The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-26
Reform in Russia.

in Russia were gladdened yesterday by
the reception by the czar, in his palace.
Of Tsarkoe-Selo, Of four Of the most
conspicuous members of the zemstvo in
terest, who recently drew up the me-
mortal asking representative govern
.ment for the nation and popular partici-
patton in the making Of the laws, with
power to review the acts of the govern
ment. 49," - -, -...
The car was deeply impressed with
the memorial and with the statements
of. the. >zemstvo :: representatives, and
doubtless understands that what he has
learned Of the faults Of his government
and of the spirit Of the reform element
developed out of the heart Of. the vast
peasantry element of European Rus
STA, cannot be brushed aside, or dosed
with any superficial and inefficient
remedy. ~.-..... 49, ..-:rs ~ . .
The demands of the zemstvos lay
down the. fundamental grievance that
the centralized bureaucracy at st. Pet
ersburg has largely alienated the peo-
pie from the throne and they want@equal
civil and political rights, and freedom
of conscience, religion, speech and press,
while they would put the government IN
touch with the people by the estab-
lishment of parliamentary monarchy
under which the voice of the masses
could be. heard and needed. >7t.Sl- d.
It should be remembered that, after
the Gar Alexander emancipated the
serfs iine 1861, to. which philanthropic
act he was melted by, the discomfort
following the unfortunate Crimean war
undertaken by his predecessor, the Gear
Nicholas I,he was induced to extend
the privileges Of the people, whose only
political privilege was. found in the
old "mir'' local assembly, strictly
limited body. So he issued a decree
in January, 1864, establishing district
and provincial legislatures composed of
representatives Of the landed proprie'
tors, the rural communes and the mu'
nicipal corporations, elected in desig:
mated proportions every three years
In most Of these assemblies the land,
owners predominant, altho the peasan,
try have an appreciable majority IN
many of them; but silence has always
been enforced on national questions
and the provincial authorities limit the
scope of local discussion. Alexander Is
reform tendencies included the better
ment of Russian universities, and his
efforts to give the people the advan
tages of the common-school system. He
especially asked the mobiles to stanC
:. guard over the common schools and pro
tect them from every hostile influence
Nicholas I adhered to the Asiatic ides
of government and Russia was cursed
with fearful corruption and manifold
expressions, which the tragedy Of thu
Crimean war revealed most complete
, ~, and the son of Alexander recoilec
from the policy of his father. -.
1t is not impossible that history may
repeat itself now, and that Nicholas /
may minister to the urgent needs o.
, his country for better government b,
at least beginning a series of reforms
!, which shall lead up to the parliament
; monarchy and popular representation
, in the councils of the nation, and liberia
administrative reform, which the mos
, important element of the population O.
European Russia are seeking in tn
most respectful way Of the czar. H
f is now called upon to decide whethe
the reactionary policy shall prevail
. with the sure result. of increasing tn
popular discomfort, or whether Their
shall be full development Of the rep
I. resentative government system, diml..
foreshadowed to the people by the lin
tied district and provincial system o
local government established tentative
ly by the Gar Alexander H.. who wa
!, assassinated by irrational fanatic
. when he was meditating still furthe
benefits to his people.