New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-01
RnSSIA,S AWAKENING.

Quite characteristic in a grewsome fash
ion. was the news that came the other night
from ST. Petersburg-that press correspond
ent at Moscow had just begun, after long
silence to say he had q horrible story to tell,
when again communication broken and
ominous silence prevailed. There is reason TO
fear that there are many horrible stories to
tell of what is going on beneath the pail OF
darkness that has settled upon the ancient
capital of Muscovy, and indeed of what is going
on at large in nearly AZ parts of the empire.
Reports come daily Of fresh uprisings and of
increasing savagery Of passion. Yet there are
also encouraging reports Of loyalty among the
troops and of reaction among the peasants
and workingmen. not toward autocracy, but
toward Count Whites constitutional reforms
and against the unreasoning extremes of the
professional revolutionists and anarchists; so
that on the whole may retain some conf
dence that however terrible the ways and
means may be- a benefcent end will be at
tanned. The awakening of Russia may be
accompanied with mad delirum, but with COM
plete awakening reason will assume the throne.
In this awakening to life and light too
much credit is not likely to be given to Count
White for the superb part he has played and
is playing. His services to the cause OF free
dom and progress have been simply invaluable.
Yet there are others who also deserve much
IL.
be overlooked Conspicuous among them is
Prince Sviatopolk- Mirsky who more than
year ago was Minister of the Interior. 1t was
he who adopted the policy of confidence in
the people," and who thus gave freer rein TO
the advocates of emancipation than had ever
before been enjoyed. 1t was because of his
liberal policy that in November of last year the
zemstvo representatives held their memorable
congress in ST. Petersburg and there promui-
gated their programme of reform. which since
has been so largely the guide of the Consttu-
tional party From that sprang the imperial
ukase of a year ago, nominally granting all the
zemstvoist demands save that for consttu-
tional parliament, and also the industrial up
rising of January last, in whose dreadful mas
sacres the doom of autOcracy was sealed. 1t
was Prince Sviatopolk- Mirsky who opened the
door 1t is Count Witte who enters in and
dertakeS the constructive work of cOnsttu-
tional system.
The story of the progress of the awakening
of Russia when it is fully told will be an in
terestlng one. There was a desperate attempt
of the reactionaries a few weeks after the
January massacres 10 reafirm extreme au-
tocracy, and the Gar in reScript acceded to
their will. But it in vain. The ZemstvO-
lists met again and again demanding parlia-
ment and demanding also the discontinuance
of the war; and various meetings of mobiles
adopted the same tone. No victory OF Rus
sian arms on land or could be won to
strengthen the waning cause of autOcracy and
war. and in the end the had to be discon-
tinued and the Car had TO announce the sum
mOning of a national assembly. Thus steadily,
ever since Prince Sviatop0lk- Mrsky took the
first step. the march of events has been away
from autocracy and toward constitutionalism
Desperate indeed have been the later strug-
giles of the reactiOnaries TO undo that which has
been done. but must believe them to be as
futile as they are desperate and wicked. A
single conspiracy can be exposed and crushed,
as SO many i'll Russia have been. An effort to
awaken a people can be checked and defeated.
But when Il great people is awakened
know Of no power that can force it back to
sleep again Turgenieff's vision of "Necessi-
tas: Wis Libertas" is realized: and soon, it is
10 be hoped. the little girl. with the wide open
eyes will be able to guide into "A chosen path
the two mighty companions who have been
blindly pushing her before them There will
yet be some staggering from side to side and
soma false steps In wrong paths. But the eyes