In Russia

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1, 4 January 1906, Page 1

In Russia

_ Artemus Ward says that revolutions are the only kind of exercise taken by the Central American. The Frank is fairly ready in resorting to the same kind of ' divarshun.' But it tales the less practised and slower-moving Russian more- time to get .under way. The events of the past twelve months— and especially of the past few weeks— tend, however, to show that his impetus when once he has got fairly in motion may yet ~ be, greater , and his impact against obstacles in his path more severe, than those of. his lighter and more volatile friends west of the Rhine. Disraeli says that 'great revolutions', l whatever may be their causes, are not lightly commenced, and are not concluded with precipitation.' That which shook' France to the roots in 1789 was no sudden volcanic upheaval. Its coming had been long| foreseen by those who had eyes to xeadthe signs "of the times. The present revolution that has got so far-spreading a grip on^- Russia is merely the natural and predicted outcome of causes that have long been "at work in the realms, of Muscovy. And if, too, is not likely to be ' concluded with precipitation.'

Under the autocratic and oppressive rule that prevails in Russia, discontent is the normal condition. The reform movement, so far asi it has tajken shape, has run on two lines— that of -constitutional agitation and of revolution. The policy of driving discontent beneath the surface has strengthened the hands of the' party of violence, who have been at work. for half a century in one way or another in what Stepniak calls ' underground Russia.' The Movement received a fresh impetus from dissatisfaction with the ; exasperation at the monotony and gravity of defeat ; the keen distress among the workers caused by industrial depression and the added' burdens of the struggle in the Far East.; the harsh rejection of, or trifling or temporising ""with, popular demand's ; \the suppression of free speech and of the right of public' meeting ; the partial corruption of the army and navy ; and, finally, the feeling that the Autocrat's difficulty was the revo- v lutionary's opportunity. -So far as we can trust the cable-messages, the revolutionary kettle seems, as we write, to be bubbling fiercely. Wellington "remarked to some of his staff at Waterloo : ' Hard pounding this, gentlemen ; let's see who will pound the longest.' The outcome, of the ' hard pounding ' in Russia will be watched with eager interest by the civilised world.