Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-03

Petrograd, Feb. 3.-In a recent in
terview Count Ivan Tolstoi, who
speaks with the combined authority
OF a representative of the Russian
nation. of a member of the oldest arts
tocracy, and as mayor of Russia's capt.
tai, declared that the promise of Grand
Duke ilsicholas for autonomy for the
Poles would be scrupulously carried
out.
1.-The manifesto of the commander
| in-chief is of the greatest importance"
said he. ut is my desire to impress
the world with the fact that the whole
! Russian nation heartily appreciates
| this measure. The promises given by
| the grand duke will be fulfilled, and
/ of this there can be no possible doubt;
such, also, is the desire of our nation
and of our car. When the Russian
army wins, the divided parts of Poland
will be reunited. Poland win comprise
Galicia, Silesia, Posnania, West Prus-
STA with DantZig). part of East Prus-
STA and the present kingdom of Pc
land. Poles will enjoy full autonomy
Polish will again become the language
of the schools, of public life and of
officialdom. The Poles must have at
least one university entirely Polish.
I'm my opinion the officials of the
future Polish government ought TO
have a knowledge of the Russian Ian
guage, as being the language of the
empire. The POLES must have their
own diet The institution of governor
general ought to be abolished. This |
places Poland on the same footing as
- he oil Of h Ion
pire."
Don't you consider was asked the |
count, that the reactionaries, the |
German party can hinder the realiza-
ton OF those promises through their
powerful infiuence?"
mo. il is impossible. 1t is true
that the Russian bureaucracy was I'M
der German influence for many a long
day. The Germans gained the high
est government positions, they are
still very powerful at court, and they
created party of their own. They
oppose us real Russians. I do not be-
lieve in their patriotism for one mo-
ment, but no doubt they are loyal to
the dynasty and TO the ear The
car, for his part, considers himself
as the first servant of the nation. Thus,
the car is faithful to the nation. and
the German party is faithful to the
car. The feelings of Poles towards
Russia are now fraternal and sincere,
and the Russian people entirely recip-
rocate these sentiments"
DO you think, count, that Russia
Is suffering very much through the ,
war? Is there any change in Petro-
grad?"
None whatever Everyday life is
not changed in the slightest. Prices (
are lower. Many products which were f
previously exported, for example, g
geese, eggs, cavier, etc, must be sold
IN the spot. and. therefore, are much
cheaper. Shipping companies are the
only sufferers; the people, as whole,
gain more than they lose In our or
iinary urban undertakings we had to
suspend work on account of tasks
more important in time of war. And
hat is all Russia is too vast, too
mighty, to be devastated by any war.
Her resources are immense, and
me is able to continue war for an I'M
United time. But | consider that the
present contest cannot last long The
Germans cannot withstand our army
We shall drive them entirely out of
ur territory, and we shall carry on
he war on German soil. where we
hall soon manage to push them from
last and West Prussia, from Posna-
ia and Silesia Then the Germans
'ill be compelled to sue for peace.
Our spirit is at its highest level,
nd this is true not only of the army,
ut OF the nation. Ii was generally
aid that drunkenness would ruin Rus
Ia. Meanwhile ukase forbidding the
ale of alcohol met with universal ap-
roval. II is true that restaurants and
ublic houses are the sufferers, but
lie nation is rapidly growing in moral
over and wealth. The result OF this
ew law, even after few months of
peration, is very striking. Our hos
Itals in Petrcgrad never used to have
Efficient room for patients. At the
resent moment, in spite of the fact -
lat many n wounded soldier is sent -
ere to be tended, we have always q
enty of room for cur patients Sta
sites show q wonderful decrease of
ness amongst the population. And
us, even now. we can see advant-
,es and good results which have been
on us by the present war
lie only sufferers are those who are
ing in the immediate sphere of mil
ary operations. and these are actu-
ly Poles.
The sympa thetic Russian nation
alizes tais, and holds out help to
e sufferers. The city of Petrograd
NJ 25.0e0 francs fer Belgium. but
900 roubles for Poland. and at tho
esent moment throughout the town
,ney and clothes are being collect