The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-01
FOR A NEW RUSSIA.

Not in recent times has there been such momentous tidings flashed over the world as was eiyen out Tuesday morning from the great Russian Elm pire Rarely indeed mas anything oc- cui red in modern times which gave promise of more rar-reaching conse- quencesg Tho autocracy, the absolu.- ism of the Romancfrs which has ruled with a rod of iron for centuries is no more. As correspondent of The Lon don Daily Telegraph says, the autocracy Is like "a bulb of mercury fallen from height and shivered Into little gloo- ules," The same correspondent de- scribes Russia as having bsccme "an archipelago of political islands. each independent of the others, all dealing with public affairs with hardly any ref erence to the will of the once all-pow- erfuI monarch"
 And herein lies the great danger to Russia and the Russian people. Can these "globules'' come, together and form a stable .governmentF Can these political islands be bound and welded together into one harmonious political entity which will deserve and command the respect and confidence of the na- tons of the earth?
 Russia's danger, as we view the situ- ation. lies in the Russian people them- selves. Ages and centuries of serfdom, of ignorance and of seciusien has not fitted the people for self government or for the organization and management of government of themselves and for themselves, If the nobility, the edu- catedl classes and all the other intelli- gent forces of the coutnry will unite with the people, aid them, encourage them and stand by them, they can build up government of greater freedom for the masses and of limited power for the rulers. They can build up a limited monarchy, something like that of Eng land. which will give them both the form and substance of civil and relig- ious freedom.
 Rarely has any people in such a con- dition of unpreparedness found them selves suddenly confronted with such solemn and grave responsibilities. It may be- as one observer looks at 1t, that the suddenness with which this great responsibility has been forced on them will have sosering effect, and that they will go at the great work before them with the knowledge that the eyes of the whole civilized world is upon them and with the further knowledge that they must stand or fall by their own acts.
 The official announcement of the Czar is much more liberal than might have been expected. The first clause, which promises to them real inviolability oi person, freedom of conscience, speech union and association is really a won. derful concession to come from one whc has heretofore been practically tho that his pledge that the people shall participate in the elections and in the making and enforcement of the laws we have apparently the same promise of "a government of the people. by ths NpeopIe and for the people," and on tho RNOPAE tAA~sNNNsNSo WAAa ACoI lAc tSSpOu- sibility if they fail to come up to the full measure of their great opportunity
 Whether the Czar is fully sincere whether he only yielded because he wal fofcd to it.. and whether he will show himself the friend of the people te whom he has made such important con, sessions are matters for the future tC decide. It would have been better fol him and for Russia if he had taken this step at least year ago. but on tn, principle that 1t Is never too late tc do good deed we can give him credit for his action and hope that 1t is the begininng of a peaceful revolution which will make of Russia a great, free and prosperous nation and people.