The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-19
RUSSIAN CONDITIONS
Prince Gregory Walkousky's
Discussions in Fart.
READY FOR BETTER THINGS
He Answers the Arguments of
the Ministers.

IThis article, which first appeared in
Die Nation, Berlin, is a review and synoD-
sis of work by Prince Gregory VOL
kousky, entitled "A Glance at the Present
Condition Of Russia. The book. which
appeared in Russian, has not yet been
translator into any other language. The
steadily increasing agitation in Russia
gives added timelness to this sketch or
the efforts thus far made toward con-
stituticnal regime in that country.-1he
TRANSLATOR
The author is quite right when he meets
the argument repeatedly advanced by the
autocracy, that Russia is not yet suifi-
GENTLY prepared for a constitution, with
the simple fact. that already the country
Las more than once came near to beng
granted one and that it was largely mere
chance, rather than any real necessity
which determined the course OF affairs
against it. Taking no account OF the
opinions attributed to Alexander l. before
the period Of the unhappy influence or
Count Araktschejeff, and to Alexander H.
in the sixties, Immediately after the aoo-
Iition of serfdom, there yet remains an
other fact, twice over on the verge OF
accomplishment Both Alexander H., on
the eve of mis- assassination, and Alex
ander Ill. in the first days of his reign
had the firm resolve TO give Russia a
constitution. We have absolute knoWl-
edge of this through the circumstance
that Loris MelIkoff, Minister of the In
terror. and almost dictator in the last
years of Alexander H., took pains that,
shortly after his death, not only his own
part in the matter, but the salient points
of the entire transaction, should come to
the know ledge of his contemporaries.
Loris Melikoff, who retained TO the last
a strong and even passionate feeling OF
gratitude to Alexander ii. for having
chosen him as his assistant in the re-
moulding of Russian life into modern con-
stitutional forms, died in Nice, December
a. 1888. At once there appeared a mem
Der of the Russian embassy in Paris, who
placed seals on the personal effects OF
the deceased. All papers of political I'M
portance were gathered up by the en-
bassy and forwarded to St Petersburg.
But the Count, during his Lifetime. had
already made copies of all the more i'm
portant documents and entrus ed them
to a friend, with the wish that they might
be published when a fitting opportunity
came. This wish was carried out in the
year 1898 by the London Fund of the
Russian Free Press" In this publication
the documents for the preliminary history
of this projected Russian Constitution
L ~
istence. But in view of the present day
increasing unrest in Russia, it is worth
while again tc recall them, at least the
more important items.
Undoubtedly the most important docu-
ment in the collection of Loris Melikoff is
his urgency report on March 8. addressed
to tho new Gar, five days after the muir
der of Alexander II 1t has, with a few
U4.4lssi.ns o. minor weight, the following
import: That the Minister Of the Interior
(MeliSoff HIMSELF had submitted TO the
deceased Car certain considerations re-
garding more extended administrative ac-
ton along the line, indicated by his Maj
esty, of bringing public life once more
into a regular and lawful course" He
and the Car were united in the convic-
ton that the anarchistic mania which
had led to the political crimes of later
years had not penetrated to the depths of
Russian society or of the Russian people.
but rather that here was TO be found a
trustworthy support for the existing order
of things For this reason it was possible
to entertai nthe idea of summoning per
sons familiar with local needs and iela-
tons" to a sort of extraordinary council
over the state of the empire and the in
ternal reforms needful of il. The ques-
tons which seemed most to call for the
attention of this national commission
were; a The reform OF the local admin
istration. with the object of a clearer def
milton OF the scope OF the rights and du-
ties of the government and the establish
ment OF the necessary harmony between
the judicial and social Institutions on one
side and the administration on the other;
% completion of the provisions in the
edict of February 70. 1861 (the abolition
of serfdom). with reference to the needs
of the peasantry which had subsequently
came to Hghe; 90 a review of the existing
regulations in the cites and in the coun-
try, with a view to their completion and
Improvement according TO the Indications
of recent times; ca organization of the
system of pubic education. It viii be
seen that this programme. reSa ding
which Alexander IT. and Morris AIeIikOff
We're agreed includes almost all the ele
mentary problems Of the inner political
life of Russia; the relation Of Just &c and
administration; the peasant question: the
reform Of the Xewstras-reform. Of course
in the sense of broadening their compe
tence and grouping them into a perma
nent representative Of the whole empire
Lord Melikod then continues in his re-
port to the new ruler:
The deceased Car was OF opinion that
for the realization Of these plans temper