The Irish standard., 1905-02-04


est reforms undertaken during the
present reign, and it has been
the ambition of Nicholas II.
to introduce modern system
of jurisprudence throughout his
dominions, with elective judges,
courts of appeal and jury system
so far as possible. At present judges
Of the higher courts throughout the
empire are appointed by the minister
Of justice, but in the villages or COM
munes justices of the peace are elect
ed by the property owners, and upon
nominations made by the nobility, and
have wide powers of discipline over
the peasantry. They are practically
autocrats, subject only to the mobiles
and the priests. They conduct trials
each in his own individual way, they
make laws and regulations, render
judgments and impose penalties as
their sense Of Justice or prejudices may
govern them, and are the willing tools
of the provincial governors, military
commandants, large land owners and
other persons favored by the throne
or by fortune. While the senate is
Intended to be court of appeals, it
seldom spends any. time over other
than political cases.
The third board, also established by
Peter the Great, is the holy synod,
presided over by the metropolitan, or
highest ecclesiastical authority of the
orthodox Greek church, of which the
czar is the nominal head. as the Sultan
of Turkey is the head of the Moham-
medan faith. The holy synod consists
Of the several metropolitans, or arch
bishops, of Russia, and other ecclesias-
tics. 1t has juridiction over all re-
ligious affairs of the empire, including
the pay of the clergy. the management
of cemeteries, hospitals, parish schools
and other ecclesiastical dependencies.
There are sixty-one bishoprics, four
teen archdioceses and three metropoli-
tans. The procurator of the holy
synod is the executive officer of the
church of Russia. He is member of
the ministry, the personal represent
ative of the car in all ecclesiastical
, assemblies and functions, and is al
together. next to the minister of the
interior, the most powerful official in
the empire. He can transfer and dis
miss, elevate or degrade, imprison or
Danish, any priest. bishop or other
ecclesiastic, acting always in the name
of the emperor, but never interferes
with theological questions or doctrinal
controversies. He exercises the same
jurisdiction over all other religious or
ganizations with more or less vigor,
on the theory that the subjects of the
! czar enjoy religious freedom, which is
a myth. The membership of the ortho-
dox Greek church is about 9O.OOO.OON.
with about 100000 in dissenting
sects; the Mohammedans number
about 13,000,O0O, the Roman Catholics
about 100000, the Jews about 6,OOO,-
600, and Protestants nearly 100000,
and the Armenians about 100000.
The executive machinery of the en-
pire is found in the fourth board, or
the ministry, consisting Of fourteen de-
partments. usually presided over by
the minister of the interior, whose
functions are the most important and
whose authority is more far-reaching
than any other. He is usually spoken
Of as the prime minister Of the en-
pire, although such an office or title
are officially unknown. The minister
Of foreign affairs has often presided
over the ministry and enjoys the title
of prime minister, as has the minister
Of finance on several occasions. The
fourteen departments are as follows:
i. The ministry of the imperial
household and domain, who has charge
of the crown property and looks after
the personal revenues of the czar and
other members of the imperial family.
2. Ministry of foreign affairs.
3. Ministry of war.
4. Ministry of the navy.