Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-19
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
IT'S SPECIAL STRENGTH PROVED
ITS WEAKNESS.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
ST PETERSBURG, February 19-The
special strength of the Russian revolution
appears to have proved its special weakness.
1t was supposed that the great railroad
strikes and other strikes in the manufacture
ing towns would afford the revoutionists
Il and pow erful weapon. In fact the
revolution gained Immensely as regards the
impression on those who watched its course
because of the appearance of mystery with
which it had been invested. BY degrees 1t
became evident, however. that the elements
which were missing from the Russian rev
olution were such as could not safely be
dispensed with. Radical was the news
that came in from all parts of the empire,
nevertheless there appeared little moth
ing in the way of real progress. 1t was dif-
ficult to say what the revoiutiOnists were
aiming at-whether they knew themselves
what they wanted.
The people were puzzled with speculations
as to whether it was dynastic or a con-
stitutional movement. Did It's real strength
lie in the towns or in the country? Was its
object industrial or agrarian? Or was 1t
simply a gathering of the forces of dlscon-
tent formidable-most formidable-from the
point of view of the prosperity and good
administration of the empire, but not such
Il revolution as left the government no
choice, but that between conquering and
DetnS conquered Inc OulCoiit dppcdiS al
ter all, no matter what the liberalizing
tendencies may have been, to have been
favorable to the government. In spite of
all the car is still on his throne Count
White is still his first minister and enough
of the army is faithful to him to give him
command of the situation at all events in
St. Petersburg and in Moscow.
Things have far soidifed themselves
that Sergius Yulevitch White, the first min
lister of Russia is even willing to comment
upon the situation as it exists. In answer
to questions recently, he said
Probably no public servant known to
Russian history has ever been so severely
and unanimously blamed in his own coun-
try as myself. and this not only for acts
which | did but for others which l never
even dreamed of doing, and not merely for
words and motives which We're truly mine,
but also for their opposites which were
gratuitously attributed to me. Again, every
public man known to history. no matter
what the color of his politics, has had Il
party following, numerous or small. Some
section of society endorsed his principles,
some fraction assisted his efforts many
rejoiced at his achievements. l am the sole
exception. livery party, extreme or mod
crate agrees in Directing to what it terms
my policy on grounds that contradict each
other Numerically.
Laborers in Country's Cause.
GAS a Russian patriot my heart bleeds at
a lack of industrious fellow laborers in the
country's cause, of earnest workers who
do not expect political social regenera-
ton from radical programs and speeches
but from steady wise, patient labor, from
respect for the law, from reverence for
duty, and from the exercise of self con-
troll. With a fair contingent of such mod
est, conscientious tofters, Russia WoU Id soon
rise to a very high place among the ma
tons of the earth. l am hopeful that men
of this sort viii yet come forward. Mean
while my motive in continuing to occupy a
post which brings down such harsh Judg-
n1ent upon me is duty to the czar and the
fatherland; my guiding principle Is to act
according to my lights, and my sole recon-
pense is the approval of my conscience.
'On my return from the United States
after the treaty of Portsmouth, all that 1
craved for was rest for body and mind in
the seclusion of private life, and 1t was all
the more likely that my wish would be
granted since there were doubtless others
who, placed in the position [ now occupy,
might have acquitted themselves of the
task as we'll as myself, or better.
Whatever the drawbacks or penalties
attached to the performance of my duty I
cheerfulIy accept them. But I certainly
do not include among such penalties the
constant disapproval of every thing I do by
certain political groups, On the contrary,
clever mems criticism is always welcome,
because it is wholesome and helpful, while
to the structures of the remainder one can
easily shut ones second ear. Some nations
judge their servants not only by what they
have accomplished but also by what they
would fam have accomplished. l am ready
to accept responsibility for what 1 have
really said and done, but what l deprecate
are the apocryphal utterances gratuitously
attributed to me every day.