The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-01
REAPiNG THE wHIRLwIND.

Having engaged for many years in
sowing the wind, the Russian aristoc-
racy is now about to reap the whrl-
wind. The long list of atrocities and
crimes committed in the name of the
law by the Russian government for
generations seems to have eliminated
In a crisis which promises utter ami
hilation of the artistocracy. After that,
what? Possibly a reign of anarchy,
but in the end freedom for the millions
of white slaves who for so long have
cringed before their royal masters 1t
is fearful price that these downtrod-
den people are paying for their free
dom; but while negotiations" record
ed in blood are in progress, the nobl-
ity is also yielding up its toll in vic
tins of the bomb, stiletto and pistol.
Years Of oppression and injustice have
educated the people of Russia to view
with indifference almost any change
and to approve mildly almost any
method by which it may be brought
about.
Goaded to desperation. they feel that
nothing worse than their present fate
can overwhelm them. and that any
change must necessarily be for the
better. This sentiment fed and nur-
tured by every Overt act of the gov
eminent. is responsible for the anarch-
istic tendencies of the douma. One of
the prominent ministers, in an Associ-
ated Press interview. printed in yes
terdays Oresonian. said: THE masses
are politically uneducated. The gov
eminent represents the thin veneer of
civilization which covers the country,
and, If this is removed, there is moth
ing to replace II. The government
must hold on until n stable regime is
assured or anarchy will supervene."
The apparently unending difficulty
with the alleged civilization Of Russia
is that the veneer is so thin that it
neither conceals nor softens the hide
Gus eruptions of savagery and misrule,
and the world is ever afforded spec
tacle Of riot, assassination and mur-
der which would have dsgraced the
dark ages
Every effort of the Russian govern
ment has been against the cause Of
civilization and education, for it is on
the ignorance Of the people that the
aristocracy has relied for immunity
from tho reforms which necessarily
wo1ld lawe caused rurtalment Of tho
unjust special PRIVILEGES which they
now enjoy Russian Influence has
paralyzcd enterprise and civilization
wherever il has come in contact with
them II is the elimination Of this
policy OF repression that mas aecelor-
ated the movements of what one of
the conservatives ia parliament terms
a "passive revolution" which, he as
serted had been in progress for forty
years There may be and undoubtedly
Is some danger that the extreme revo-
iutionists. in rending the present gov
ernmental fabric, may be unable to
replace 1t with one that will meet the
expectations of the people. Beyond
question. however. the inevitable up
heaval will result in more liberal
form Of government than Russia has
ever known. That the land will be
drenched with blood and that the
aristocracv headed by the covering
little father. will make a last stand
with n dictatorship whose only law
will he shat might makes right
there IS but little question.
By extraordinary force of arms the
rapidly approaching climax might be
warded off for a short time, but it can
not be averted When educated, re-
fined men and women ard even faii
Young maids seek 70 avenge tyranny
with tho deadly bomb and walk smil-
inglv 70 their death on the seaffolf
while the ear skulks and covers II
hts palace there IS revealed a socia
condition SO monstrously wrong thai
almost any eataolysm of hloodshet
that would right Il would be welcomed
and excused II IS now a fight to thu
death between the autocracy and theii
puppet czar and the millions Of PEG
pie and when the conflict is ended
history will not have much difficulty
in segregating the murderers from tn
martyrs. The phrase uneasy lies th
head that wears a crown" never pos
sessed deeper meaning for any of tn
earth's rulers than IL now has 70
Nicholas car of all the Russias, AM
the uneasiness is not confined to tn
car alone.-Oregonian