The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-22
TEE NEW gay m RUSSIA.
Revolution by Striking a. the Servants Of
the Autocraey Promises lnceess.

hepVgtuhhVa w otttRhho Nv - Np% F1".N -
the Autocraey Promises nstccess.
To II EDITOR or THn Bux-Sjr: The
latest information coming from Russia
seems TO establish the fact that what We
are witnessing In that country ID not q revo-
luton after the manner Of that In England
when King Charles I. lost his head, nor Of
that In France when King Louis XVI. went
10 the euillotine, but q revolution which
will be distinctively Russian.
In the first place II is noticeable that the
warfare which Is being carried on 10 not
such as we have been accustomed TO read
Of and see In civil wars. There 10 no levy
Ing Of forces by the insurgents, no collect
ing OF arms. cannon and ammunition under
generals, with pitched battles between
regularly marshalled afmies. The circum-
stances and conditions OF the time have
rendered. all that practically impossible,
and the resources Of science have placed in
the hands Of intelligent and educated revo-
lutionists Of to-day weapons OF which those
of the past had no conception, and which
are infinitely more effective than anything
they knew Of. These weaponb afford ex-
~traordinary facilities for the carrying on
Of intermittent warfare and guerrilla tactics
such as seem to be In favor In Poland at the
present time. Outbreaks may be wide
spread and simultaneous or isolated and al
far distant points.
Railways and telegraphs now enable CON-
spirators and r~evolutionists to communicate
and form combinations quickly and without
risk. and even the best served Government
may remain in ignorance Of the formidable
plots, though conscious Of danger.
Given In any locality q few cool. resolute
men, fidelity to the cause whatsoever 1t may
DO, and the possession by each of one or
moro small and compact parcels Of explo-
sives, and there 10 O revolutionary force
far more dangerous than an army Of sew
eral thousand Of undisoiplined and badly
armed men. The tactics naturally differ
as greatly as the weapons employed. Con-
oentration Is avoided 90 as not to excite
suspicion, and unless o oonspirator betrays
himself by awkwardness or loss Of nerve
detection is impossible. Such, In a general
way, Is the modified force Of the revolu-
tionary party In Russia.
At first the aim Of the revolutionIsts was
almost entirely directed against the sov-
ereign and the heads OF the bureaucratic
hierarchy around him; but after a few
successful coupe at long intervals IL has
been discovered that. little effect was pro-
duoed and that precautions have been 90
multiplied that 1t is now impossible to reach
those at the head Of the Government
This seems to nave decided the revolution
lists In Russia to change their tactics, and
instead Of striking at the heads Of the State
they now attack the Instruments Of the
bureaucracy. Police officials end military
on~-aonIara xvhn ku thA potS,ro ~ Ahntr
occupation come to be well known and
have to be much in public, offer a COM
paratively easy prey to the unsuspected
conspirator; hence the general attack which
seems TO have begun throughout Russia
against these classes Of public fu~nctionaries
during the last few days.
A few months continuance OF this sort
Of thing and the basis Of the power Of the
autocracy will be more ~effeotually shaken
than 1t could be by any other means. The
point must be ultimately reached when no
one will care to risk his life in the service
Of the autocracy, and then the Gear and
his encourage at St, Petersburg will find
themselves facing a situation without a
parallel In history. The largest and best
equipped army he can assemble will be Of
no use, for there will be no concentrated
enemy to attack, and in the present finan-
cial embarrassment in which the Russian
Government is plunged wholesale massa-
ores or deportation Of population would
only hasten the downfall Of the autooracy
and the bankruptcy Of the Government,
involving a general crash on every stock
exchange in Europe and perhaps In the
world.
1t may therefore be confidently pre-
dicted that the Governments Of Europe,
conscious OF the consequences to them
selves individually and collectively Of a
general collapse Of authority in Russia, will
use all their influence to cause the Gear to
make such concessions as will satisfy his
people and induce them to turn their ener-
gies into channels leading to peaceful
development. In this way, and through
the operation Of the new forces Of science
in a few hands, an old time revolution, with
all the horrors OF ndisoriminate bloodshed
and oonflsoation, may be avoided.
NEW YORK, August 81. F.