Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29

twenty-three MOBILES were still further devel-
NJ shiphofr and M. Gerasimoff after consul
tation with the principal members of the
conservative party. and was published only
few days before the opening OF the first
MOSCOW Hemstv0 congress. In this PAM
phlet M. Shiphoff maintains that the past
and present conditions OF Russian life differ
SO fundamentally from those of the coun.
tries Of western Europe as to invalidate the
assumption on which the constitutional
lists" base their case-namely, that Russia Is
now passing through that stage of political
development which was passed through by
France at the end Of the eighteenth CEN
fury and by most of the other countries of
Europe in the middle of the nineteenth CEN
fury. NJ. Shiphon appeals to the authority
of Mr.. Bryce, Professor Dicey and De Toe
Vile in support of his contention that
political reforms are beneficial and perma-
nent only when they are based upon a care
full study of existing conditions, and that
any violent breach with the past is sure to
be attended with disastrous consequences.
He quotes with approval Mr.. Bryce's we'll
Known remark that most of the best arti-
cles In the American Constitution were bor-
rowed from the already existing constitu-
tons of the separate states. and observes
that even century after the great revolu-
ton France was, politically speaking. still
In a state OF unstable equilibrium. M. Ship
hoff's party maintain that the unhappy ex-
periences Of western Europe may be avoid
ed II Russian reformers will consent to
abandon theory and to follow the example
b.
able form of government. but the form
which is best suited to the actual needs and
conditions of the Russian people.
The refusal of this party to accept the
principle OF universal, equal, secret and
direct suffrage is the logical consequence
OF the view which they take Of the role
which the future representative assembly Is
to play. The only country in Europe, say
the conservatives. which has realized the
fullest measure of personal liberty for Its
citizens is England. which has never had a
constitution Written out, and M. Shfphoff
and NJ Gerasimon quote with approval Mr..
Bryces statement that the success of the
English constitution Is due to the tradi-
ticns by which English statesmen have al
ways been guided, and by the respect which
English people have always shown for 1T.
A written constitution in Russia 1t Is con-
f1dently affirmed. would infallibly share the
fate which such constitutions have more
than once suffered in France.
NJ Shiphoff and his friends fall back upon
the old SlavOphil formula-"To the people,
opinion, but the tsar. power" maintaining
that the one thing needful is to bring the
SO that the voice of the people may reach
him without let or hindrance. The form Of
representative assembly which is best calcu-
lated to realize that ideal is one elected in
directly through the mediums of the organs
of local self-government already in exist
ence. M Shiphoff has drawn up detailed
scheme which has evidently been closely
studied by M. Buliguine, and which may
roughly be explained by surprising that in
the United States the townships elected
members to the counties, the counties to
the states, and the states to the national
Congress The number Of representatives
in the imperial council would according to
his scheme be approximately in the proper
ton of to every 25O,O00 of the population.
the total number being 5O7. of whom 372
would represent so provinces of European
Russia, Poland would have SO representa-
tives, the Caucasus an equal number, Cen
trail Asia 30, Siberia and Finland TO- The
right of voting would be directly exercised
by all who had an income Of 800 roubles or
occupied lodgings valued at GO roubles per
arnum.
The program of the conservative party
has many good things in it, though it Is
hardly in keeping with the ideas of the peo-
pie of western Europe and America. Be-
sides 1t apparently fails to satisfy the po-
litical aspirations of the overwhelming ma
jority of the members of the zemstvos.