The Dominion. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1915. RUSSIA'S POLITICAL TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2656, 30 December 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1915. RUSSIA'S POLITICAL TROUBLES

There is a good deal of political unrest in Russia at the present time. This does not mean thajt the- nation

is growing weary of the war. It would be just as reasonable to contend that the present Parliamentary crisis in Britain is a proof that the British public is less determined than it was a year ago to fight on until the enemy is decisively defeated. _ Of course we know that the National Ministry was set up in Britain not to inaugurate a go slow bub in order that the war should bs waged with increased vigour and efficiency, and the Government is now being attacked simply because its critics feel that it is not making the fullest and best use of the fighting powers of the nation. As far as Britain is concerned, political controversy is certainly not a sign of war-weariness. Quite the reverse. Russia, too, has political troubles, and opinions differ in Russia, as among ourselves, regarding the conduct of the war; but, with the exception of an insignificant minority, all parties are agreed that victory can, and must, and shall, be achieved. A cablegram which wc publish in another column indicates that the political controversy,is just now rather acute, tho critics of the Government not being satisfied with the explanation given , for the postponement of the meeting of the Duma. But the malcontents are said to be few in number, and the nation has not wavered in its resolve to prosecute the war to the utmost, the general opinion being that the present is no time for domestic controversy. For some time past the progressive bloc has been snowing signs of restlessness. The Russian politician has his own methods of doing things. His ways are not our ways. A streak of light is thrown upon the political situation by a Russian correspondent of the London Daily ■A ews, who remarks that as soon as aily two Russians agree on anything they set down to .draw up a programme. This is just what the progressive bloc did "in spite of the fact that every man in it was solely concentrated on doing what should be done for the winning of the war." An elaborate platform was framed, including such planks as reform of tho Zemstvos, a broadening of the franchise, the recognition of trades unions, and a Government of public men not recruited from the ranks of officialdom. The'impracticability of attempting to deal with such a farreaching programme of constitutional reform while the country was fighting for its life is quite obvious. The. proposals were too sweeping from a Russian point of view for serious consideration, and so the Duma was suddenly dismissed in September. It was called together again in November. T'he leaders of the bloc, in answer to tho drastic criticism directed against their untimely proposals declared that their programme was merely a statement of the ultimate hopes on which they were agreed. They did. not intend to go straight on with it. For tho present they were ready and. willing to concentrate their energies on the war. This does not mean that the bloc is satisfied with the Government as at present constituted, but it does mean that they recognise that victory must be placed before reform. Referring to the reassembling of the Duma in November, Me. Stephen Graham, who is. in a position to speak with authority on Russian affairs, writes:

The work of the Dmna will probably be confined to the consolidation of all Russian efforts for resistance to the Germans and tho winning of the war. The war lias put a terribly unexpected strain on the resources of Russia. The personal, material, and financial strain is increasing month by month, and every effort of the reasonable elements in tlio Duma is necessary for banding the nation together for resistance to the strain. The Duma as an institution is safe: it is growing; it has destiny written in its fabric. It can afford to be patient for it has plenty of time. .After the war the financial condition of Russia will be such that enly through the Duma will she be able to' save liersclf, for it will be impossible to raise adequate sums bv taxation without an intimate interchange of opinion with tho people in the depths.

Mn. Graham, who recently returned to England from a visit to Russia, is convinced that Russia will fight to the bitter end, and that the tide is now turning in her favour. This conviction '3 confirmed by the experiences of Mr; Stanley Washburn among the peasant's. While-travel-ling from Moscow to the front. Mb. Washburn took every opportunity of probing the peasant mind. "We must beat the Germans no matter what it costs us," said one fine old peasant. It was a typical answer. "Tell me truly,"' said Mr. Washburn to a man who had two sons at the front—"tell me truly, if the defeat of Germany meant the death of your two sons, and neace now would bring them back safely, even if the Germans did win, what then' would you choosc V' He replied quite simply, "I should bow my head. We must be-at the Germans. Yes, I would sacrifice my sons and go myself, even though I am an olcl man, if I could help. We bate the Germans." The Russians will fight on with dogged determination until the enemy is beaten. When the war began the Germans spoke with the utmost contempt of the fighting qualities of the Russians. Experience has changed their opinion on this point. The Russians have suffered heavy losses, but thev have also inflicted heavy losses. Their power of attack and resistance is not broken. Thoy have a wonderful way of renewing their strength, and wearing down their enemies: "We must admit," writes a German war correspondent, "that the Russians arc still showing surprising ability in their retreat and recuperation, and are still far from their expected paralysis in spite of terrible losses. 1 ' EiEc Britain and France, Austria and Germany, Russia has her political and social troubles; but the spirit of the nation is unbroken. The Russians, according to the best available evidence, are as determined as wo are to continue the war until the Allies arc in a position to dictate the terms of peace.