The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-20
SAYS MONARCHY IS
BEST FOR RUSSIANS
Editor Points to Reasons
Against Constitutional
Government

ST. PETERSBURG, March 10
Much has been said and written to
show the advisability and even neces-
sity of changing the form of govern
ment of the Russian state from an alb
solute monarchy to some form of con-
stitutionalism, but there is a strong
party within the empire which believes
that the only salvation for Russia
rests in the retention, for the present
at least, of the existing form of gov
eminent. One of the ablest advocates
of this view is Vladimir Gringmuth,
editor and publisher OF the Moscow
Viedomosti, the leading conservative
organ, from whom the following arti-
Gle has been secured, setting forth one
phase of the argument against sweep
ing changes. Mr.. Gringmuth takes the
view that TO hold together the vast en-
pire, absolutism and autocracy are inn
peratively necessary; that under the
influence of constitutionalism and a
parliamentary form of government the
centrifugal forces would prove too
strong to be resisted by the present
bonds which unite the Russian people
to their emperor. He says:
A fun and accurate answer to the
question, why autocracy is indispensable
TO Russia, would fill volume, so many
are the reasons which could be given to
prove that Russia cannot exist without
the autocratic power of it's emperors
Among these are forces of historical.
geographical, chronological. religious, ethic-
al and psychological nature, the latter
clear and convincing fashion to those
who have not studied Russia closely at
nIst hand and familiarized themselves
with the spiritual and intellectual quail
tles OF the Russian people. For these
reasons 1 shall not attempt to discuss
me latter causes within the limits of
lnls sketch, the readers of which. unac-
the deep convictions OF a Russian for
Idle talk, inconsistent with reality.
snail; therefore, restrict myself to an
s~sshr,ing me question from the viewpoint
OF historical facts.
Restates the Question
First of all. to simplify the reasoning.
let me restate the question and ask:
Why would parliamentary system cause
the downfall of Russia? This involves no
cnange In the substance of the problem
for, as parliamentary system must be
the corner stone of any constitutional re-
gime, to prove that parliamentarism
volve the corollary that autocracy IS in
dispensable to this country
My readers probably know that every
through the following stages: autocrscv
constitution, republic. This proposition
may be considered automatic by All vyho
have In mind the history of the past two
centuries In western Europe and Amer
lea But one circumstance which ALWAYS
accompanies such an evolution NAV have
been overlooked. a circumstance which
with, two exceptions. of which I shall
speak later. has helped the progress OF ali
countries and saved them from dissoiu-
lion 1 refer to the. existing centripetal
force Of nation, the more typicai ex-
amples OF this are Germany and Itaiv.
where the evolution from absolutism to
constitutionaiism went hand in hand with
In one strong whole. In France likewise
all the great governmental upheavals
from the downfall OF the monarchy In
ifSs 10 the establishment OF the republic
In 1870; were accompanied by Strong
nationalistic feeling, and no one even
,hought Of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of France
hlchelieu and Louis XIV was SO flr.nIv
bound together that even the German Al.
SAGE felt itself an integral part. No need