Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
Cause of the Dissolution.

.
discus these subjects in letters that will
not be printed for several weeks.
Cause Of the Dissolution.
The reasons for the dissolution Of the
duma are very plain. A struggle has
been going on around the throne ever
since "the youngest parliament in history
assembled His majesty has been pulled
and hauled this way and that way. back
and forth. by two factions which are able
to reach him. One Of his ministers said
this morning that he had been consulting
a great many well-informed people, which
means that every reactionary who has ac-
cess to the palace has been at him. Those
influences have several times brought him
to the point of dissolving the duma When
wiser advisers have appeared to dissuads
him from making such terrible mistake:
The rumors concerning dissolution alluded
to at the beginning of this letter, that have
prevailed daily for several weeks, have hao
legitimate existence; they have been
based upon the very best of authority. The
Associated Press representatives here have
announced such action at least 1ve times
within a month. Each time their informa-
ton came direct from what may De con-
sidered at least semi-official II not official,
authority. A member OF the reactionary
element would come from Peterhof every
few days to congratulate his sympathizers
that the car had been won over and that
the duma would be abolished, for the time
being at least That Information was true
until somebody on the other side got close
enough to the imperial ear to argue his
majesty out Of such an intention. Thus
the autocrat Of all the Russias has vacil-
lated back and forth until day before yes
terday. when. as I have already said.
Pobiedonostseff. Putiatin. Ignatieff. Trepof1
and other conservative advisers. convinced
him that the members of the duma had
been guilty of treason and would destroy
tho government II they were permitted to
continue their discussions and agitations.
As one Of the cabinet said:
His majesty has seen and talked with a
great many well-informed persons during
the last few weeks. from all political cir
the duma or from liberal statesmen out
side Of that body, but his overtures were
rejected. and 1t became clear to him that
the only alternative lay between the ex-
After q conscientious examination of the
situation the emperor decided that the
duma was a revolutionary, and not a rep
resentative. assembly. and he has there
fore dismissed 1t and will order the election
Of another more In sympathy with the SEN
timents Of the people. No one need fear
that the emperor will go back to the old
regime. He will take no steps backward.
decided determination OF his majesty to
obtain q government In harmony with the
modern system OF popular representation
as Russia without imperiling the welfare
OF the people by the Introduction Of vicious
THEORIES"
That Is the polite way Of putting It.
The Cars Reasons.
In his proclamation his majesty gives
three reasons for dissolving the duma-
for the 'cruel disappointment (which has
befalien our expectations:
1. Instead of applying themselves to the
work Of productive legislation, the repre-
sentatives Of the nation have strayed Into
spheres beyond their competence and have
been making Inquiries into the acts OF local
authorities established by ourselves" BY
which his majesty graciously refers to the