Arizona republican., 1903-11-17
The Proposed Reforms In Russia.

The Proposed Reforms IN Kussia'
Nicholas II. car of all the Russias
talks more of peace and benevolence
than any other sovereign in the world
and does less than any of them for the
people; starts in motion many inquir-
les. and fails invariably TO institute the
reforms which these inquiries disclose
as necessary. Consequently, the latest
news from ST. Petersburg is not as in
teresting as it otherwise might be.
1t is announced that the conclu-
sions of the inquiry ordered by the
czar into the causes of the increas-
ing poverty of the peasantry nave
been published. The document is a
supplement to the emperor's nantes
to On civil and religious rights, and
recommends the education of the peas
ants. AS to the investigation itself,
dispatches state that it was thor
Oughly representative, the commission
containing village elders and landed
prcprietors as well as government Off
Gals. The report attributes the decline
in peasant prosperity to the oppressive
passport regulations, labor restrictions,
and lack of education. Some of the
statements and conclusions are radical
enough to send the authors tC Siberia,
If they were not acting under orders
from the czar himself. For example,
it is pointed out that for existing con-
ditions "vexatious officials" are quite
as much responsible as bad laws. But
the two combine to demOralize the
peasantry, and to destroy all their
feeling of self-reliance and initiative
1t is further boldly declared that ''un-
til the peasant obtains recognition as
an individual it is useless to try to
foster his material welfare or palliate
the decline in Russian agriculture" The
report also dares to hope that the
reform in the peasant laws now being
drawn up by the ministry of the inter
Tor will carry into effect the principle
of the equality of all before the law, as
indicated in the imperial ukase." and
concludes: These reforms will be
fruitful only on condition that they
involve the better education of our
peasants"
A wise programme, truly. and am
bitious-for Russia. AS was to be ex-
pected the report failed to note that
one of the basic reasons fer the power
~ Of the Russian people is the crushing
burden of taxation caused by the mill
tary policy CT the czar-the mainter-
ance of an enormous standing army
and the enforced service of every
young man in the army during the
years in which he should be laying the
foundation for his life work. In addi-
ton to this are the taxes caused by the
general system of graft. A powerful
bureaucracy lives in luxury and idle
ness by going through the pockets of
the peasantry under endless pretexts.
And, doubtless, in this bureaucracy
the real machinery of the Russian
government-is to be found the ex-
PLANTATION of the contradictions be-
tween the cars promises and his per-
fOrmances. From the best informa ton
obtainable it seems unquestionable
that Nicholas is an amiable young
man, sincerely solicitous for the vel
fare of his people, peacefully inclined.
disposed to relinquish to the
people some of the liberty now with
gage in war. But he is lacking in
force of character. He is net strong
enough to force the adoption of his
own views. Theoretically, the emper-
or of Russia is absolute master of the
lives and fortunes of the one hundred
million people who owe allegiance to
the Russian crown. Practically, he
finds his powers so restricted and mis-
will so thwarted by the bureaus which !
have become firmly established all
around him, that he is largely a figure |
head. His ideas are carried out only
when it suits the chiefs CT the gov
eminent who actually hold the reins.
1t seems very improbable, therefore, |
that the recommendations just laid be- !
fore the throne will be carried into eff |
feet. The education of the peasantry !
would be the most unwelcome reform |
that the cars lieutenants could con-
template. Educati is followed by a |
longing for individual liberty. and this |
I'm Russia would mean a revolution.
William Zeigler of New York, very /