Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-01-20

The people who do not make it clear
~ known that they desire a greater
degree Of liberty, do not get 1t In Rus
STA or in any other country. If it had
not been for the appeals of zemstvos
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 equantmity 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 the Russians greatly need. The
men who have learned to manage the
local affairs of a municipality or a
province are likely to be competent to
take part in legislating for an empire.
1t is promised that the administrative
authorities shall use their discretion
airy 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 Gar
| is in the nature of an assurance that
not so many persons will be arrested
| and imprisoned because they are sus-
| pected of political offenses. There is
q promise of the removal of "unneces-
sary" restrictions on the freedom Of
the press and of revision of the laws
dealing with the rights of all persons
who do not belong to the Orthodox
church. The Gar 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 perusal Of the Cars
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
lived every prayer for reform, and had
proclaimed that improvement is 1mpos-
sible. On the other hand, the liberals,
though thankful for what they have
been promised and seeing In it prom
Use of brighter days for Russia, are
| disappointed because some Of the re-
forms they begged for have been ig
nored. 1t may appear to some that
the policy Of the Gar has been a vacil
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 q 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 it cannot be suddenly ended with
out bloodshed. A gradual peaceful
| transition to q constitutional govern
ment is what is most to be desired,
and that may be the end the Gar 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.