Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-16
ATHE BIRTH OF A NATION"


The revolution in Russia, news of which reached
America yesterday it had been brewing for some
weeks. Starting in some of the smaller places in the
shape of food riots spread to the larger cities in short
time. Street riots became numerous in Petrograd and
steadily increased In number and severity WOrklngmen
struck until finally the public order broke down
pletey big strike Thursday of last week followed
Friday by great parades the mob singing and yelling and
at the time making all kinds of threats The Duma
announced meeting at which the prime minister would
appear and this for short time queted the popuace
This meeting however resulted in hot row between the
dama and the minister. Friday afternoon Rodziasld,
leader OF the dma ent special courier to the czar in
ptremptoy words for the dismissal of the government
and declining all responsibility if the supported
Gozyn the Russian premier Saturday. GoZyn answered
this demand in person by dissoving the duma That is
he ordered it to dissolve but that is what it did not do
Instead it proclaimed provisional government declared
the ministers and cabinet longer existed and assumed
the reins of government The czar fled to- his castle and
not feeling safe there took refuge with the army. While
the latter evidently protected him it s far the gar
rison in Petrograd is concerned at least to man with
the duma This is brief outline Of the most dramatic
event Of the war.
Behind the movement it is claimed is the disrust and
dislike by both the duma and the army Of the proGeman
element in Russa's bureaucracy. The pro-Germanism
among the Russian oficaldom rampant that the
people to believe it responsible for hndering Rus
sias successful prosecution Of the 1t natural
that they should believe since the practically OF
German blood The duma has shown its power on several
occasions and that it has taken full charge OF the
form of government will survive 1t may be possible for
short while the czars Alexis who not yet il years
old may be made the gurehead Of the government un
til republican form can be adopted That the latter
will be done seems certainty There several parties
in Russia the natonaiss and the Octobersts faVoring
the present form of government Against these ar
rayed the constitutional democrats who from the first
have demanded complete equality for all citizens, liberty
Of conscience free speech and free press Their creed
was Constitutional government with ministerial re-
sponsiblity and religious self government" The 'Te-
generators" and social democrats sided with the demo-
Gratis on all main issues These latter compose the ele
ment now in charge of Russia's affairs
AS revolution it is without parallel in history. 1t is
q revolution not against the ruling power much as
against conditions that threatened the very life of the
country 1t was revolution to the country from
the bureaucracy its ruler had surrounded himself with
revolution for placing the country in position to de-
fend itself More than all it accomplished practically
without bloodshed The deposed ruler simply set
aside and not otherwise molested and the business OF
the country told to pursue its avocatons as usual
1t simply the strong men OF great nation taking
charge of affairs for the salvation of the country.
1t is more remarkable in that the form of government
from the most despotc of monarches what is virtually
republic and which will in all likelihood remain SUCH
The emperor is weaking much so that he is easily
swayed and was always puppet in the hands of some
power behind the throne He prey to superstitous
Influences of indecsion and negation. The latest
real ruler of Russia the monk RaSputn the czarS
personal religious arbiter He swayed the to suit his
PURPOSES and Rasputin the exponent of abso-
lutism. He was peasant by birth but believer In abb
solute autocracy. On top Of this he bitterly pro-