The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05
The Czar,a Two PROCLAIM ations.

The two proclamaions, apparently
contradictory, that have been issued
almost simultaneously by the Autocrat
Of all the Russias will puzzle all friends
OF Russia and dishearten any who have
built hopes on NICHOLAS II. Intervening
circumstances have sometimes induced
despots to change their minds in hurry,
but we have no intimation OF untoward
incidents interposed between the Cars
edict and his rescript TO the Minister Of
the Interior; the only cause apparent is
vacillation or confusion Of ideas on his
part or on that of his advisers.
Coming. a few weeks ago, at the re-
quest of the local assemblies, the grant
ting Of an elective assembly to the nation
would have ranked among the great
events in Russian history. Even if con-
ceded after the first uprisings it would
have indicated that the Cars COUNSEL
lors had awakened to the realities Of life
and were preparing to deal with them.
Now. after repeated swaying TO and fro
put on the sole ground of the Cars WILL
which has shown itself TO be very uncer-
;fain the concession has all the marks of
those nineteenth century constitutions
{that arbitrary monarchs we're ready to
tswcar to in the moment of danger and
fmuch more ready to abjure when they
felt themselves strong again.
Most European countries can supply
parallels TO the Cars rescript in the
first half of the last century. It cannot
but be regarded with suspicion. and it
will be observed that in promising an
assembly Of 'the worthiest mem who
shall be elected there Is no suggestion
that that body shall be either representa-
tive or popular. Faith IN the sincerity
OF the concession ia weakened by the
remarkable edict that accompanied or
mediately preceded it.
The Cars appeal TO his people Is a
declaration that he, with the men about
him, has learned nothing, and will learn
nothing it is an assertion Of absolute
autocracy at time when his people are
begging for reasonable concessions.
Nearly a century ago a ruler as auto
cratic as he, FREDERICK WILLIAM III.
OF Prussia, chastened by misfortune.
40 hOAt w kNN pAi NpihAiANb ~ bullNA Will
his people, and his address, An meiner
T0llr, spurred them 10 drive from the
land a hated foreign invader even more
despotic than himself. But TO whom
and to what does NICHOLAS II. appeal?
Does the war in the East threaten in the
least Russian soil? No Russian can look
on the Manchurian adventure as touch
ing his native land. and no feeling of
nationality can be expected in the varied
oppressed races, Firms, Poles Germans,
S.ithuanisis, Armenians, Jews, held in
bondage by the Car
He strikes an ominous note in the mem
tion Of attacks on the Orthodox Church.
No hint of such occurrences has been sug-
gested so far. 1t can refer only to the
excuses given for tho slaughter and
plunderihg Of the Jews and the inference
must be drawn that the intention is 10
keep them up. Is NIcHoIAs's cry for
help merelya desperate call to supersti-
ton and race hatred
II is possible, perhaps. to look on the
resc1pt calling for an assembly as a
tactless and wronghradcd extension Of
this untimely assertion Of autocratic
theory. What the Car refused to his