Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-06
Proposed Changes in the Russian Gov.
ernmAnt

What kind Of government the 10000
600, Of Russian people have, how it
works, and what IL 10 be the ultimate
outcome Of the re-tlessness and the prevail
ing social and political tendencies which
exist In many portions Of that vast empire
these are interesting subjects Of reading
and investigation. There is more or less
difference Of opinion among those who
have given much attention to Russian
affairs a. TO the existing state Of things.
But az to the prevailing current
In Russian politics and civil aifairs there
can be no doubt that Capitalization Ia
the dominating idea with the present
ruIers. This ia conclusiyely proved by
the recent assent Of the Gar 10 the gov
ernmentaI seheme Of Count Tolstoi,
Minister Of the Interior.
:. Hitherto the Zepstoos, or District and
and Provincial Councils, have enjoyed
some degree Of Independence, limited,
however, by the fact that the Provincial
Governor could at any moment dissolve
Lfif hNrfuDlNs anu '4AA ~ VIZ" ~
was not pleased with its action. Never
theless, the Zemstoo has been, within these
limitations, popular Institution. Count
Tolstois scheme look. 10 the establish
meut Of District Governor, In close sub
ordination to the Provincial Governor,
"a the latter are to the Czar's Ministers.
Three "rural chiefs Of districts" are TO be
nominated by the Governors, and are TO
De taken entirely from the noble class,
while their sole concern ia with the affairs
Of the pcasantry. Their authority Ia to
be judicial, IA we'll a. administrative they
are 30 act a. kind Of court Of appeal,
and are 10 have complete control OF the
electives functionaries, whose Importance
will thus practically disappear When
this scheme was discussed three or
four weeks ago In the great Council Of
the Empire, the most important delibera-
tive body In Russia, adverse action was
taken, the vote standing IL to 80. The
Gar, nevertheless, has given his sanction
to the scheme. The matter comes again
before the Council TO be discussed clause
BY clause, and the London Times says
concerning IL:
Not since the emancipation and the
years that followed it has a question of in
tsrnal policy aroused so much interest in
Russia. II is clearly seen that the question
at issue Is whether liberty is to have any
chance or not whether Capitalization, over
whelmingly strong already, is to be made
stronger; whether the localities are to
possess any rights at all, or whether the few
that exist are to be sacrificed to otticiaiism
and arbitrary will Thus, il
all ways the authority of the vast and ever
growing Russian empire is being more and
more concentrated into one single pair of
hands-those of the nervou, Overworked
Gar, who is supreme over the Ministers,
who, In their turn, govern the Governors
xho, in their turn, work the Provincial and
District Assemblies. And the autocratic
machine AS yet goes on"
1t Il plain enough that the effect Of this
so called reform scheme only removes the
real government Of the empire mere and
centres absolute power in the Car, who
with his Council of the Empire manages
the vast machine Of the government
down 10 its minute details. With the vast
standing army in his hands the Car tan
readily enforce the rules aud DEGREES of
the Council, of which he l. the antocratic
head This does not seem to be very con
tirmntory of the singular claim Of the
woman suffrage adyoc ,tc' IA to the preva-
leuce Of their peculiar notions among the
aw-mnkors and rulers OF that vast EN-
tlrr