New-York tribune., 1906-07-21
THE BEAR RUNNING AMUCK.

The revolution in Russia already an actual
though not yet an accomplished fact, now
threatens to be complicated with something like
that indescribable Jacquerie which preceded
the Revolution in France. We hear OF vast
bodies of the peasantry, columns miles IN length.
marching across the country in fury OF de
structiOn. Here and there troops fire upon
them, with tragic results, but there is no indi-
cation Of the building of that dam of STEEP
with which General Trepoff once proposed to
restrain the revolution. Apparently there is not
enough Of the army left loyal to the govern
ment TO make an effective stand against an up
rising of such magnitude. Yet If not where Is
the thing to end? In the burning of all there is
to burn and the destruction Of all that can be
destroyed? Obviously, one Of two courses must
be quickly pursued, to avert such catastrophe
There must be repression or cOnciliation. The
army must suppress the insurrechon or the IN
surgents must be placated
UnhappiIy, while the bureaucracy seems to
be unable to do the former, it has seemed not
only unwilling to do the latter but actually in
tent upon doing the very opposite. The only
way of placating the people is through the me-
dunn Of their elected representatives, the men,
bers OF the DOuma. But instead of seeking
the cooperation of the DOuma, the bureau
crats-the GOremykin MiniStry-have gone out
of their way TO antagOnize that body. Note, for
The DOuma appointed an official commission,
which, after careful investigation on the spot,
made a report inculpating the police and mill
tary authorities in that abOminable crime. The
truth and justice Of that report were confirmed
by all impartial witnesses and investigators,
and are accepted as conclusive by the world.
But what did the bureaucrats do about it?
They issued an official order thanking the troops
at BalystOk for their glorious services" in the
O1114,
the Minister Of War on the subject that func-
tionary curtly declined to answer it, and added
that he would never honor the DOuma by ap-
pearing before it in person. but would address
it in writing only. Now, the Minister Of War,
unlike his colleagues, is not responsible to the
Prime Minister or to the Cabinet as a whole, but
solely and directly to the Emperor This arrO-
CANT attitude of his, therefore, was a grave re-
Election upon the Emperor himself.
In the face of such provOcatiOn the DOuma
may be pardoned for unchaining it's own pas
siOns, especially when it was authOritatively
revealed that prOclamatiOns to the people incit-
ing them to violence against the Jews had been
printed at the official press of the Ministry OF
the Interior, at st. Petersburg, and had been
circulated in millions by the Prefect Of Odessa
and by the military staff among the people and
the troops. 1t is not to be marveled at nor, in
deed, regarded with reprObatiOn, that one of
the leaders OF the DOuma, Mr.. ROdlchen, IN an
impassiOned speech denounced the bureaucrats
as seeking to retain power by fraud, by melting
hatreds and by actual bloOdshed. "They are
lusting for blOOdr' he cried. But the drops
''are splashing upon the Emperor himself, and
"the torrent is undermining the throne. The
roar of revolution is already heard, and it is
1.-THE ministry that is pushing the country tow
lard this catastrophe" The DOuma applauded
that speech and ordered it printed and posted
throughout the empire. After that it seemed a
mild and perfunctOry thing to adopt an appeal
to the people to support the DOuma against the
bureaucracy. And after the War Minister'S de-
fiance of the DOuma it seemed scarcely more
arrogant and oppressive to march troops to the
Tauride Palace.
The fact is, Russia is running amUck. The
bureaucrats are doing so, in their indictments
of violence and in their defiance of the DOuma.
1.-The DOuma!' said General TrepOf the other
day, shortly before a revOlutOnist sought TO
kill him, but, instead, killed another man who
was so unfortunate as to look like him-''the
"Douma! 1t doc TT go. with us. 1t is being
utilized as a centre Of revolution and nothing
more" On the other hand, the peasants, too,
are running amuck with their new JacQuerie.
Between the two the benevolent but hesitant
Emperor and the men Of light who should be
men of real leading, such as Professor NIilukOf
and Prince DOlgOrukOff are helpless and all but
hOpeless-between the devil and the deep sea.