenness, and official
corruption have led them to favor war
and to sacrifice their men in a needless
struggle. Their defeat opens the door
of hope to the Russian masses. They
will not much longer be unclaimed,
They will rise up and be free men.
Victory for the Car would have forg-
ed new chains for them; defeat for the
Car is the first step in their success
full revolution which is as inevitable as
the American struggle in 1875, the
French Revolution, and the other up
risings of the people when they had
found tyranny of kings unbearable.
The Russians will lose Manchuria
and a portion of their domain in thal
Orient and suffer in national prestige
for a time, but if the Car is dethroned
or made to accept a constitutional
monarchy. the defeat at Mukden and
the disaster to the navy, will do more
to make a great nation out of Russia
than anything that has occurred since
Napoleon's evacuation of Moscow
Down with the war. We have had
enough of blood Those two sentences
fairly express the feeling of the Rus
sian masses and the Russian scholars.
The established church and the beau
rocrats may succeed for time in en-
Shaving the minds of their countrymen
who have long CROPPED in darkness but
who are now marching relentlessly
and surely into the light of liberty,
and all history teaches that they will
never halt until they wrest from
crowned heads the right to think and
speak and govern themselves.
Down with the war;
The Virginians are having a big
time over the Senatorial contest and