Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-10
ARUSSIAN CONSTITUTION.
will the Gar Grant Political
Reforms 90 the Russians.

Once more rumors are heard-this
time from the Tagblat, Of Vienna
that the Emperor Of Russia is about to
grant his subjects a constitution. The
Emperor Alexander l., in his great
conversational days Of 1914 and 1918
used to hold forth to Nine. de Stael,
on the blessings Of constitutional gov
eminent He rejected her servile
fattery, and told her truly, in reply
to her assurance that his charaeteE
was "at once a constitution and 2
charter 10 his subjects" that "even il
that case lie should only b fortunate
accident. He never, all the same
carried out his project OF intrOducinl
constitutional government into the
Russian empire, There was no talk
about anything Of the kind undel
Nicholas. But when Alexander IL
assembled the throne the subject va
again seriously considered. Loca
assemblies we're formed Throughout
the empire, and from those dislric
and provincial board" as in view o
their duties they might be called-i
was proposed that members should b.
elected to sit in a central assembly
All idea, however. Of forming the cen
trail assembly, which was to have beer
intrusted with consultative if not leg
islative powers, was abandoned wher
the Polish insurrection broke out. Il
the project is now resumed the ma
chinery for providing an assembly sit
ting at St Petersburg or Moscow
with deputies representing the proyin-
ess, already exists. Eduelted Rus
SANS would be glad to think that theil
country vas 20 longer the only one IL
Earope in which no species Of Parlia'
Dsnt existed. Vhhe il would be dis
tinct benefit 70 the government to b
abe to ascertain the feelings and
EisAas q the governed, not, IS Al
1rsNut. thrcagh civil and military
ieociioaKries sat iron the capital "a
the prcTincss. bat through deplie:
ss1t tro2 the provinces TO the espi
aL
uFERIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
The steps actually being taken BY
the Russian Emperor toward the pro-
nalE1tion Of = constitution are As de-
ssribtd By the TsgblAtt, exceedingly
irol. His Ministers implore him &c
10 nothing rash, but he persists. II
has Suddenly occurred 70 His Ma
jssty that il Is bis duty to secure
the happiness Of his people, and
this can Only be done BY the magic
process Of granting = eenstitu
non." Count TOlstol vas asked 4
draw Up the Necessary act, and 10 do 81
il such 4 manner that happiness anC
e0atentDent may soon reign through
cut the country. The Emperol
then spoke on the subject Of his for
msr tutor. PobedonosCf. aud Mr.
Pobedorosei wired" to Mr.. KAtkoti
the editor Of the Moscow Gazette, Il
cone and discuss the matter. Ant
the two gentlemen Just named are nov
engaged IN working ont the eOnstitu
tion1i problem in company with Coun
Tolstol From the Ttgblatt's asser
to. that ali these remonstrsnee
iglisst the Emperors resolution hav
remained without result" it must b
inierTed that, 10 true eourtier lik
/ spirit, His Majesty's advisers are i'm
I ploring him not to give up one parti
Gle Of the authority which be has in
herited from his ancestors. This
scarcely Of good augury for the sue
eess Of the draft constitution now be
ing prepared. Ii reminds one Of
eariesture which vas privately circu
lated at St. Petersburg in the consti
tutional days Of the Emperor Alex
ander III. With a taste for expert
ments 10 representative government
His Majesty vas known 70 combine &
inclination toward spirituOus iquorl
and the satirical artist showed th
Empress, who was a notorious despOi
10 the act Of removing q bottle frOE
the table, while the Emperor e.
claimed that unless the bottle were ,
once given back be would grant hi
subjects a constitution.