The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-06-07
AUT0CnlCY DOOMED.
Andrew D. Whites Verdict on
the Outlook IN Russia.
NEVER TO EETURN PERMANENTLY

ssnxnay Period Certain, but Liberty
Sm Dasvnimfy For Russian People,
says Former Ambassador - Deems
Count White Their KOpe-Urges War
css Corruption An the United States.
"<yEjth prospects for liberty in Rus
Gla there must come q long and
Etnrnly period which would obey what
wm American philosopher once spoke
oG as the 'oscillatory law Of human
progress.
This statement was recently made by
the former ambassador to Russia, DR..
Andrew D. White, the first president
of Cornell university, while speaking
before a large assemblage of students
celebrating founders day at Cornell
university, says special dispatch from
ithaca, N. u, to the New York Herald.
There are two great difficulties in the
way of anything like constitutional
freedom in Russia at present, Mr..
White said, the first being due to
complete change of view regarding
Russia and her needs from 1925 to
1856, resulting in lack Of education
which has brought about ignorance
among the masses Of all that is desira-
Iyie for men who take part in self gov
esvDment.
The second great hindrance Of prog
fess toward freedom, he said, was the
repression Of all discussion Of political
and social questions, either in the press
or in public bodies.
g H.,
Dr. White, there will be action and re-
action Autocracy may from time to
edme be restored by sOldiery disgust
ed by demagogues, as was the case
with the Bourbons after the French
revolution, or it may be restored by
universal suffrage. as in the case OF
Napoleon III. after the French revOlu-
zion of 1S4S, but such reservations Of
absolute despotism will be temporary.
t"The old autocracy can never return
MS a permanency, and it is not too
much to hope that progress toward
liberty will be made In Russia some
what like that in France, which after
u century or more Of sterile revolu-
lions seems to have emerged into a
peaceful and respected republic. A
permanent republic in Russia can hard
liz come for centuries The idea Of
strong personal, centralized govern
ment Is rooted in the ordinary ideas.
Sust as the idea of republican and de-
centralized government is rooted In
fke ideas of every man, woman and
child in the United States.
Count Witte, in my opinion, is the
nnly man who could stand any chance
of carrying through reasonable plan
for @ new order of things in Russia, Of
staging of bankruptcy and OF checking
ctTn war. On him rests the main, In
deed the only. chance for rational liber-
". He will undoubtedly at times have
SO do some severe things to repress
slot the aspirations for freedom, with
which he is evidently in sympathy, but
sf1e mixture of wild fanaticism and Of
scounGrelism, which has caused the
massacre of the Hebrews at Odessa
and elsewhere, the destruction OF great
Factories at Moscow and in other parts
Ef the great empire and the wholesale
Burning and robbery of the landed
proprietors in the Baltic provinces.
Count Whites opponents are many.
On one side is the court and on the
nther the fanatics of every sort, but it
liz to be hoped that the terrible dangers
of the country may unite men Of all
parties in giving him support. The
idea of the nihilists is to make the
ssountry q mass Of ruins on which they
shall stand supreme. The folly Of all
CHS is proved by history.
~'At the end of every such movement
comes In the man on horseback
whether Caesar, or General Monk. or
Napoleon, or Napoleon ILL.,, or William
l., or Bismarck and Moltke, or Cavour.
AS between life and liberty men will
give life, as rule, the place assigned
1t in the Declaration OF Independence,
where it speaks of the three inallenable
Fights as life, liberty and the pursuit
sf happiness A nation must live, and
as long as life lasts there IL always
nope that liberty may yet be achieved"
Or. White expressed his sympathy
and good will, which, in his opinion, all
right minded Americans ought to feel
for Russia In her present crisis. He
continued: e.%sztIf9kaf a1sf e $s'fifi e
1.-THE Russian people are great peo-
Ole They are in great trouble. They
are capable Of noble future, and on"
asaast heartfelt sympathies should go
sut to them Our own country Is not
without great and grievous faults. The
corruption which has been engendered
by widespread devotion to money is
known to the world Fortunately we
have free institutions which allow you
TO undermine and attack 1t. It Is not
covered up and shielded az corruption
I'm Russia has been. Promotion and
game come here to those who expose
and attack.
Il make special appeal to you stu
dents to do all in your power to fight
The men and things which are re-
preach to democracy and to devote
your thoughts and efforts in making