The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-25
TOLSTOI LEADS.
He Heads the Revolutionary
Movement in Russia,
Which Has Sprung Up Since the
New Cars Speech.
ARE "ABSURD IDEAS"
Is What the Monarch Says of
the Peoples Demand,
That They Should Have a Voice
inState Affairs.

BERLIN, Feb 25.-A telegram from st
Petersburg received here says it is re-
ported there that Count Tolstoi, the
noted Russian novelist and social re-
former, is the author of the liberal mani
festo recently published against the
Cars declaration that he would uphold
autocracy as ardently as his late father.
Private dispatches received in Berlin
on January 20 gave an outline of a speech
made by the Car in reply to the ad-
dresses of delegations representing the
nobility of the principal cities and many
provincial assem- blies who called upon
his majesty in order to congratulate him
upon his marriage.
The czar said he had learned that in
some of the provincial assemblies, voices
had been raised proposing that these
bodies should have a share in the settle
ment of affairs of state and expressing
other 'absurd ideas" His majesty add
ed that he wished every body to under
stand that while he devoted all his pow
ers to his dear country he was as ardent
ly resolved as was his dear father to up
hold the autocracy of the czar.
This remark attracted widespread at
tention throughout Russia and inciden-
tally throughout the world To the major
itY of people the czar's utterance was
surprise, as he had been credited with
possessing liberal ideas which might in
time, it was hoped, induce him to inau-
gurate reforms in the government of
Russia. But his declaration of his inten-
ton to uphold the autocracy of the czar
seemed to put an end to all such hopes,
and on February IA the Daily Chronicle
of London printed manifesto issued by
the peoples rights party of Russia in the
form of a letter to the cZar, which
was then being circulated through
ont the Russian empire. After censuring
the czar for his assertion of absolut-
ism, the letter read: <EThe most advanced
Zemtovos asked only for the harmony of
the czar and people. free speech and the
supremacy of law over the arbitrariness
of the executive. You were deceived
and frightened by the representations of
courtiers and bureautocrats; society will
understand perfectly that it was the
bureautocratsy, which jealously guards
its own omnipotence that spoke through
you The bureautocracy, beginning with
the council of ministers and ending with
the lowest country constables, hates any
development, social or individual, and
actively prevents the monarch's free in
tercourse with the representatives of his
people, except as they come in gala dress,
E'Your speech proves that any attempt
to speak out before the throne even in
the most loyal form, about the prime
needs of the country meets with re-
buff. Society expected from you en-
couragement and help. but was only
given a reminder of your omnipotence,
giving the impression of utter estrange-
ment of czar from people. You in your
self, have killed your own popu-
larity and have alienated all that part of
society which is peacefully struggling
forward. Some individuals are jubilant
over your speech, but you will soon dis
cover their Impotence.
'In another section of society your
speech caused feeling of injury and
depression, which, however, the best So
cial forms soon will overcome, before
proceeding to the peaceful but obstinate
and deliberate struggle necessary to
liberty. In another section your words
will stimulate the readiness to struggle
against the present hateful state of things
with any means. You were the first to
begin the struggle. Ere long it will pro-