The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-10-07
THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

THE RUSSIAN STU A1lON.
1t would be interesting to know
exactly what is going on in Russia.
A few weeks ago We learned, all on
the same day, that the Car had re-
moved Grand Duke Nicholas from the
command Of the armies that face the
German invaders and had sent him to
the semi-eXile of the Caucasus; that
the Liberal party was in control of
the Duma. and that the leaders of
that party. besides insisting on many
administrative reforms. intended to
bripg about change in the cabinet
and the dismissal of Premier Goremy-
kin. Next came word that, in spite of
the protests of the Liberal majority.
the Czar had prorogued the Duma.
Are we TO believe that these things
point toward a change either in the
foreign policy or in the internal or
ganization of Russia?
1t is never easy for the Western
peoples to understand the workings
of the Russian mind and of the Rus
sian political system, and it is es-
pecially hard now when we are kept
in ignorance of much that would or
dinarily be made public. Some OBJ
servers take the removal Of the grand
duke from the high command to
mean that the Car tires of war, and
that he is beginning to listen to the
pro-German party, always strong at
Petrograd, which is urging Russia to
avoid further defeat and despoliation
by making separate peace.
But there is as yet no real evil
dence that that is the case. 1t is
more probable that the grand dukes
downfall is the result of cousinly
jealousy on the part OF the Car, and
of widespread enmity on the part
of influential persons whom the auto
cratic soldier has offended. He has
shown military capacity of high or
der, both in offensive and in defensive
warfare. His reverses do not appear
to be his fault, but his enemies have
made them the occasion to break
down his authority.
But Russia is not likely to make
separate peace, unless its statesmen
have lost all power of vision. Such a
peace would deliver the empire from
much present suffering and humilia-
ton. but at cost of its future in
fuence in Europe. 1t would mean
the surrender of every historic Rus
ssian ambition, and the abandonment
of the Balkan Slavs to German and
Turkish control. If the Car were
weak enough to make the surrender
what would his people say?
What does that great inarticulate
nation think of the war, anyway? 1t
is suffering much and enduring stol-
idly: but the Slav by temperament and
past history is prepared for that.
Those who have the best opportunities
to Judge think that the empire really
has its heart in the war: that it un-
derstands the issues of the conflict,
and that it is ready to make still
heavier sacrifices if need be. The in
creasing power of the Liberals at
Petrograd points in that direction,
for liberal Russia breads political
subsection to Germany more than re-
dictionary Russia could possibly fear
| it. 1t is almost certain that the
breakdown of the Russian campaign
Is owing in part at least to the same
shameful peculation and greed in
high places that prevailed during the
war with Japan. If that is true, the
resentment of the nation may yet
bring about startling political and
governmental changes at Petrograd
but such changes are quite as likely
to be followed by increased efficiency
in the field as by the collapse of Rus
sian resistance. That will even more
probably be the case if the allies
should win at the Dardanelles.
Finally, the world will watch with
interest the attempt of the Russian
Liberals to gain more justice and
freedom for the Jews, the Firms, and
the Poles within the empire. If the
defeat of the Russian armies shakes
the stolid internal policy of the Rus
sian bureaucracy, the humiliation
through which the country is pass
| ing will mark only a step, and, for all
! its bitterness, a necessary step, In
the progress of the people.-The
| Youths' Comnauion.