The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-10
ZEliSkI SOBOR.
The Composition OF the Assembly and Its
Action In Past Russian History.

FROM the speaker.
Possibly tho Car has superstitious faith
in the name of a Zemski Sober as the body
that bestowed the sovereign power Of Russ "a
on his house. The Zemski Sober that made
young Michael RomRnon car in 1910 was
certainly a representative Russian assembly.
for II was called into existence by the patriotic
revolt gainst the accession OF a Polish prince.
The causes OF Michael Romanons success
were stated by koyHleksky in his leicester
lectures 10 be his relationship with IN, cN-
tinct dynasty of Rurik. the popularity OF h's
family. which had been prosecuted by the
boyars, and the small number of his relations.
which was looked upon as a safeguard agHn't
further depredations on the demesne lands
in the form Of beneficiary donations. The
writs OF summons to this assembly have,
fortunately been preserved and they show
that the assembly was composed OF repre-
seutatives OF each Of the estates sitting ~
common with the hoyars OF the council the
high commission of the clergy. and the rep
resentatives Of the regular and irregular
military forces that had been formed On I'M"
emergency by the creation Of the various
folkmotes. The higher clergy. who have
generally been. as they are to-day. the stanch-
est champions OF absoutism. we're drawn INTO
this popular movement because the obnoxious
Polish Prince was. OF course a Catholic
The Xemski sober met AT different tiDcs.
and they we're summoned on different priu-
Cipes but two facts IN their history have an
interesting bearing on the present situation
in Russia The first Iemskl sober was SUM
npnel DE ivan lNt TlIlt IN lbuN anu ~ no"
first session the gar made a speech aitnhg'
ing TO the hoyars the misgoVernmeut and the
miseries Of the nation Before this the only
asse m blies were the Douma. council OF
the nobility. and the high commission of the
clergy. The result was paclcauon and 90
era OF reform. The second fact ~ that Iemski
Sobors were always summoned to help the
gar in some emergency. and particularly in
the emergency OF foreign war Peter the
Great did not want any such assemblies. md
he found II easier TO carry out his mighty re-
forms without their assistance, But Nicho-
las II is not Peter the Great His people are
complaining OF the bureaucracy rs Ivan tho
Terrihle'- people were complaining of tho
boyars and he is entangled m war as grave
and as unfortunate IA any OF the wars With
Poland or the Crimean TaTtArs that obliged
other rulers to convene this assembly.
The Xemski Sobors varied in their coWpO-
sition, but on two occasions. in 1914 and Jas
they included not only the superior clergr.
the higher nobility. the lower clergy and iNe
lower nobility, the three grades OF Nu-covlt"
merchants. and the citizens OF urban dir
lands Of the state. Inc session was opened
by the CZAr or by one Of his secretaries, Who
explained the reasons why the assembly NHi
been summoned to the delegates, the nru,-
The assembly then divided Itself hN ~ "--
tates, the estates deliberated on the questions
proposed. and the result WAS presented -"pH-
ratcly by each estate IN writing bui t''
lation used in replying 10 Tia" Government
demand 10 make known their sentiments ou
Russian politics. Their position. OF ,our-t.
WAS much less important than that OF lI--
do with various reforms. and they we're t'l-
tainly check on the despOt ism of provincial
Governors and the cNactious Of the bureau
craCy. II Nicholas ~ summons Zen
Sober to-day be Is not kelly 20 Ind j lee 10
earnest in defending the peOpl" of ku-.
from the bureaucracy and GRIND Duke