New-York tribune., 1906-08-06
DARKEST RUSSIA.
Of a foeman

There is probably no more judiciOus comment
TO be made upon Russian affairs than that Of
Count Witte few weeks ago. He was asked
shortly before the imperial coup detat-to
give his views OF the future in Russian politics
Il am" he replied, unable to make forecast
There are no X-rays for penetrating the veil
"Of futlrity, especially in contemporary Russia
The utmost one say without fear OF being
speedily cOntradicted by events is that from
'time and from men almost anything may be
expected It would scarcely be rash to drop
the almost from that last clause. The most
daring and ingenious imagination could hardly
have pictured in advance more astonishing
things than those which have actually occurred
in Russia in these last few years. 1t would be
rash 10 predict anything for the coming months
and years, or even for tomorrow. But 1t would
lie equally rash to deny the possibility of any
thing which any one might predict.
There was peculiar significance in Count
Whites phrase especially in contemporary Rus
sia." The future is uncertain in every land, but
ii is far more so in Russia than in other coun-
tries, for at least three major reasons. One is
the astounding lack of cOnstancy in the head
of the government. Under ruler who knows
his own mind and asserts his will and has n
definite policy some forecast at least of proba-
bilities is possible. The future may be In
measure judged from the past. But the Rus
sian Emperor is so given to hesitation and yacil-
lation that any such judgment Of his doings is
impossible. The fact that he pursued a certain
policy yesterday is no reason for expecting him
TO pursue the same policy to-day. One day he
turns toward Count Heyden and the next tow
ard Mr.. PobiedOnostSeff. On the third he may
Join hands with Mr.. Aladdin Who knows?
a second reason is that Russia as q whole is
not understood, if, indeed, il is understandable,
by Occidental minds. It has long been a trulsm
that the Asatic mind, in China, Japan or India.
has different processes from those OF the minds
OF Europe and America. It's observation is diff
ferent, its ratiocnatiOn is different its cOpclu-
sions are different it's estimates of ways and
means and ends all different Well, the
Russian mind is an Asiatic mind, and is not TO
be interpreted, as it is not governed, by the
principles which apply TO the other minds of
the civilized world. A combination Of condi-
tions, circumstances, influences and trains of
incidents WHICH in England or France or Amer
lea would almost inevitably produce n certain
result might in Russia produce an exactly op
pOsite result. A motive which would impel Ger
many or Italy or Brazil in a certain direction
might move Russia in an exactly opposite dl
rectiOn.
!. Again, for the third reason, there is the no.
tOrious fact that the outside world is not per-
mitted TO know what is really going on in Rus
sia Now and then the veil is lifted a trihe,
but each glimpse is different from every other.
Voices are heard from behind it, but they are
discOrdant and contradictory. Even while the
Douma was in existence and Russia was nomi-
naIly free. we were permitted TO know little.
compared with what is easily learned OF ali