The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-11
THE CHARS ABsoLUTIsM.
Republicanism Was the Early Form
 of Government in Russia.

of Government in Russia.
 Kansas City Star:
 The renewal of the assaults on the person of the Czar has called attention again to the lingering absolutism an | Russia a half century after it's pan | ishment from the rest of the civilized l world. One of the odd facts of his tory is that the nation which Is so slow to give up autocracy was SLOW to adopt it. Republicanism was the early form of government In Russia. Absolutism is of comparatively recent growth. It was forced on the people as A means of defence from the invad- ing Mongols. The difference between the governments of Great Britain and Russia is largely a matter of boundar- ies. The sea gave to England the de- fence which Russia was forced to seeK | in absolte monarchy. In an article in the International
 Magazine J. Novicow of Odessa points ont the development of the power or the Czars. The ancient Russian popu- lation lived under the administration of the clan. Then came government by the city. The political authority of a certain region was centered Tn fortified town. whose organlzatloh was republican. A Senate proposed meas ures which needed to be ratified by a popular assembly. The Normans were responsible for the introduction of the monarchy into Russia. band or Scandinavians, commanded by chief named Rurik. conquered a large terri | tory in the vicinity of Nivgorod in the ninth century, just as 200 yearA later another Norman. William. made him self supreme in England. From Nov gorod as a capital. Rurik levied trio- ute on the free cities through large | territory.
 His sons divided his possessions at his death. and each created for him- self sort of kingdom. Most of the | towns retained their old form of re- nuhlicau government in spite of the | invasion. In some instances the Rurik nrinces were driven out. NovEorod re- | gained it's independence and retained | if until 14S0. When rne princes had authority their rule was not absolute. Freouently they were forced to consult the nopuIar assembly. The descendants | of Rurik came to recognize the leader shin of the ruler of Kief. who held the | title of grand prince. but whose auth ority over the rest of the empire was
 merely nominal. The title was con tested and finally was secured by the dynasty that reigned at Moscow.
 In the Thirteenth century came the
 Mongol invasion. The princes of the
 house of Rurik banded together unsuc- cessfully to withstand it. Only the re-
 pubiics of Novgorod and Pskof pre-
 served their independence. The Tartars laid heavy tribute upon the conquered nrinciualities Resistance only brought incursions of fierce. marauding bands.
 To escape from their iptolerable posi- ton the Russians intrusted more and
 more military power to the Ruriks. The grand prince of Moscow was the natural leader in the movement against
 the Mongols. and the people saw that their hope for safely from the invaders lav with him. Any measure which in- creased his authority was regarded as
 beneficial. In this way the idea Of au- tocracy took root in Russia. The Mos COW ruler gained more and more power until Simeon. in the Fourteenth cen-
 tury. took the title of grand duke of all the Russians. A hundred years later
 Ivan IT. finally repeIIed the MOngols and established his absolute rule throughout the empire.