Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1906-04-11
PATHOS IN WHITES CASE.

Sergius Yulievitch witte, prime
minister TO the Car, is at the end Of
his power, and he faces final failure
at the elimination of one Of the most
remarkable careers in recent history.
After great fDcssc as minister Of
finance, after tremendous success ~ y
diplomatist, he has found the supreme
task Of restoring order in Russia TOO
much for him, and discredited 10y all
political parties, he will end his ser.
vice TO his country. His will be one
of the records of final disappointmen,
with which the pages Of history are
! filed.
II is not possible now TO make a fair
estimate Of the mans character. In
the April number Of McClure's maya
zine, Pcrccval Gibbon makes strong
analysis of the sturdy Russians va
rious steps leading to the fall from the
pinnacle of power. Mr.. Gibbon SAYS:
He WIS commissioned to restore or
der in Russia, to tranquilize the peo-
pie with as little resort as possible TO
the traditional methods of reaction
which are so unpopular with other
governments in Europe, and particu.
larry without yielding one jot or title
of the imperial and autocratic privil.
cge. He was to stay hungry stomachs
with nothing more costly than words
to tighten the ship without the jctti-
son of any Of its burden. And he nc.
cepted the task. II vast is-hercu.
lean. To guagc IL accurately, one must
discard the notion that the revolution
in Russia is matter of politics, that
continental socialism is its. source and
motive force, that dreams and ethical
science are alone at stake. 1t il no
froth on the surface of life, this rcvolu.
tion. No. IL il IA natural process OF
national evolution. the struggle of u
great people to move up another stage
in the development Of the race.n
Count Witte attempted the impos
sible when he sought to satisfy an
awakening nation with temporizinp
measures. He had made many enc
mics among the aristocracy, that re-
sented his spectacular rise, and Mt ev
cry move he lost the confidence Of tn,
people. The clever tactics of the dip
lomatist and the shrewdness of tn,
financier availed him little. In hi,
time of terrible strain, however, h,
has proved himself a great man. II,
will be judged in history by comparis
on with the thing he could not do, and
he will be found to stand among th.
towering personalities of the time
Trained TO the subtcrfugcs Of the Rus
sian statesman, accustomed to deal In
phrases that are significant of power
he was unable to cope with the hor
riblc facts that met him every day
While appearing to aid reforms, and
while he has compelled many conces
sions, he has made n determined stand
against the revolution. Like II head
land on the coast Of old Russia, be
has been beaten by contcnding tides oi
thought II is not wonder that he 1.
to become pebble in the great ocean
that will sweep past him.
Like all men who have served their
country In a crisis, Count White has
been to great extent the plaything OF
fate. When the Gar entrusted him
with the mission Of rc-establishing the
empire, he was in position that led
he people To hope that he would be
their dcliverer, but circumstances com
PEELED him to become the ally of the
Car TO such an extent that his end has
IN IL the sting of double failure. liz
has paid for his brief authority with
loss of health, prestige, and all that
his hfty'seyen years of life represented
Prematurely aged, cnfeeblcd by q
slight stroke of paralysis, and disere
dited beyond hope Of rehabilitation
he drops the reins of government.
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