Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-22
Former Ambassador White
Submits Observations.
RUSSIAN REFORM PLAN
WHILE SHORT OF HOPES, FORE.
RUNNER TO BETTER THINGS.
Some Of the Imperfections in the Pro-
posed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Dam
gers in the Parliament.

BOSTON, August 22.-The Advertiser to-
day prints an interview on the proposed
Russian parliament with Andrew D. White,
former ambassador to Russia. Mr.. White
Is spending the summer at Gloucester. He
said in part:
while concessions made by the car are
considerably short OF hopes, they appear to
be the beginning Of what may prove
constitution suitable to the empire.
never believed in establishing q system Of
absolute universal suffrage throughout the
empire at the start. To do that in a coun-
try where ignorance is the rule with the
peasantry would be fatal. The natural re-
suit would be all sorts of wild proceedings
which would soon lead to a reaction and
closing of any legislative body elected by
such suffrage.
What would seem first to be needed in
such an assembly is a body Of men who
can give information to the car regarding
his own country. Such information he
lacks now and cannot have under the sys-
tenn which has been in vogue since he came
to the throne. He knows next to nothing
Of Russia, has had no proper education for
his duties and has therefore been utterly
dependent on the members Of his family
courtiers and favorite advisers who hap
pened to get access to his ear.
Constitution Very Imperfect.
There is no denying that the constitu-
ton foreshadowed in the reports which
have come to us thus far is very imper-
feet. First Of all. absolute autocracy re-
mains. There is no guarantee for carrying
out what there is of good in the system
save the cars word. and that 1t must be
confessed. has not proved to be thus far
thing on which those who have received
II can rely very firmly.
IF he would stand by his best men. such,
AR,t,
and De Martens in international affairs. we
might hope for very great improvement.
Unfortunately there is no certainty that the
same influences which have been SO fatal
to Russia thus far in the keeping Of these
men in the background will not be equally
powerful in the future.
Dangers in Proposed Parliament
The great dangers in the proposed par
Lament are probably two. First. dissen-
sions among liberal Russians themselves,
arising from the fact that there has never
been any discussion OF public questions al
lowed, either through the press or through
public meetings
The result of this is that each thinking
Russian develops his own ideas with no op-
portunity to compare them with those Of
anybody else or to submit them to any
proper discussion, and. so, virtually believes
they are divinely inspired and abhors any
one who takes a different view.
The other main danger is that the auto
cratic power may at any time, either adarm-
ed by such discussions or under pretext of
danger from them, close the whole proceed
ings and restore the old order Of things
STILL we may hope that these conces-
sions recently made may, at any rate make
1t more difficult for the car, the grand
dukes and the court party in general
to restore the old order and may afford op-
portunities for bringing in a constitution
which shall give really more chance for the
thinking men throughout the empire to take
some part in public affairs"