The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-24


seventeenth century, when the old liberties
OF Parliament were indicated; In France,
when the name OF tho States-Gencral woke
from an ago-long oblivion; and so it has
been in the Hungary and Spain OF our
own day, when the franchises OF Diet and
OF Cortes were remembered and reGstab-
lished. In Muscovy the rcminscence Of
representative institutions Is faint indeed,
yet IL has not wholly persisted. Even the
worst of the descendants of RURIK, IVAN
the Terrible called together In 1912 for the
discussion OF law code, a body almost
precisely analogous to the contemporary
Statcs-(lencral OF France-an assembly
made up not only Of great mobiles and church
dignitarics, but OF deputies elected by the
merchants and townsfolk la general. Seven
years afterward the destroyer OF Novgorod
again summoned this species OF parliament,
when war with Poland threatened TO
break out; and on the accession OF his son,
the Chief Oounsellors once moro convoked
q representative congress. Somewhat later,
in 1919, after the frighttul anarchy which
followed the usurpatiun of BORIS GoDU-
EoFF, what We may fairly enough term tho
estates Of the realm were called upon to
choose n new dynasty. Not only did this
assembly continue TO exist for few years,
but MICHAEL RoMANoFF was selected from
the various candidates upon the distinct
understanding, fortified by an oath, that
the legislative power should bc divided be-
tween the Car, the House OF Boyars, and
the States-Gcncral. This compact, 10 which
Russian rcformcrs sometimes refer as
their great charter was subsequently,
destroyed by the Cars order. but the as
sembly continued 10 meet ut distant inter
walls during the seventeenth century. After
1852, however, an epoch which. curously
enough. nearly comedies with the consolida-
ton OF English liberties, no meeting OF the
Russian States-General took place, except
Unce under CATHERINE II. for a temporary
object. But this rudiment OF parliament
was not forgotten AZ the death OF PETER
| l., in I725, military measures were taken TO
coerce party which, it was suspected, might
1 try an insurrection for the sake OF obtaining
n constitution Ike that OF Sweden or Poland.
Five years later the crown was con-
ferrcd upon ANNA. with the stipulation
that she should follow in all things the
advice OF the Supreme Stat Council This
was but modest step toward representa-
tive institutions. Yet fortnight afterward
! INC I LdTlnN IFNtOItil inc NulONIhllr System
by a coup d6tdt Of her own. In l7i0 n Cab
met Minister, VoLyNsKI, mindful OF these
prcccdcnts, reduced to writing plan for
the reform Of the affairs Of the State" for
which imprudcnco he had his tongue cut
out and his right hand chopped OF. We
come now to 1775, the year OF our battle Of
Lexington, and We find NATHALIE, the Ger
man wife Of the then Grand Duke
PAUL, privately celebrating with Count
PASrS "a constitutional project. which pro-
| vidcd for two Houses OF Parliament and
the gradual emancipation Of the serss. The
scheme displcased CATHERINE H.. and the
mysterious death Of NATHALIE followed, a
midwife who attended upon her suddenly
acquiring great fortune. Finally, the fact
is undisputed that ALEXANDER /. pledged
his word IL the murderers OF his father,
PAUL, that II placed upon the throne he
would grant charter. The Gar was saved
from keeping his word by three of the con-
spirators themselves. who declared for the
continuance Of autocratc rule The pur-
pose however, was not entirely abandoned,
and the task Of drawing up constitution
was at one time secretly intrusted to one OF
his secretaries.
There were, at least an aim and hope in
this broken series of constitutional prccc-
dents and struggles. but there was also an
obvious lesson that no lasting and substan-
tial concessions could be looked for from the
autocrat. From the return OF the Russian
armies after 1915, some Of the more rcsolutc
and enlightened among the educated classes
determined 10 help themselves, and, thence
forward, organized agitation began. We
get the first glimpse Of a political associa-
ton in 1917. but the ehort-lived League OF
Well Being" was succeeded by the far more
important Society Of Public Welfare" It.
rules were copied from those Of the German
League Of Virtue" (Td1cnd- B,mdj, and the
members were almost all officers or writer's
This society rapidly grew in numbers and
influence, but at length split into two sec.
tions, moderate constitutional ideas pre-
Willing la tho north, whlle the south
adopted democratic notions of an advanced
type
1t was the democratic section controlled
by Col. PEsTEI, and having its hoad centres
Mt Kicfr and other southern towns, which
eliminated in the great outbreak OF 1925
and may bc considered the true parent o.
tho present Nihilst movement. PEsrEI
was an ardent republican AMI determincc
revolutonist, bat according TO HERzEN, he
evinced the most remarkable tact and self
restraint in the management OF the con
spiracy. Those who like to speak Of ALEX
AMBER H. as the LiberatOr Car may do wei
to ponder the fact that PEsTEL proclaimed
it rs one OF his fundamental objects that thu
serfs should be not only emancipated, hui
endowed with n grant Of freehold land. Tn
der the present scheme Of emancipation
they are forced, IL will be remembered, {,
pay for their small holdings, and are likely
TO be burdoncd with debt for fifty years
The abolition Of this Indictment is one o
the levers which the Nihilsts are nov
working.
1t appears that the question Of tyrannicid'
was early brought forward in this society
At one of its secret meetings, when the ban
ishmcnt and Imprisonment OF the impcria
family had been in turn proposed, PEsrEl
is said to have argued that in destruction
alone there was safety, and a majority con
, Cured with him. 1t Is alleged that his in
, tcntiOn was To seize the Gar and all hi,