The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30
SOME NEW BOOKS.
Russis IN Rev olution.

Next TO the revised edition OF Mackenzie
Wallace's monumental work, the most
useful account OF the actual condition
OF the Cars dominions will be found In
volume OF some 800 pages entitled fuss'd
in Revolution, by III. PERRIs (Brentano,'
The author Is already well known to many
English and American readers by his pre-
vious publications, LEO Tolstoy, the Grand
Mujik." AThe Further Memoirs OF Marie
Bashkirtseir" and "The Eastern Crisis and
British Policy" Az Russian correspond
ent Of London newspapers, he has watched
the early stages, and believes himself about
TO witness the elimination OF national
movement that, in his judgment. Will loom
a. large In future history as do those move
ments which resulted in the establishment
OF the United States OF America and the
French Republic. Writing, az ne does'
In the middle OF crisis, and discussing
subject OF such magnitude and In some
aspects 80 strange, he does not, OF course
profess to have attained perfect accuracy
OF detail, much less Of perspective. he
claims, however, In a preface and the claim
Is made good in the work, that. although
rapidly written, this sketch OF the causes,
character and course OF the Russian revoiu-
ton represents a good many years OF per-
sonal observation and careful study. For
supplemental information "a to the history
and psychology Of the revolutionary move
ment. and for other details. the author
acknowledges indebtedness to various ex-
lied friends, especially the late Sergius
Stepniak (Kravchnsky) and the late Col.
Lavrov, Mr.. Volkhovsky, Mr.. Tchaykovsky
and DR.. Soskice; as we'll as to the files OF
Free Russia, la Tribune Russo and the
publications of the London secret press,
besides numerous friends in Russia whom
II would he inconvenient to name.
Mr.. Perris's hope is that while much Of
his space has heen given to recital OF per-
sonal experiences Illustrating the quality OF
Russian manhood the heroism of the
revolutionary leaders and the tragic nature
of the struggle for freedom, such MARIA
tiyes will not obscure the fundamental
argument which the book is intended to
set forth, that the Russian revolution Ia
no mere clash of personalities, but is es-
eentially the fulfllment OF an irresistible
economic process. The capital purpose OF
the volume is to show, in the first place,
that the historic autocracy has degene-
rated during the last two reigns into law
less and incapable oligarchy, and then
that the olgarchy itself is being under
mined by the very economic forces which
1t brought into existence for its own en-
richment.
The book is divided into three parts, re-
spectively headed "A Black Heritage
.The Pioneers OF Revolution and The
Awakening We would direct the readers
particular attention to those chapters Of
the first part which deal with the structure
of the State, with the practical absence OF
criminal laws, 80 far as offenses against
the autocracy are concerned with the
analysis Of normal revenue and ezpendi-
ture during the last ten years, with the
problems Of debt, drink and the tariff. and
with what is termed -The Final Crime, by
which is meant the war in the Far East
The second part we pass over in order that
we may glance at one or more OF the chap
ters Of the third part which treat Of the
semstvo movement; Of bloody Sunday
(Jan. %. 1906, and lastly THE Prospects
Of the Revolution"
In the initial chap ter Of this volume
the author shows how despotic Govern
rpent, originally based upon the needs OF
national defense and consolidation, having
absoNbed or destroyed the classes which
might &ave provided check to or balance
for it's power, has degenerated into an
engine Of exploitation at home and en-
croachment on the border lands; and how
1t Is at last challenged, not only by the out
ragged moral sense of the people, but by
the newer economic forces whose growth
It had stimulated for its own immediate
purposes. He undertakes in his second
chapter to prove by an examination Of the
actual structure and operation OF the State
that this evolution has resulted In the de-
struction of government and law, in the
only sense in which those words can be
rightly applied and that in modern Russia
the State now represents thinly yelled
anarchy, maintained by force for the bene-
fit OF a degraded official class at the cost
lof the body Of the people. He begins
By warning us that although Nicholas II.
il the weakest Emperor Russia has had for
century, yet the characters OF the reigning
Ear and OF his relatives are comparatively
IEnimportant, because, in the Russian En-
hire, as it is to-day. they only nominally
| f,le. The absurdity Of the autocratic
theory, as applied to Russia, is demon
trated by the simple fact that no one man
{Abuld make himself even specifically ac-
&,ainted with more than a small fraction
ia the acts committed every day in the
lame Of the Car. In the twentieth CEN
bury, and with population 80 vast as is
Lie,at of all the Russias, it would be as i'm
practicable to exercise autocracy after the
Manner OF Peter the Great as 1t would be
b reproduce the Tyrannus Of ancient SYRIA
bise. The real power lies In the hands
II few men who control the vast machine
kithout which the Car has neither informa-
ION nor means of action. Mr.. Perris does not
f.. tlrpose therefore, to waste many words
"a reciting theories presupposing a con-
entration of political power in the hands
the monarch, which have long ceased to
brrespond with the facts OF Russian life.
\ Il Where, then, is the seat Of real authority
h the Russian State? The current ny
iothesis is: An the functions OF power
he concentrated in the hands OF the SOW
Jreign; but" adds the official expoeitor,
the exercise OF each Of these functions Is
delegated to special organs, whose powers
IRE vigorously determined by laws, and
hooo lava Nv Mt tho On mo tiyno tho w " thu