Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-18
Returned from America with Desire tC
Retire from Public Life.
HAS NO FOLLOWERS NOR ASSOCIATES
Only Leader on Earth Who Does Not
Represent Party.
OBJECTS TO TACTICS or HIS OPPONENTS
willing to BE Judged by His owr
Policies and Acts. but Not -
Those Attributed TO
Him.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. I-.-(Speciaf
Cablegram to The Boe.D-The special
strength of the Russian revolution appears
to have proved its special weakness II was
supposed that the great railroad strikes
and other strikes in the manufacturing
towns would afford the revolutionists a new
and powerful weapon. In fact the revolu-
ton gained immensely as regards the Inn
preston on those who watched its course
because of the appearance of mystery with
which it had been invested. BY degrees 1t
became evident. however, that the elements
which were missing from the Russian revo-
luton were such as could not safely be dis
pensed with. Radical as was the news that
came in from all parts of the empire, never
theless there appeared little or nothing in
The way of real progress. II was difficult
to say what the revoutionists were aiming
at-whethcr they knew themselves what
they wanted The people were puzzled with
speculations as to whether 1t was dynas-
tic or constitutional movement. Did its
real strength lie in the towns or in the
country? Was its object industrial or
agrarian? Or was ii simply a gathering of
the forces OF discomfort, formidable-most
formida ble-from the point of view of the
prosperity and good administration of the
empire, but not such a revolution as left
the government no choice but that between
conquering and being conquered. The out
come appears after all, no matter what the
liberalizing tendencies may have been, to
have been favorable to the government. In
spite of all the czar is still on his throne,
Count witte is still his first minister and
enough OF the army is faithful TO him to
give him command of the situation at all
| events in st. Petersburg and in Moscow.
Things have so far soldifed themselves
that Sergius Yulevitch Witte. the first
minister of Russia, is even willing to COM
ment upon the situation IT exists In
answer to questions recently he said:
Probably. no public servant known to
Russian history has. ever been so severely
| try as myself, and this not only for acts
| which l did. but for others which ! never
words and motives which were truly mine
but also for their opposite which Were
what the color OF his politics, has had a
party following. numerous or small. Some
some fraction assisted his efforts, many re
joiced at his achievements. I am the sole
exception. Every. party, extreme or mod
crate, agrees In obtecting to what Ii term;
my policy, on grounds that contradict each
other diametrical!y
AS Russian patriot my heart bleeds at
lack of industrious fellow laborers In tn,
country's cause, OF earnest workers who Dc
not expect political or social regeneration
from radical programs and speeches, bu
from steady, wise, patient labor, from re
spect for the law, from reverence for dut,
and from the exercise OF self-control witt
a fair contingent Of such modest, con
scientious toilcrs. Russia would soon rise 4
a very high place among the nations OF tn
earth, l am hopeful that men Of this sor
will yet come forward. Meanwhile IN,
motive In continuing to occupy a pos
which brings down such harsh judgmen
upon me Is duty to the czar and the father
land. My guiding principle Is to act accord
, ing to my lights, and my sole recompens
| Is the approval OF my conscience.
On my return from the United State
! after the treaty of Portsmouth all that
. craved for was rest for body and mind 4
the ceclusion of private life. and IL was a.
the more likely that my wish would b
granted since there were doubtless other
, who placed in the position ! now occupy
might have acquitted themselves OF IN
task well as myself or better.
Whatever the drawbacks or penalties al
: tached 20 the performance Of my duty
1 not include among such penalties the cor
slant disapproval of everything | do b
certain political groups. On the contrar,
clever mems criticism is always welcom,
e because il Is wholesome and helpful Will
3 to the structures of the remainder one ca
easily shut ones second ear Some nation
judge their servants not only by what the
4 have accomplished. but also by what the
5 would fain have accomplished. | am read
To accept responsibility for what | hay
really said aud done. hui what / deprecat
= are the apocrvphal utterances gratuitousl
t attributed To me every day.