The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-27
OLD IDEAS ARE
PASSING AWAY
-
Russian Traditions of AutOCracy
Being Greatly Modified.
FURTHER CHANGE is LIKELY
PEOPLE WILL HAVE A VOICE IN
THE GOVERNMENT.

q T. PETERSBURG, Nov. 26-The
~ result Of the conference of the
zemstvois still remains a matter
Of speculation, bureaucratic circles
| generally are Of the opinion that the
! conference was a farce and that it will
| lead 10 nothing; bat a vast majority
\ Of the intelligent class is convinced that
| it has placed upon record the desire OF
| the country fO- change in the pres
ent form of government. The convic-
ton prevailing in many quarters, how
ever is that no change viii come in.
/ With a view to clearing up the situa-
| ton TIE Associated Press today inter-
viewed NJ. SouvOrin, the veteran editor
! of the NovOe Vrenya. NJ. Souvorin
said:
Il certainly think the conference
highly significant 1t shows the neces-
| sity for departure from the present
! system. Personally / do not agree
with all Of the ZemstvOist proposals.
Their memorial embodies 10 the last
word the science of constitutional gov
eminent. ] think some form of ma
tional representation is bound TO come.
Russia's Greatest Need.
"Our greatest need l. freedom to
WIN AiliAth, speak anu write. mat
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 en-
terprise. The difficulties surrounding
the opening of store, mill or any kind
of business prompted VI. White, presi-
dent of the ministerial council. some
years ago. TO draw up memorandum
recommending a removal Of the vexa-
tiOus treatment Of private enterprise:
but his suggestions remained barren Of
result. The fact is. there was no lack
OF admirable ideas in the proposal.
What we want now are the acts that
the late NJ. Plehve minister of the in
terior) introduced into the law of 1902
enabling the admission Of consultive
members 20 the council Of law, which
have remained a dead letter offering
TO the opposition Of the bureaucrats Of
the empire. Plehve doubtless would
gradually have extended the zemstvo
units. and introduced other reforms Of
a liberal tendency. NJ. Witte was not
far wrong when he summed up Plehve
with the words: You viii see that he
viii bring Russia to a constitution.
but Plehve spoiled everything by pre-
ceding the intended reforms with a
policy of repression and failed to give
proper effect to his own ideas.
M. Whites Plan.
Il repeat. we now want acts not
words What acts will follow the pro-
nouncement of the zenstvoists ! am
not prepared 10 say: but i'm my opinion
they should take the form of summon
ing an elective body TO act in consul
lative capacity to the sovereign, who
should retain absolute freedom TO fol-
low the recommendations of the ma
Jority or minority as he might think
best. NJ. Witte does not believe in n
constitutional government for Russia.
but prefers benevolent autocracy.
also think autOcracy should be pre-
served. AutOcracy is no longer what
II was. Cars have given away many
OF their prerogatives. such as vassals
and serfdon. and voluntarily have cur
tailed absolute power by the creation
OF zemstvos and various forms of col
leglate administration. IL would not he
curtailment OF the autocratic power
TO summon representatives of the peo-
PIE. but rather strengthening of i'm
perial authority, since il would enable
the monarch to know the true needs
and desires of his subjects.
Zemstvo Parliament.
Former Minister of the Inferior Igna-