The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-02
Democracy in Russia.

Democracy in Russia.
Several months ago an intelligent an and
aS well educated citizen Of Finland s5 was q:
visiting in Richmond, and It was our
privilege to have a talk with him con-
corning the conditions in his own count
& try and In Russia. II g was asked II 1t
q wa s not, In his view, probab that even
ssS tually$ there would come a great struggie
between Russia and the United States
s. or between the slav and the Anglo
III Saxon, as represented by Russia e and ID the
United States, respectively. His attention
was called to the fact that i Russia ana
the United States were the two great rsa1
III l,ndeyeloped countries Of the scivllizeuS
world, and that each had large terri terri
cory OF its own and large adjacent terri
tory Of possible exploitation. II was
also suggested that these two great .tnde s.-s
veIoped nations represented entireiy dilI-s
ferent political principles: that the Y nitedS
States stood for democratic rule, Tor a
government for the people, for the tdeyei-
u opuent OF the Individual citizen and the
n projection OF his rights and the promo
ton OF his interests; while Russia stood
for 4 strong government for the benefit OIL
B, favored class at the expense Of the nul-.
Ststuie. & e VII. gtsl
II e said that he had considered some
of these questions; that ne had drawn
comparisons and contrasts between Rus
|. s.a and. the United States but that he did
not look for such final clash as We
K ,ad suggested for the simple reason thai
"A eventually Russia would be thoroughly
\ democratized He declared that the demo-
{. cratic spirit among the people OF Russia
was very strong, and was growing strong
er every year. and that eventually ".
would leaven the whole lump .and turn.
Russia into republic like that OF the
United States.
This view from a Finn was surprising
TO US, for We. Ind never thought OF
democracy In CONT rotion With Russia.
Prussia, as everybody knows, Is an un-
limited monarchy, the head Of which Is
M the Emperor, who unites In himself every
Il authority and pows'f;; being the head Of
the military. the Legislative and the judi
cial system, and also the ecclesiastical
chief Of The orthodox Greek Church
European Russia Is divided into flity'
provinces, over each of which is a COVER
nor. appointed by the Emperor, who is
Il he head Of the civil administration OF
MI the province or government OF late
years reforms have been effected
5 throughout all branches OF government
4 and each province has something OF self
government. But the Car Is supreme,
his word is law, and his very name Is
to the American citizens the antthess OF
81 democracy and Americanism.
But If Japan gets the best OF the wai
which Is now wasing, there Is littlt
doubt that there viii be more or less
radical changes in the Russian form o:
government The people are restless. ant
it Is almost a foregone conclusion tia
The Gear will have TO make concessions
The conversation with our friend from
#s& finland Is recalled by an article in Tn,
current issue Of the Independent by ;
senator of the Empire of Russia, who's
name is Withheld. but Who the Indepen
Xix dent tells US, Is one Of the best know,
public men of his country, He says a
the outset that he does not think tina
the present autocratic system can las
long after the close OF the war; tina
autocratic and centralized Russia mus
become eventually federation. He think
that the whole territory OF the empir
should be divided into provinces. al
ministered in accordance with The ptlr
81 ciples Of self-goyernment applied In Ia
,nosl liberal manner. that all iegislatio
OF d local nature should be entrusted 4
provincial assemblies, although the Ell
peror would enjoy the right, surrounds
bY d responsible ministry Of approvin
or yetoing all measures.
~ Is not our purpose, for We have nj
@ The space. TO go into a discussion Of u
details Of this Russian senator's pia
M we desire simply TO note the fact tn
he concurs I'M the view expressed by Il
@5H man from Finland. that there Is spil
OF democracy In Russia; that It Is ey
now exerting itself, and that when "
shall have ended IL viii have TO be rec
My oned with.
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