Alaska sentinel., 1905-04-06

The people who do not make it clear ly known that they desire a greater degree of liberty. do not get it in Rus sia or in any other country. If it had not been for the appeals of zemstyos and town councils the Car would not have been moved to take the measures which he says in his ukase are needed to strengthen civic and public life. The men who made the appeals can bear with eQuanimity the Cars condem- nation of their activity when they con- template the results of their agitation. Although ordered peremptorily to re- frain from further agitation. they may not obey. The Car promises an ex- tension of local self government. That
 is the primary education in government which tie Russians greatly need. The men who have learned to manage the local affairs of a municipality or province are likely to be competent to take part in legislating for an empire. It is promised that the administrative authorities shall use their discretion ary powers only where the actual safety of the State is threatened" The administrative authorities remain the judges as to whether the safety of the State is threatened. It will be in their power to arrest men arbitrarily and hold them in prison indefinitely with out trial But the language of the Czar is in the nature of an assurance that not so many persons will he arrested and imprisoned because they are sus- pected of political offenses. There is n promise of the removal of ''unneces- sary" restrictions on tue freedom of the press and of q revision of the laws dealing with the rights of all persons who do not belong to tile Orthodox church. The CZar says also that steps should be taken to assure independence of the courts When such steps are taken and the judges when once ap- pointed hold office during life or good behavior and are independent of the autocracy, Russians will have gained degree of personal security they do not have now. The conclusion which many will draw from a perusal of the CZar $ ukase is that he is granting little to his subjects; that some of the conces- sions he does make are accompanied by limitations and qualifications which make them of little value, and that the Russian government remains about as autocratic as ever. Nevertheless the reactionaries in Russia are displeased because the Car has done so much. They would rather that he had mega tived every prayer for reform. and had proclaimed that improvement is impos- sible On the other hand. the liberals though thankful for what they have been promised and seeing in it a prom ise of brighter days for Russia, are disappointed because some of the re- forms they begged for have been ig- nored. It may appear to some that the policy of the Czar has been yacil- lating one-that he has leaned first to this side and then to that. and hence it is that he has been unable to satisfy either liberals or reactionaries. A more reasonable view of the situation is that he is feeling his way and seeking to strike middle path between those who ask for more than it may be wise to grant at once and those who would concede nothing. Autocratic govern ment in Russia cannot endure forever. but 1t cannot be suddenly ended with out bloodshed. A gradual peaceful transition to a constitutional govern ment is what is most to be desired. and that may be the end the Czar has in view He may be of the opinion that small concessions gradually made will lower the rising tide of discon- tent, while if he were to lower the dam too much by making too many concessions the pent up waters would rush out so madly as to sweep every thing away.