The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-06-20

'Tt is generally known that Witte is favorable to the progressive develop ment of Russian institutions, while maintaining order. Therefore he can not approve the action of the lower house of parliament which, according to the count, is doing it's utmost to de- velop into revolutionary body and not only delays the reforms which 1t advocates, but contributes 10 create and maintain state of chaos, result ing from the conflict between the leeis- lative and executive branches of the government. Russia needs peace, order and confidence in the men who earnest ly desire to heal her wounds, and to enter upon a period of economic, moral and intellectual resurrection. Instead of this the revolutionists, under the pretext of patriotism, which really is false patriotism, are serving the inter- ests of the foreign enemies of their country, by transforming Russia into the powder magazine of Europe. This is not generally known abroad and is especially regrettable with regard to the Americans, who always have been friends of the Russians. The two coun- tries should know each other better to their reciprocal advantage.
 It is also known that Witte is per sonally favorable 10 the Hebrews and their desires, as contained in the mem orandum presented to him when at Portsmouth by the committee of prom A Ta1Hc h1It hn ct1. 1cCIX condemns the attitude which the Jews are assuming in Russia, in placing themselves at the head of the revolu- tionary movement, against the advice of their own enlightened leaders, thus making it impossible for their non Jewish friends to assist them. Witte thinks the Russian Jews who are act ing in this manner are blind, for if they are defeated they will be more oppressed than before, whereas if suc- cessful the remainder of the popula- tion, which is more anti-Semitic than in other countries, will oblige them to fly the country.
 Russian aversion to Jewish prepon- derance, the former premier thinks, should not occasion surprises, because the same feeling exists to a greater or less degree in all countries, including the United States, where some of the rules regarding immigration have been designed chiefly to exclude Russian Jews, whose number, especially in New York, Americans feel is becoming threatening. The Jews of Russia had only ope proper course to pursue, and that was to insist that all rights grant ed other races be also granted to them, nothing more or nothing less. Having resorted to violence they provoked re- prisals and reaction, especially from the "Black Hundreds" which element from conservatism have become as revolu- tionary as those whom they fight Count Witte explains that the conserv- atives originally were called the Black Hundreds in derision. Their rising has shown what large forces they control and how easily struggle between the two parties may degenerate into civil war and anarchy. The troubles of the past week at Balystok are the best H. lustration of the situation, as they were caused by Jews killing Chief of Police Derkatchoff, who happened to be an ex- ceptionally conservative official, whose entire aim was to maintain order and tranquility.
 Count Witte thinks that, under such conditions, 1t is natural that the Jewish question in Russia cannot be solved to the satisfaction of the Jews or their friends.
 Besides the Jewish question there is a higher and greater question that the whole of Russia must consider, namely, the necessity of preventing inoonsider- ate action by revolutionists of all kinds and opinions, endangering reform meas- ures already put in effect and threaten ing the future progress of the empire. On this. Count Witte believes, there can be no difference of opinion among those who know Russia. The government will not permit any consideration to irl- terfere with measures it deems neces- sary to be adopted to stop the evils mentioned. In these days of heated discussions about the possibility of the dissolution of parliament those who op- pose such action and claim that it would be coup detat forget that par l lament is not the only power in Rus sia. On the contrary, 1t is subject, as are all representative legislative cham bers in Europe, to dissolution on eondi- | ton that a new parliament be convok- ed within six months. Those who ig- nore all this seem also not to know Rus sia's real condition with regard to the political education of the masses, the illiteracy of her people, the immensity of her territory and the conflicting in- terests of the different provinces which make 1t difficult for any parliamentary government to work in harmony, as Ii
 may in other smaller and homogeneous countries.
 Count Witte will remain in Vichy un- til July 10 and will then go to Aix-Les- Rains, where he will remain until Au- gust 10. After that, if the weather is not too hot, he will go to Italy.