The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-27
DANGERS IN
 RADICALYA Russian. Reform Mt Pro- ceed SlOy:s. IGNORANCE or HE NATION
 - Even Statesmen Know Not How to Govern. M. sOuvOrin Relieves Benevolent Au- tOcraey Would Be Preferable to Immeaiate Establishment of ConAtitutaenallsm.
 

St. Petersburg, Nov. 25.-The result of the conference of the Zemstvotsts stilI remains a matter of speculation. Bureaucratic circles generally are of the onjnton that the conference was farce and that it will lead to nothing. but vast majority of the intelligent class is convinced that 1t has placed upon record the desire of the country for a change in the present form ot government. The conviction prevail ing in many quarters, however, is that no change will come immediately,
 With a view to clearing up the sit- uation the Associated Press today in- terviewed M. Souvorin, the veteran editor of The NOvoe Vremya. M. So- vuorin said:
 T certainly think the conference was highly significant. It shows the me- cessity for a departure from the pres ent system. Personally, do not agree with all of the Zemstvoist proposals Their memorial embodies to the last word the science of constitutional gov ernment I think some form of na- tional represen tation is bound to come,
 Our greatest need is freedom to work, think, speak and write. That freedom seems unattainable under the present bureaucratic regime which congresses the activity of the whole nation and raises countless obstacles in the way of personal initiative and enterprise. The difficulties surround ing the opening of a store. mill or any kind of business prompted M. Witte. President Of the Ministerial Council. some years ago to draw up memo rial commenting a removal of the vex- atious treatment of private enterprise. but his suggestions remained barren of result. The fact is there were no lack of admirable ideas in the pros posal.
 Policy of von PIehve.
 What we want now is the acts that the late M won Plehve, Minister of the Interior, introduced Into the law of 1901, enabling the admission of con- sultatIve members to the council of law, which have remained dead i0t- ter owing to the opposition of the bu- reaHcrats of the empire. Plehve doubtless would gradually have ex- tended the Zemstvo system, admitting peasants to small Zemstvo units and introduced other reforms of a liberal tendency.
 M. Witte was not far wrong when he summed up Plehve with the words, You will see that he will bring Rus sia to a constitution but Plehve spoiled everything by preceding the intended reform with a policy of re- precision and failed to give proper ef- feet to his own ideas
 T repeat, we now want acts, not words. What acts will follow the pro- nouncement of the Zemstovists I am not prepared to say. But in my opin- ion they should take the form of sum- moning an elective body to act in "a consultative capacity to the sovereign who should retain absolute freedom to follow the recommendations of the majority or minority as he might think best.
 M. witte does not believe in a constitutional government for Russia but prefers a benevolent autocracy. also think autocracy should be pre- served. Autocracy is no longer what 1t was. Czars have given away many of their prerogatives such as vassalage and serfdom and voluntarily have cur tailed absolute power by the creation of zemtvos and various forms of col- Iegiate administration.
 Tt would not be curtailment of the autocratio party to summon .represen- tatives of the people, but rather a strengthening of imperial authority since 1t would enable the monarch to know the true needs and desires of his subjects.
 Changes Should Be Gradual.
 My belief is that the changes should be introduced graudally. The first phase should be the introduction of elected members to the council of | the mepire which would be a useful initiation of our statesmen and people to representative institutions. Americans cannot realize the dif- hculty, even danger, of suddenly intro ducing institutions into our country. Even our statesmen are not versed in l the arts of government The whole | of our intelligent classes naturally in- | cline to liberal ideas. but they have not
 the experience in applying them. All | this suhiciently indicates the necessity | for greatest prudence and caution in | the manner of introducing the repre- sentative system and the great danger
 in adopting an ill-digested western | constitution wholesale Provided caution is exercised I can not see how the autocracy which l repeat must remain the keystone of | our system will be impeTiled by the | introduction of representative sys- | tenn. There is not the slightest ground | to believe in the success of revolu- | tionary movement in Russia. Indeed. l since the advent of Interior Minister
 AIirsky and his appeal for mutual con 1 1dence. the tendency among influential. 1 and sober minded men of the commu- | nity is all the other way. Political | demonstrations which formerly elicited
 sympathy from the people now calls
 forth general condemnation"