Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-05
RUSSIANS BELIEVE
NEW DAY DAWN|NG
Patriots Foresee Era of Fair Gov.
eminent, Progress and Eco
nomic Solidity.
CAR LARGELY RESPONSIBLE
Natural Resources Greater Than
Those Of All Rest Of Europe
Put Together.

Especial Cahl" 10 The Times Dis patch
PETROGRAD, March Out OF the
tears and sufferngs OF the great war
a new Russia - being born-a Russia
OF fair government. progress and
economic solidity. This is the belle
OF many PATRIOTS
Perhaps It is all Il beautiful drear,
The patriots were profoundly d
comraged last September, when IT,
Gar prorosued the Duma Put horp
revived. and was intensified fvcfoiI
wher, Nicholas not only called togcthcr
his congress again, but a few days aeu
appeared in person at tho opening of
this representative body. and welcomed
tho members in the name OF victory
II is hard for Western minds TO COM
prehend just what this action of "tbr
Little Father meant to the Russian
mujk. TO the humble peasant his
car is "A dcmiEod. indeed almost an
equal Of the Virgin Mary and tho
Christ. For him TO personally rcceiv.
the peasants representatives was All
inspiration for the war-drivcn Russian
The further proceedings OF the Dunn
Will. there fore, be watched with NOR.
interest than over. The body is
patriotic TO the last man, and th=
liberal bloc. or union OF parties. has
decided to forego pressing for reforms
until the crisis in the nations histor,
is past.
The Premier. " Sturmer. has
record of conservatism which does M,
recommend him to the liberal element
vet. like the Car he now conciliato.:
the most radical and associates IT,"
mighty people to oppose a united from
to the German.
The honest attempts OF the govern
ment to solve the frightful transporta-
ton problem, which has resulted in
famine in one province with a super
abundance OF the needed products in
another nearby province, are generally
recognized. The efforts have not met
with great success, however. Russian
bureaucracy, unlike the German brand.
is not efficient. But the spirit in which
the problem has been met. like tle
severe measures taken to root out am
punish war grating in high places.
has encouraged the intellectuals t.
look for better things.
SAZoNOFF GAINS RESPECT AND
CONFIDENCE or People,!
II sazonoff, tho Foreign Minister. i,
another government official whr
though Conservative. has gained tn
respect and confidence OF the peopl,
1t is felt that Russia's delicate rcla-
lions with her allies and with Sweden
and the United States are in good
hands.
Even il Russia should lose this war.
or 1t should result in a draw. great
changes are to he expected. Russian
reforms have grown out of conflict,
When Lloyd George, the British Min
lister of Munitions. said that GerTnan
arms are blasting the letters off back
ward Russia. he told tho truth.
1t was the constant incursonS OF th,
Tartars which led TO the consolidation,
of old Russia about Moscow. \ reigu
OF terror in the first half of the seven
tcenth century led to the foundation of
the house OF Romanon. under which
the Russian empire has grown to it's
present greatness.
A century later the war with Sweden
brought the nation TO realization OF
it's need of Western WAYS. Under Peter
the Great, the Swedish struggle re
suited in the permanent alignment OF
Russia with the nations OF the West,
instead of the civilizations OF the East.
With the Napoleonic wars Russia
scmi-Asiatic seclusion. The Crimean
War brought further spread or en-
liGhtened ideas and had much to do
With the famous emancipation of the
scrfs. The feudaI system received
further blows At the end OF the TURK
sh War OF iS5.-7S.
AZ climax to the Russo apanese
War came tho bloody revolution of
1908, the birth of the FIRST Duma and
tho seeming dawn OF freedom.
Eut it was Il false dawn. There fol-
lowed reaction OF the most terrible
sort-poEroms. Wholesale arrests, the
suppression OF liberal ideas ana great
shipments OF the intellectual leaders
10 Siberia.
This era was passing away whcm
the war began. In tho spring Of 1874
tho Duma dared to refuse 10 pass the
budget II fought with the reaction
AIRY government on almost equal terms
The war caused the Liberal leaders
TO consent 20 delay. old institutions
were allowed to stand umchallensed
in the hour OF crisis when every nerve
and sincw OF tho nation were needed
III the great trial OF arms
IGNORANT NOtN,: PEASANT
Is HUOADENED nl WAX
The war itself has done much To
onlGhtcn. Tie ignorant Young peas
amt who seldom went more than n.tv
miles from his little village. has
travelled To the battle front and talked
with all sorts or men he never dreamed
existed
The suppression OF vodka has
wrought marvcls The older peasant
insteaI OF spending his evenings IN
hcsotting revcls. now takes his place
in a little group around some men OF
women who can read and listens TO the
latest news about the war or the words
OF wisdom from some volume purchased
~ the ncighborinS town by the joint
contributions OF many poor folk
Russia is moving and stirring Th,.