The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-04
The Cars Rescript.

Inc CZar N1cnOlaS IL dInXeu MS sig
nature yesterday to a reform rescript
embodying the announcement that he
will, in compliance with the many pc
titions from the provincial zemstvos,
municipal bodies, commercial and scien-
tifc and other bodies asking for the
privilege of participation in the impe
rial legislation affecting the people, per-
NIT them to participate Gin the elabo-
ration and consideration Of legislative
matters.''
No national parliament is intended,
but the participation in legislation is
strictly limited to the organization of
the different classes, the privilege Of
assembly and of expressing their views
upon the legislation which the car and
his council of ministers devise, and
which affects each class. No initiative
! of the people in legislation is provided
| for and the reform is reduced to refer
ence of legislation to each class affect
ed, the acceptance or rejection of the
opinion expressed being left to the will
Of the imperial council. It is not even
intended that the representatives of
the people shall sit as one consultative
body, but the various classes are to
meet at different times. =.
| Nicholas and his advisers have no
idea of putting in motion the old states
general system of France, consisting of
deputies from the three orders of cler-
gy, nobility and bourgeoisie, or third
estate, which figures So conspicuously
IN French history from the reign Of
Philip the Fair up to the tragedy Of
the revolution.
The three estates of Russia are the
landed proprietors, the rural communes
and the municipal corporations. The
zemstvos contain a large percentage of
landed proprietors, and they have made
the most persistent contention for the
passing of the detested bureaucracy and
for a parliament monarchy-the mon
arch minus the bureaucracy.
The zemstvo agitation, which is based
on Intelligent comprehension of the real
needs OF Russia, notably the necessity
OF public education, will ultimately Sc
cure for Russia something far beyond
the cars present ideas of government
> cooperation with the Inexperienced
forces of the community.' The details
OF the proposed reform have not been
fully worked out, but it must be adj
, united that the concession the cza1
makes to the right Of the people to even
} comment upon imperial legislation. in
what may be called elected. referendum
bodies, authorized by the government
and to express their needs, without g
: voice IN legislation, is a step forward
1t is concession which the bureaucrac,
may seek to nullify, as they did the
good intentions Of Alexander II. with
regard to: the zemstvos he ORGANIZED
forty years ago. AS soon as the zemst
. vos began to act within their loca
legislative rights, the bureaucrat:
charged them with assuming political
power, and began to cripple them in thu
exercise OF their prerogatives in thu
local sphere. Conflict will begin on thu
} part of the bureaucrats as soon as tn,
cars system Of cooperation of tn,
4 peoples representatives with the gov
t eminent begins. The bureaucracy AM
: popular cooperation with y impartia
S legislation do not consist. They ar
r hostile elements. .->e..@~ &.,-
Manifestly, if the car carries out hi
limited scheme of partici patton of hi
$ people in "the elaboration and consid
e GRAFTON Of legislative matters,' eve1
y without any legislative power, an,
+ "convenes the worthiest men posses
9 ing the confidence of the people an
:, elected by them,' as he promises, sue
|, men, so elected and invited to consid
= er national needs, will naturally an
n perpetually ask themselves: "Can thi
: be the limit Of our service for the pee
pie? Can we not be trusted to- hav
Y determining power as to legislation
: which affects directly our individual
and personal freedom Of action and tina
of our familiesq''' .'". e."