The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-28
MOST RUSSIANS
ARE PEASANTS
Are Not Ready For a Repre-
sentative Government.
ALL DEPENDS UPON THE WAR
f-
OPINION OF A LEADING RUS
SIAN STATESMAN.

NE PETERSBURG, Nov. 27-One Of
the most commanding figures and
far-seeing statesmen of the en-
pire, whose opinion is Of the highest
value, but who has declined to permit
the use Of his name, in conversation
with the Associated Press today ex-
pressed the distinct conviction that
nothing in the nature of radical
Grange IN the existing order of things
would result from the zemstvo con
gress. This statesman, il can be stat
ed, is firm believer in the principle
or autocracy as the best system of
government, for the realization Of the
dreams of the SlaV race, and what he
believes to be the great destiny OF the
most popuIous nation and vastesr en-
pire in the world; but he has himself.
IN fact, favored a liberal policy and is
now too practical-minded not 10 an
preciate the factors which threaten the
present regime. Still, he does not be
HeVe that anything like a crisis now
confronts the government.
Depends Upon the War.
In his opinion everything depends on
the war.
The war" the stateman said ..is
big Interrogation point for Russia. Her
future at home and abroad is involved
IN the issue The internal situation is
very complicated. The action OF the
zemstvo representatives is a symptom
OF the disease from which Russia suf-
Iers, but these few men have not ne
ceSsarily made d correct diagnosis or
offered the true remedy. Theirs is in
no sense the verdict of the people, but
only the opinion Of a class. The real
representa- tives of the Russian people.
could they assemble, and could they
argue, would probably euumciate A pro
gramme quite as repugnant 10 The
zemstvoist as to the supporters of the
present programme. The men who as
sembied here last week do not propose
true representative government. They
would really substitute the rule of
class autocracy 70 imperial authority.
The Russian peasant. who represents
four-fifths Of the population, with his
Unborn sense Of devotion TO the en-
perOr, would doubtless prefer the lat
ter TO the former.
Time Not Ripe.
Were I a minister and working for
the good of the country. should pre-
fer to obey the mandates of the en-
peror 70 those Of a bogus parliament
processing to speak by authority OF the
people. If zemstvO-elected represent
atives should sit in the council OF The
empire, they would be equally as spu-
riCus as representative of the people.
Neither the country or the people are
prepared for true representative gov
eminent. Anarchy would take the
place of government and the empire
would crumble 10 pieces. SO far as
the programme Of the zemstvoists is
concerned. / am sure neither the en-
peror nor the government believe in
1t, but that does not mean that liber-
alism is to end. The policy represented
by Won Plehve in my opinion can
never return. Prince SviatoDolk-
Mirsky is a courageous. sincere man,
and stands for a broad and liberal poll
cy. but constitution now is ont of the
question [ viii not discuss what may
occur in the future, but 7 repeat. eve
rything depends on the war. It's out
come viii determine whether there viii
be a crisis and its character. Japan.
1 believe, would now welcome peace.
and so would Russia also but 7 cannot
see how it is possible for them TO come
TO terms. Therefore, the war must go
on. When it ends an answer to all
these questions will come"