THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 4

THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA.

Wanton and wicked misrule is apparently hurling the fabric of Russian government swiftly towards perdition. Into the details of the horrors of Bielostok it would be. unprofitable to enter— the civilised world is nauseated at the story, and as we read to-day the women of America are making themselves heard in indignant denunciation. The worst outrages of the Turk upon the Christians of Armenia, Macedonia, or Bulgaria have been paralleled, if not surpassed, by the diabolical treatment of inoffensive Jewish women and children by so-called Christians, instigated by the State controlled by a n 'Holv Synod." And it is a dreadful reflection that there is nothing uncommon about tire Bielo&tok incident. It is in all respects similar to events that nave recurred with painful frequency during the past twelve months, but have not been reported with equal detail. And there is too much reason to suspect that it is the first of a new series, deliberataly planned by the authorities. If the Duma had done nothing else, it would have justified itself by the light it has thrown upon those national crimes and the determined, though so far unsuccessful, efforts it is making to check them. Outside interference is scarcely to bo looked for. Effective action on the part of any other Power would almost oertainly cast a torch into the powder magazine of Europe. Britain .and the United States have both intimated that they do not feel called upon to undertake so tremendous a responsibility. To all appearances the problem will find its solution in some other way. A State, like an 1 individual, may for a time defy every obligation, and trample justice under foot, but the everlasting lawfl of righteousness, the Nemesis of the ancients, prevail in the end. And Russia is face-to-face with Nemesis now. Her credit vanishing, her indiistries paralysed, she will .require the best available statesmanship to avert bankruptcy. Even if she should set about putting her house in order, whom can she trusfc? Her peasantry driven to i the verge of revolution, her subject peoples glowing with sullen fury and longing for revenge and emancipation, her army and navy honeycombed with disaffection and breaking out continually into mutiny ; her leading statesmen and churchmen venal and, corrupt ; her press silenced, and her Parliament fettered — who is to evolve unity and order from the present discord and chaos? It seems moro than probable that the Grand Duke Vladimir's mission to Berlin indicates, as has been suggested, an appeal from the Tsar in his extremity for the sympathy of his fellow monarchs of Germany and Austria. If regard foi the world's peace has caused the English-speaking Powers to refrain from intervention in the cause of humanity, motives of wordly prudence alone should be strong tp impel the adjacent Empires to hold aloof. The one thing Kaiser William chiefly dreads is the growing power of the Social Democracy. Not only would it be roused to fury by intervention, but it would see and would not fail to use its opportunity. Austria-Hungary has more than enough, to attend to in its own domestic affairs. And the effect of outside intervention upon Russia itself would be so disastrous to the authorities that only abject fear could lead them to contemplate such a policy. Help would not be gratis — a price, and a, heavy one, would be exacted; while the presence of foreign troops in the country would exasperate the people and incense them still further against their own Government. In bo utterly^ unstable a state of things as exists at present, with the aspect of affairs changing from, day to day, it is not easy to forecast what lies even in the immediate future. Two ominous developments are indicatedfurther outrages on the Jews and a great strike in Poland, neither of which, should they occur, may be expected to do more than further perplex the situation ; but the tension has now become* so great that important developments can not be far dißtant.-