The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-09

Under such circumstances the sociallstic an,
revolutionary propaganda among the peasantrl
has an increased chance OF success.
Among the upper classes the discomfort Is jus
az strong though the grounds for 1t are Of diff
fcrent kind. They feel that their reign is pass
| ing by, and that one Of the results OF the wal
| will be the asccndancy OF men OF the middle and
lower classes. Their families. accustomed &c
| live abroad. have to return home. for tho cur.
tailed incomes and the high rate OF foreign cx.
change render II impossible for them to live in
| the style they are accustomed 10. regular
exodus Of Russian families Is reported from
| Italy. Switzerland. and France. The military
authorities are accused of all this. just AZ much
| IA the dplomatists. The Grand Duke Nicholas
| is loudly spoken Of az an idiot and an imbecie
| (which is not altogether incorrectl; a wholesale
court martial is demanded for the officers Of the
general staff. and the immediate replacing OF
| Prince Gortchakofr by Gen. Ignatieff is sup
| posed 10 be the only way to secure proper man
agcment of diplomatic affairs.
The middle classes. in the meanwhile hamp-
| cred in the legitimate pursuit OF their trades
and professions and ruined by heavy taxes.
have apparcntly,made up their minds TO at
tempt further development of this until now
latent opposition. They declare that the only
salvation Of Russia is the introduction Of %
parliamentary form OF government. They
don't speak yet of the deposition Of the dynasty,
but they no longer make "A secret of their intcn-
ton TO limit the Cars power and to make his
favorltcs and Ministers responsible before the
nation.
The strongest expression Of this sort Of
feeling was given in memorial recently adj
dressed by the slavonic Committee of Moscow
to the heir apparent This document plainly
states that no nation can succeed in giving
freedom and " good government TO other peo-
pie when II has not got them itself;
that the ignorant men placed at the head Of the
army by birth and favortism should at once be
dismissed; that in all other branches Of the
public service thoroughgoing reforms should
be introduced: and that n National Assembly
f/emskV Sobor). consisting OF representatives
OF the provincial assemblies. should be con-
voked. with political and legislative rights equal
TO those of the Council OF State" This is moth
ing less than demand for II Lower House Of
Parliament. and for the transformation OF the
Council of State into House OF Lords. The
fact that the memorial comes from Slavonic
committee lessons somewhat its significance
abroad. People are inclined to think that all
the Slayonic and Pan-Slavst committees are
humbugs But this case is an exceptional one
The memorial is signed by the old Ivan Ak
saxon. man whose name is revered all through
Russia, whose patriotism and honesty haye
never been questioned. and who has never tax an
part in any revolutionary or socialistlc con-
spiracies. He represents the Intelligence and
wealth Of Moscow. and the heir apparent will
have seriously to converse with his father on
the subject OF the memorial. The document
was addressed to him, and not TO the Car him
self, because the Russian law makes il n polti-
cal crime TO petition the Car on any subject
AL. n. IL.
eminent.
Should Alexander H. be he defeated or vic
torious in Turkey. consent TO limit his own de-
spotic power and tc grant a Parliament to Rus
STA. he need not be afraid either OF socialistic
students and peasants. or Of disconnected no.
bles But II he persists in maintaining the Old
form OF government the close Of the war may
become the signal for a complex kind Of a revo-
luton. political ut the top. sociastc at the bot
tom. and republican in the middle. Tho dy-
nasty will bc exposed to no less danger than the
monarchical principle itself. and this in the
present condition Of Europe may lead to COM
plications Of incalculable magnitude. The
Governments Of England. Germany, Austria
Italy. in fact every European country
except Switzerland. have vital inter
est in UNFOLDING this principle. and
nobody can youch that in case Of republi-
can and socialistic outbreak in Russia the COM
bined soveregns of Europe will no,. for the
sake Of their own protection be induced to send
their regiments 10 restore the Romanofr dynasty.
ms they once restored the Bourbon dynasty By
that time Brogie and Fourtou might perhaps
have succeeded in restoring Imperialism in
France, and Napoleon ~. will then Join the
other sovercgns in restoring monarchy in
kussia Tor lu't the same reason ms Alexander |.
Joined IN restoring monarchy in France.
.ff inn