THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY APRIL 29, 1905. MAY DAY IN EUROPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12853, 29 April 1905, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY APRIL 29, 1905. MAY DAY IN EUROPE.

For a number of years May Day was awaited with alarm and fear in almost every Continental country, the United Kingdom looking curiously across the Channel in anticipation oi some fresh instance of the instability of all Continental authority, while,, resting contentedly in the assurance of its ofvn freedom from revolutionary movement. But with the passing of the years and the repeated proof that Labour processions and demonstrations do not result'in anything more serious than ap. occasional riot or some petty disturbance easily suppressed, the European attitude towards the May Day celebrations has distinctly changed. In 189"), April closed amid general uneasiness, but in 1905 we may.safely assume that Monday will pass quietly in every country excepting Russia, and that in Russia there is no prospect of revolution making head against the manifold preparations of the authorities. This distinct change for the better, accompanied as it is by the universal and humane tendency in ecery civilised country to remove by constitutional means every real grievance of which the wage-earning class-may complain, is a matter for hearty mutual congratulation. For removed though the British countries are from the direct effects of European revolutions, the whole of civilisation suffers ultimately from any influence which threatens to undermine it in any important section. The nation to which the improvement is mainly due is undoubtedly the French. The remarkable stability of the French Republic has delighted all its well-wishers and has won the respect and esteem of those who once regarded France as .Utterly lacking in all the elements that make for permanent and constitutional governance. Once the firebrand of the Continent, it has become the mentor and monitor. Instead of looking to Paris for the initiation of some terrible rising which may make May Day livid in the political calendar of the future, we now look to it to see an example of law abidingness and to show the Continental cities that political demonstrations need not be treated as the mere prelude to violent social upheavals against established institutions. Only recently the United Kingdom Istood alone among the European Powers in its confident reliance upon the loyal goodwill of each and every class towards the maintenance of constitutional order. To-day, there .is no less confidence in France itself, for after a full generation of sound and stable administration the Republican form of Government has proved itself suitable to the French political character, and has secured the joint and hearty support of parties that differ entirely upon other political questions. These supporting parties form the overwhelming majority of the French people, and include the elements that once caused May Day to be awaited with fear and trembling.

This beneficial influence of French stability upon European civilisation can hardly be over-estimated. It lias not only modified the perfervid heat of political agitation throughout the Continent, but it has removed the distrust with which neighbouring Powers regarded a nation that had shown itself capable of stupendous exertions in the very midst of internal tumult and anarchy. It has imported a generally more reasonable spirit into the international situation, for the genius of France has always been to give the vote to popular movements, whether for good or for evil. Only into one part of -what we call Europe has this influence failed to penetrate. Russia seems to be outside the European comity of nations in politics as in methods. But although in Russia there is intense alarm at May Day possibilities and a widespread fear, amounting to terror, of looming disorder, Anarchy, and bloodshed, it is not apparent at this distance that successful revolution is immediately possible. That serious disturbances may occur is unfortunately extremely probable, none the less so because the ferocious Government of the Tsar would be glad to obtain a plausible excuse for the most criminal excesses by the police and military and by the desperadoes who may co-operate with them. But with Warsaw garrisoned by a whole army corps, and with similar precautions taken wherever disturbances may be anticipated or provoked, there is likely to be as pitiful an exhibition of popular ignorance and official brutality throughout Russia ou Monday as there was in St. Petersburg on St. Vladimir's day. For as we recently pointed out the movement for reform in Russia lias been temporarily checked, and the autocracy has managed to re-establish its threatened ascendency. While numerous, indications show that the popular agitation continues beneath the surface of Russian life, there is every reason to think that Russia is waiting to see the outcome of Admiral Roshdestvenski's naval venture. If the Japanese cordon can be broken through and the Baltic fleet carried into Vladivostok, the Wat Party will gain in strength ami reputation, and will lie able to throw the burden ot military misfortune upon military scapegoats, while insisting for the unfaltering continuance of the war until satisfactory terms can be obtained from Japan. 1*- would bo fatal to the prospects of the reformer A . wliobc? present desire is for

peace at any price, were news of a great Russian naval victory to arrive while they were in the throes of a desperate struggle for a free Constitution. The Russian political movement thus mainly depends upon the fate of Roshdestvenski and his fleet, a consideration which may account for the manner in which the Russian Government his been straining its relations with France, in order to gain to its ships every advantage. That the Russian admiral will endeavour to avoid engagement until every available ship has joined him and will stop at no subterfuge to put his entire fleet into fighting trim is a necessary sequence—according to Russian logic the most" crucial position in Russia itself. Were the May Day unrest in the Russian towns to be suddenly aggravated by news of the annihilation of th-> Baltic fleet, anything might happen. But failing that "incitement to the forces of political reform the May Day demonstrations of the workmen must necessarily fail to shake the recovered strength of the Russian autocracy.