New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-11
BY ISAAC Don LEVINE

TIE resignation of Alexander Trep.
or as Russian Premier, in which
capacity he served only about six
weeks, and the appointment OF Prince
Golltzin-M uravlin as his successor is
an event of portentous significance to
the cause of the Allies and a step back
ward in the development of the Russian
democracy.
The crisis which broke out in Rus
sla last November at the opening OF the
Duma rs still in its full swing. This
crisis is nothing but a pitched battle
between the forces Of democracy and
bureaucracy in Russia. The Russian
democracy has bound its fortunes with
those Of the Allies. seeing in such n
bond q guarantee for its future polit-
ical and economic progress \ certain
part OF the Russian bureaucracy.
reared on Prussianism. has identified
itself with the dark forces that are
underwriting 10 bring about a separate
peace between Russia and Germany.
II is i'm this light that the Russian
events OF the last two months are 90
be Judged. StUrmer. the Premier, who
preceded TrcpoG, was an advocate OF
separate peace. The recent speeches
OF Deputies Miliukov and Purishke-
witch i'm the Duma leave no doubt about
this Hence, the tremendous outbreak Of
popular Russia against Sturmcr Tho
Dumu. the Council. tho Order OF No
bility and the army unanimously
opposed him. He was forced TO resign.
The Russian democracy and the Allies
then registered their first victory in
the struggle
But, in spite Of this victory and the
pro-Ally declarations Of Trepof and
Pokroysky, the Foreign Minister the
bitter contest between the people and
the dark forces" went on with re-
newcd vgor. The Duma and the press
aSsailed ProtOpopof. the Minister Of
Interior, with unprecedented rancor
and violence. Protopopof was a
prot6g6 Of Sturmer. Coming himself
from the ranks Of the Duma, he turned
which he belonged. There are strong
grounds for suspecting him Of pro-
Germanism. Probably no minister in
recent years was so disliked in Russia
as ProtoDopof is to-day.
But Protopopof managed 10 with
stand All the assaults of the demo-
cratic forces. Early iu December he
had an audience with the Gar. which
resulted in strengthening his position
materially. lie openly dcfed the Duma
and the popular organizations. II WAS
evident that tho dark forces had
again gained the upper hand in the ma
tlou's high councils.
Then. about week ago, something
happened which showed the desperate
position Of the Russian democracy. The
monk Rasputiu. the moving spirit OF
the dark forces" was slain. This was
q desperate measure. The slayers are
known to be in sympathy with the
cause OF the Allies. The Russian peo-
pie reioiccd at the death OF the monk.
His hold on the Gar was known to be
very powerful He never made a secret
of his hostility toward Great Britain.
His death. therefore. meant vital
blow at the movement for separate
peace
But the governments decision not
to prosecute the slayers OF Raspuui
has apparently caused the downiul Of
Trepof. The orphaned remnants o.
the dark forces" have thus scored am
other great victory. The dismissal OF
Ignatieff. Minister of Education. who
was the most liberal and popular MIN
lister in the. Cabinet, and the appoint
ment of Golitzin-Muravlin to the
Premiership means not only setback
in the development of democracy in
Russia, but, above all, the resurrec-
ton Of the danger of a separate peace:
As a sidelight on the meaning OF
the Russian cabinet change the APP
pointment Of Kultchitsky to the post
Of Minister Of Education is more valu-
able than the appointment of Golitzln-
Muravln to the Premiership. For
Kultchitsky is a reactionsry of re-
dictionaries, which is in sharp contrast
to the comparative liberalism OF has
predecessor
Golitzin-Muravlin is the first prince
who has ever been premier Born IN
1860. in one Of the most illustrious and