Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-17
The CARS UKASE
Feeling in Europe as to It's
Effect.
TOO MUCH PROMISE
he WILL HARDLY BE ABLE TO
KEEP HIS WORD.
How It is Regarded by Leading Jour
nails in Observation-Disclosures
Statue Unveiled.
recial Correspondence of The Star.

nlore-is on the whole favorable and hope
full, though throughout all press comment
there runs certain vein of skepticism or
cautious expectancy. Some papers refer to
the cars ukase as a Russian magma char
ia" but the document signed by King John
at Runnymede was in the nature of BIZ
lateral contract between him and his barons
on behalf of themselves and the people,
while the cars manifesto is quite one
sided affair and may be modified, to the eX-
tent even of notification, before the year Is
out.
A sovereign's simple word ought to be
above all doubt or danger of revocation;
but there has been in Russia during the last
few years so heavy shower of such ukases
promising constitutions. none of which has
ever even reached the dignity of a second
and revised edition. that absolute reliance
cannot be placed in this latest sop TO Ger
berus. The Times puts the whole matter IN
nutshell when 1t says: But the leaders
o. the reform movement may be forgiven II
they remember that in March last the mani
festo in which the car announced his IN
tention OF summoning the chosen of his peo-
pie was followed by rescript dictated by
| his bureaucratic counsellors. in which he
adopted the old-time doctrine of the un-
shakable foundations of autocracy.
Otherwise public opinion here is we'll sum-
med up by an evening journal, which asks:
is 1t sop or salve? Time Will show, put
meanwhile I may recall the story of the
Duke of Brunswick, whose palace square
during the revolutionary days of 1S4S was
Invaded by a clamorous mob What IN
heavens name do those people want? asked
the duke of one of his ministers who hap
pened to be in attendance. They. want
constitution, your highness,'' replied the
minister with Mortified look. "A censti-
tution?' rejoined the duke. Bah. Is that
all? Give them two" AS for the Russians
they also have now been promised the equiv
alent of more than two, or at least more
than they can digest.
kilograms from st. Petersburg ana
Odessa tell of the popular Joy at the pros
pect opened up to them; but it remains TO
be seen whether their excess of eXaltation
will not justify the application to them or
thu words Of Horace Walpole They are
ringing their bells now, but they will soon
be wringing their hands," at finding that
after being promised much they have
received so little. In fact, on the principe
that a man famished to the point OF star
walton should not be all at once treated
to full meal, the most thoughtful obserV-
ers here are inclined to think that.the car
has promised his subjects just little 100
much. There Is a danger in the too SUD
den transition of man from dungeon
darkness to binding light; and as mat
ter of positive fact, the Russian people as
a whole are not yet ripe for the blessings
of constitutional government.
1t should be remembered that there is
tremendous difference between the moujiks,
l. or peasantry of whom but small percent
age can either read or write. and the edu-
Gated classes, which constitute but the
slender fringe the immense garment OF
the empire. The probability Is that the
cars present promise will result IN some
cautious extensions of the liberties OF the
Russian people in the direction Of repre-
sentative government. of the dellberatve,
If not legislative, kind; but that fuil-
blown constitution, even of the German
sort is thing that will have yet to cost
the Russians more struggles and striking,
and more blood and tears.
Already the car has issued second man
ifesto which is regarded as toning down
the first and it Is taken as evidence that
reactionary influences are at work. II the
car really meant to turn over new leaf
and to burn the boats of autocracy. ne
would not have issued a fresh manifesto
laboriously dwelling on the fact that re
form is a plant of slow growth. This, at
any rate is the opinion of Russian here
whose views are representative of the mod
crate reforming party.
This is no time to preach patience. ie
said THAT Is our old cry. and We know
bitterly enough how we have been deiuoeu
by it before. If the car was really IN
earnest he would have issued manifesto
simply telling the people that the utmost
speed would be observed in putting his
promised constitution into operation. Alter
all, he is still the ear, and by a stroke or
the pen can do what he likes. There IS
really no need for long gestatory PERIOD
for constitutional reform. II he had issued
manifesto saying that already he ana the
cabinet were at work mapping out the elee-
toraI districts the basis of franchise ana
the constituents of the legislative BOD es-
one chamber or two-and that the hrst
parliamentary elections for Russia would
take place within six, nine or twelve
months. why then, I should really believe
In the new era And all this was possible
But the second manifesto is, in my opinion,
merely the clouds intended to obscure the
first"
Count Witte also is regarded hardly
strong or able enough for the supposed
task before him. He is purely an oppor-
tunist His brag after the Portsmouth
conference of how he pulled the WOOL over
Baron Komura's eyes hurt his reputation
here as an astute and hard-headed politi-
clan, and he DECIDEDLY is not believed to
be the imam of the moment Besides this.
he is looked upon with grave suspicion by
Russian leaders, who alone can give peace
to Russia.
The statue to Mr.. Gladstone, erected in
the Strand as part of the national me-
| mortal TO the great political leader. was
unveiled today. 1t stands just at the west
of ST. Clements Dane Church and within
few yards of the spot where stood the
old book stalls in Holywell street which
Mr. Gladstone at one time used frequently
to visit The national memorial consists
not only of this statue. but also of the st.
Deiniols Library, which was opened by
Earl Spencer three years ago, and of mon
uments at Edinburgh and Dublin The ex-
ecution of the London statue In the
hands of Mr.. Hamo Thornycroft, the total
cost being about $40 600
The monument consists of an architectu-
raj pedestal of Portland stone in renais-
sance style, twenty-five feet in height sur
mounted by a colossal bronze statue of
Mr. Gladstone in his robes as chancellor of
the exchequer The statue is in a stand
ing position, and the robe falls in massive
folds to the feet. The figure is erect and
alert, and by the absence of action In the
rest of the statue attention Is concen-
trated on the head, which is sharply turned
to the left. The arms are nearly straight
and the hands brought together In front
of the figure.
At the base of the statue are four sub
sfdary bronze allegorieal groups repre-
senting brotherhood" Education" AS
piration" and Courage" In contrast with
the simplicity and restraint Of the prnci-
pal figure, these subsidiary groups show
considerable energy and movement on
bronze panels between the groups are dec
Grated escutcheons bearing the arms of
some of the counties and boroughs which
Mr.. Gladstone represented in parliament.
| The base of the monument is cruciform in
| plan and stands upon central platform
4 - Il. T.