New-York tribune., 1906-05-11
AZ THE KINTER PALAcE.

Russia has had her day. The event of May
10. 1906, at St. Petersburg, viii henceforth be
I'm Russian history comparable with that at
Runnymede In English history or with July 4,
1915 in our own. Nor was IL effected in
manner unworthy OF such high estate. Both
the antecedent and the attendant circumstances,
1t is true. were Ominous, discOrdant and often
actually hostile. Extremists of both wings did
all they could. both lawfully and criminally, to
prevent its occurrence. The eminent statesman
who had most conspicuously prepared the way
for it was crowded back into retirement only
few days before. The Emperor himself seems
to have suffered from some hesitancy. If not
vacilation. In spite of all. however the first
parlament Of the Russian people had Its first
meeting and was opened by the Emperor in
person with all the hOnOrs of the imperial court,
That is the essential fact which overtOwers all
circumstances and makes an indelible mark
upon the history Of Russia and of the world.
The august function appears to have been
fittingly performed. If there was no delirfOus
enthusiasm there was no untOwaTd incident'
There were general popular interest and re-
joicings, and all possible dignity and state. The
question Of the meeting place of the Emperor
and the Douma was happily solved. The En-
perOr did not go to the Taurde Palace it is
true. But then neither did lie require the men,
hers Of the Douma TO make a pilgrimage to
PeterhOff or TsarskOe-Selo. He compromised
the matter by himself making the journey to
the capital. and by meeting the Douma at the
Winter Palace. That was a proceeding com
parable with the English Kings meeting the
House of Commons in the "gilded chamber of
the Lords The whole occasion seems to have
been marked with the majesty and The felicity
properly attendant upon a performance which
was fraught at once with unsurpassed histOri-
o0l Sio7 Tr-ifn la6 m
to the welfare of the Russian people.
COmmendable. too, was the tone of the brief
imperial speech from the throne. We are told it
was cOnciiatOry, and there was, and is unhap-
ply need of cOnciliatiOn, and of concliation
through imperial Overtures to the people. 1t
expressed wish for the ameliOratiOn of the
condition of the peasantry, and how urgent and
universal that need is the world well knows
without reminder Finally. IL asked the Douma
to cooperate seriously with him for the solving
of the problems which press so heavily upon
the empire In that was renewed remuneration
of the purely personal despotism which has
hitherto prevailed. There was recognition of
the right of the Russian people to a large share
in the government, with all that the irrevOcable
recognition Of that right implied If there were
no special promises and no detailed proposals
of legislation. it may well be said that in the
circumstances such things were uncalled for
and would have been impractical, if not actually
inappropriate.
They will come later. and they will come soon.
Immediately after the pageantry at the Winter
Palace the Douma returned to its workshop in
the Tauride Palace for business We may be
sure it will do business there and will make
/ itself felt as power in the realm. 1t is to be
I believed that the Emperor expects and desires
/ it to be power and TO be in due time developed
! into some such paramount power as are the
| parliaments of other lands The prophecy
which many made, right down to yesterday,
! that the DOuma would never. after all, be per-
mitted TO meet has been proved false. The no
ton that the DOuma is TO be a mere puppet Of
the bureaucracy Will, we confidently believe,
prove equally grOundless. Hitherto the govern
ment Of Russia has consisted of the Emperor.
/ Henceforth It will consist of the Emperor and
the DOuma; and If at present the powers Of the
! two are not equal. but those Of the former are
| the greater, 1t will not be always thus. The
rule Of the world is that the powers Of the mon
arch are declining. and those of the democracy
are increasing, and in country is the opera
ton of that rule more manifest than in the
empire Of the Gar.