The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-01-07
Former Premier of Russia Thinks
Each Nation Fears The Power of
The Others
RUSSIA MOST IN NEED OF PEACE
He Sees Cars Country On Road To
Conservative Constitutional Gov
eminent

was recently WrltCeu ny CoulI DEL
gius Witte, former Premier of Russia.
He says that his country is on the way
to conservative constitutions i m,
brought about by the better under
standing of the manifesto of 1905.
AS for the international situation,
Count Witte says Russia for one does
not desire war. She needs peace too
badly. He says this situation exists
in every other European nation, where
economic welfare is at stake. The next
war, he says, will be for colonial con-
quests.
In Transition State
His review, translated from the
Russian by Herman Bernstein, fol-
lows:
Russia is at present in state of
transition. We have neither real con-
stitutionaIism nor real absolutism. In
our political life there are many fea-
lures which may be called abnormal.
These have been called forth by the
fact that the moment Russia was
made happy by the Throne IN the gra-
cious manifesto of October, II, 1905,
proclaiming a new constitutional re-
gime, neither the liberal nor the con-
sentative parties were able to pene-
trate properly the new order of things.
Not Needed By Russia
The liberal parties did not under
stand the psychological moment; they
did not occupy themselves with prac-
tical politics in constitutional spirit,
but Immediately endeavoring to secure
parliamentary form of government,
which the manifesto of October II did
not have in view, and which did not
respond to the actual needs of Russia
at that time.
| The mistake of the liberals, the
blunder of the liberal parties, consist
ed in the fact that by their actions
they drifted far away from the correct
conception of the logic Of history
They failed to realize that history
knows no leaps and bounds. Like ma
ture, history does not allow such leaps
and bounds to go unpublished.
Looked for Revolution
On the other hand, the extreme con-
sentative elements also failed to und-
erstand the inner logic of history
The extreme right parties did not est
mate properly the movement which
expressed itself in the manifesto Of
October II. Pleasing themselves will
the thought that the manifesto may b.
revoked, they did not take into consid
Grafton the fact that it was firm &C
emanating from the will of the mon
arch.
Such were the two opposite current
which it was impossible to unite AM
this has created chaos
Chaos is Vanishing
At the present time this chaos is lit
tie by little making room for definit
order. The situation appears to b
more calm now, although one canno
say that the "happy medium" ha
been found and that the equilibrium
has been attained in the internal poll
cies of Russia. The fuctuation be
tween the two currents is continuing
The real road, corresponding to tn
: logic of history, is not as yet fount
but it may be said that Russia is no'
on the way toward conservative cor
stitutionalism. In the meantime Rus
STA is leading nervous political lift
!, The legislation of the Imperial Dunn
3 and the Council of the Empire is nc
: : always the product of ripe politics
: wisdom. In a word, Russia is in
: state of transition which is expel
e fenced by every country before it fine
y the right road designated to it by tt
/. logic of history.
Russia Doesn't Want War
e As for the international situation,
am fully convinced that Russia dot
not want any war. On the contral
t. Russia is very sincerely striving t
: ward policy of peace in information
u affairs. The country lived through
painful war several years ago al
even if that war had ended success
F fully for Russia she would have nee
ia ed the rest which every victor needs.
= Russia is now especially in need
n rest, and consequently she is in ne.
N Of peace during this period of ira
r sition when she is celebrating al
N strengthening her new form of go
De eminent.
g Thinks Peace Is Assured
In my opinion the general positi'
y of Europe is such that peace is a
Is Is sured for many years to come. At Il
te present time a European war won
n have assumed proportions compar
!. with which all wars in the past won
IL