The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-14

theless his enemies persistently keep
reports afioat that the health of the
Minister of the Interior is bad and
that the nature of the campaign which
he is fighting is enough to shatter the
health of strong man.
In the character of the elements
which have rallied to his support, how
ever, lies Prince Sviatopolk-MirskyIs
strength. They include neither radical
nor revolutionaries, but the great mass
of conservative, liberal-minded, loyal
Russians who believe that the saliva
ton and progress of the empire lies
in larger liberties, but who have not
particle of sympathy with violence
or revolution. 1t is fortunate, indeed,
that Prince Sviatopolk Mirsky has not
attracted the support of the radicals,
for that would place a powerful wea-
pom in the hands of his adversaries.
The enemies of the Minister of the
Interior are now moving heaven and
earth to postpone the meeting of the
presidents of the thirty-eighth provin-
cial Zemstvos which is scheduled for
next Saturday, and in the present cir
cumstances some of the minister's own
friends are counseling him to allow
a postponement until January, fearing
that too radical expression of views
in the agitation raised might furnish
too much ammunition for the opposi-
ton.
M. Shipoff, president of the Moscow
Zemstvo, who will preside over
all the meetings, favors this
temporizing policy. 1t is even
reported that Prince Sviatopolk-
Mirsky is wavering, although his
friends declare that this is untrue. The
whole question will be decided by the
Emperor early in the week. Some of
the presidents already here are excit-
ed over the possibility of a postpone
ment, declaring that If the meeting
is formally postponed, it will be held
surreptitiously. Undoubtedly, post
ponement would be a crushing blow,
and create an exceedingly bad impress
sion. This is due to the fact that the
meeting has been clothed with a sem
timental Importance hardly justified by
Its actual powers. 1t is purely unof-
fetal, without direct authority to act;
but it is the first time of an authorized
assembling of representatives of the
Zemstvos from all over Russia. The
meeting is not intended to be of a
public character. The programme in
cludes the discussion of three points
namely: First, the coalitions which
have prevented Zemstvo activity, CIV
ing wide scope for consideration of the
very questions heretofore prohibited.
Second, the Organization of a central
administration of agriculture.
Third, corporation of local Zemstvo
hospitals in the case of wounded peo-
pie
Although the subjects appear vague
and indefinite, all aim at national CO.
operation of the Zemstvos which con-
tains suggestion of a sort of land
parliament where the wishes of the
provincial Zemstvos could be voiced.
The statement that Prince Sviato-
polk-Mersky has proposed to divide the
empire into sixteen districts from which
the Zemstvos should select representa-
tives to form a central council is en-
tirely without foundation. The whole
subject remains to be worked out and
IL the present movement succeeds
eventually its best friends realize that
plans must crystalize gradually, as any
sudden decision which would produce
shock might be fatal to the case.