The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-20
UKASE RUSSIA'S BIG VICTORY.
THOUGH CZAR GIVES LITTLE, WAY
IS OPENED ron MORE.
Voting Qualification Is Placed Extremely
High, but the Essential Fact Remains
That 1t 10 the First Time an Auto c'at
Has Permitted Public Discussion.

Has Permitted Public Discussion
r. Special Gable pe,pateh<s to THE SUN.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. l9.-The crisis
9. the peace conference Ia regarded as trivial
compared with the epoch making impor-
lance Of the Cars ukase, which absorbs
public attention.
An observers first effort must be to
resist sharing the attitude Of cynical sus-
picion, which tina entire population imme-
diately assumes toward everything issuing
from the Government.
When this has been overcome II is clear
that great historic event has taken place
in Russia, and to-day, which Is the feast
OF the TRANSPORTATION. will stand among
the anniversaries which great nations
celebrate In honor Of q victory in the struggle
for self-government. This can be said
despite many limitations which surround
the Emperor's scheme.
Foremost among these lie the ominous
fact that the great industrial army whose
restless agitation has 80 often paralyzed
the authorities is completely left out. The
artisans who tried to reach the Emperor
In january and the working population
who are in a chronic struggle with the
Cossacks at Moscow. Warsaw, Odessa
and elsewhere, remain just where they are.
Because they have ceased to share In the
life Of their native villages they are not
allowed that fractional share in the fran
chise which the villages may enjoy as
collective units.
In every other respect the voting quail
hcation is placed extremely high. Where
only men occupying town property at an
annual rental OF $500 or possessing an
agrarian estate worth $500 have votes,
II may be assumed that not per cent. Of
the adult male population will receive the
suffrage. It must also be remembered
that peasant with $3.50 worth Of real estate
b only tenth part Of q vote in electing
the first assembly electors, who will then
choose a member Of the Imperial Duma.
The present manifesto, moreover. defers
graphing with the problem Of how the
Poles, Firms, Tartars and other non Russian
nationalities shall be placed in the new
scheme.
The word Jew appears nowhere thus class
ing the Jews. for the purpose Of suffrage,
with the orthodox Russians. The general
poverty Of the Jews will permit only few
merchants Of their race in large cities to
v)te.
There remains, however, the great essen
tial fact that for the first time in the his
tory of the Russian Empire an assembly for
the discussion Of public affairs by represent
tatives Of the people is lawfully permitted.
The right is grudgingly given. Its in
trinsic political value is practically nil.
but 1t is all that was expected and at
least furnishes machinery which will be
used for gaining real reforms and real
expression Of the popular will.
1t Is beyond question that the Imperial
Duna will from the first moment Of its
meeting struggle for greater powers, and
1t is scarcely less doubtful that the auto
crat will not long withhold them.
It is in this light that educated, indie
pendent Russians regard to-day's event.
They see in 1t the heaviest blow dealt to the
bureaucracy since 1t arrogated the COM
plete administration Of the country. No
matter how limited is the basis Of suffrage to
the first assembly elected, it is certain
TO contain enough independent force to
attack Immediately the network OF OBJ
scurantist chioanery from the Baltic to the
Pacific which is the real tyranny Of Russia
COLOGNE, Aug. 1s.-The St. Petersburg
correspondent Of the Gdsette says that
after the Gar received Mr.. Whites cipher
despatch yesterday q council, at which
all the Grand Dukes will be in attendance,
vas summoned to meet at Peterhof to-day.