Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-26
General Impression That Gar
Will Grant Part of the
Zemstvos Program
REPRESENTATIVES, RECEIVED
Four Leaders of the New Movement
are Given Hearing at the Palace,
But the Emperor's Decision Has Not
Yet Been Made = A Great LeveIins
Process.

st. Petersburg, Nov. 26.-The unex-
pected may happen after all. The
meeting Of the zemstvos, first Russian
congress-" as 1t is now called, may in
era for Russia. Emperor Nicholas, the
initiator of the plan for universal dis
armament, may turn back upon the re-
dictionaries and crown his reign by
granting to his subjects the constitu-
ton which his grandfather had already
prepared when he fell by the hand Of
an assassin.
The basis of such possibility Is
the significant fact that late this af-
ternoon the emperor received in
the palace at Tsarskoe- Selo, M. Ship
off, of Moscow, M. Petrunkeivitch of
Tever, M. Rodzianko. of Ekaterinoslav,
and Count Heiden, four prominent
members Of the zen1stvos congress- and
listened at length to their views. 1t
develops that when Minister of the In
terror Sviatopolk- Mirsky presented the
zemstvoS memorial resolutions on No
yember "a the emperor was so deeply
impressed as we'll by the contents OF
the documents as by the character Of
the signers that he Immediately ex-
pressed the desire to personally re-
ceive deputation Of four.
The zemstvoists therefore went to
Tsarskoe- Selo by imperial command
AT their audience 1t is understood they
explained fully their position and re-
'terated the views expressed by the
memorial that the salvation of the en-
pre- from ruin by revolution lay in
the adoption of the general ideas ex-
pressed in the memorial. The emperor
was greatly impressed by what he
heard and asked many questions. While
it is understood that he gave no in
dication Of his purposes except the
sympathy he displayed, the deputation
when they returned to st. Petersburg,
We're in high spirits. Naturally they
declined to say anything for publica-
ton regarding the visit.
The news that the delegation had
been given an audience by the emper-
or spread like wild fire thru the city
last night, and created tremendous
sensation, rejoicing among liberals and
amazement among the incorporating
supporters Of the old regime Earlier
In the day the report was current that
an immediate effort Of the zemstvo
meeting would likely be the realization
of the plan for giving two elected
zemstvo representatives seats in the
council of the empire.
One Of the prominent liberals who
participated in the congress declined
last night to share in the jubilation of
some of his colleagues and expressed
the opinion that victory was yet a
long way off, altho he said he be-
lieved it was sure to come in the end.
He pointed out that the declaration in
the memorial in favor Of the abrogation
of special privileges and for the equal
itv of all classes before the law when it
became known turnout Russia was
bound to appeal strongly to the peas
antry. Call the members of the con-
gress," said he, ARE large landed pro-
prietors. A leveling process which
would put the mujik on an equality
with them must be prejudicial to their
personal interests. In no other country
in the world except Russia would you
find men anxious make sacrifices for
an altruistic ideal The same thing,
however. happened with the emancipa-
ton Of the serfs in the time Of Alexar
der II. when many mobiles advocated the
measure, tho 1t meant practically ruin
for them personally"