The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-19
RUssIA,s SAD PLIGHT.

sSSSANA Q cT.D
 We have long since ceased to won- der at anything that happens in Rus sia. It is q land of the topsy-turvy We certainly make nc very serious pre- tense of understanding what is going on there just now. The feeling of ev- cry American can only be one of pity. The aged MT. Bigelow makes fairly good showing for his contention that our Presidents interference in the war between Japan and Russia was blun- der; that Russia more thoroughly and com pletely beaten and overwhelmed in the struggle would have returned into old lines. abandoned all dreams of con- quest, and would have set her house in some sort of modern order. But all observer. agree the Russian autocracy is still dreaming and planning for an other gigantic attempt at Eastern ex- pansion; and these plans quite possi- bly determine the conduct of these ruling classes in their present over bearing treatment of the Douma and Douma wants reform at home: the au- tocracy would maintain a position in Europe. in Asia and in Asia particu- larly. The result is now before the world. The Douma has been dissolved and there seems a strong certainty that the Terrorists will renew their &C., tivity and once more deiuge all RussIa with disorder, violence and crime. The ruling classes. headed by the Czar, this kind and as surely have made ready or are making ready to suppress them in blood. Here is the rub of the situation when a sympathize~ with the Russian people looks at 1t. The peo- pie seem to have no other recourse. They must meekly bow their necks or resort to mobs and bombs. A great concerted movement like the American Revolution of 1776 or the French of 1toO StCHiS oul OI tuc queSllUH l ilc Russians are not experienced in asso- citation and if they were they have no means of arming themselves. The au- tocracy rules the army and so long as they maintain their supremacy with the army. this see-saw of mimic par liament one day and bloody riots the next will continue to characterize the course of contemporary history in that most unhappy country.
 the Russian people are not only at the disadvantage of being without a free press, but in addition the entire cor don of states by whic'. they are sur- rounded have no sympathy with popu- lar aspirations. The German Empire can nave no wish to see popular insti- tutions securely established over the border in Russia. Austro- Hungary has its hands completely full in dealing with the dark, mysterious movements amongst the conglomerate races of that empire. The Turk we all know Altogether it may appear wonderful that the Russians have acquired so many notions of liberty as they have. cruel fate has made it a sore travail at all times for them to get at and en- joy what to free people like ourselves seem as natural to us as the air we breathe.
 At this distance it looks as if the army held the key to the situation. So long as the army remains loyal to the Czar. just so long will he and his min isters be free to potter and trife about the establishment of representative in- stitutions. If they should unite with the people, the people would probably secure a genuine opportunity to exhibit to the world what capacity they may possess to work that most complicated and most difficult of human institu- tions. representative government.
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