The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-29

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III his present distress Of mind. When
tho representatives assembled and tho
crowned head OF Russia recognized tho
gravity 81 the situation, and that a de-
n,and for a Parliament would be inevita-
bic. then he forbade thtn1 TO have their
meeting public This did not friEhtcn tho
representatives. Though private they is
sued a circular witt, demand for Par
1lainent.
The war with Japan Is certainly a
great event in tho history of Russia, but
all the wars combined from Rrrk TO
Nicholas II. l1avc not suoh great Sig
niticance in Rtssia's history ae the meet
ing Of zetnstvos. IT matters very little
how this meeting ends. That such a. meet
ing was allowed by The Car Is q con-
cesslor, which Wi, make for political free
dom.
Tho Associated Press correspondent at
st. petersburg quotes distinguished
Russiaa, statesman, whose mime Is with
held, as having gaid that the action OF
THO zenstvos representatives is n syn1p-
tom Of the disease from, which Russia suf-
fers, but that these few men have not
necessarily made a correct diagnosis or
offered the true remedy; that theirs Is In
no sense the verdict Of the people, but
only the opinion Of q class, and that IL
the real representatives OF the Russian
people should assemble and discuss their
needs, they would probably ei1unciato n
programme quite as lepugnnnt to the
zemstvos as to the supporters Of the pres
ent programme. He declares that the
men who assembled in St Petersburg last
week do not propose truo representative
government; that they would really sub-
sttute the rule Of GLASS autocracy for ini-
perinl antocracy. He further afflrlns
that the Russian peasant who represents
four ifths OF the population, with his
Unborn sense Of devotion to the Emperor
would doubtless prefer tho latter to the
former. He also makes bold to state
that neither tho country nor the people
are prepared FOR true representative gov
ernment and that II 1t should be attempt
ed anarchy would take the place Of gov
eminent and the Empire would orumbie
to pieces.
We doubt not that this statement is
In the main correct in his estimate The
Russian, peasants have been held in s,rb-
lection SO long that they have become ac-
customed to the yoke OF Imperialism and
40 not chafe under It. Moreover. they
have been educated in fthe school Of inn
perialism and not In the school Of
Democracy and tho art Of sclf-government
is an art that cannot be suddenly ac-
CURED.
But, notwithstanding all this, the meet
ings, which have been hold and the reso-
lutions which have been adopted, show
beyond question that there is q. spirit
Of Democracy in Russia and the Emperor
must reckon with It. II Russia wins out
In her war with Japan, the Car will be
in a better position TO maintain the pres.
ent regime. But If the Car IS compelled
to mako any considerable concessions to
Japan in settling this serious difficulty, II
the victory is to the Japs and defeat to
the Russians, as sure rs fate the Russian
Democracy will make itself felt.
Russia has plenty Of Marats, Robe
spheres and Dantons, but she can find a
Jefferson. an Adams and a Payne, or
even a Washington$in her ranks If only
the opportunity offers.