Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-25

agitations. The ear did not attempt to
distinguish between assassins. murderers
and terrorists and the thousands of honest
patriots who are imprisoned for conscience
sake and for exercising political rights that
he bestowed upon them.
3. He promised to provide a system of
local self-government throughout the en-
pire and place the peasants on the same
footing with other classes in respect TO
taxation, education and civil rights.
4. He admitted that there was justice in
the demand for freedom of speech and civil
and religious liberty. but reminded the
douma that 1t was equally necessary to
provide means to prevent the abuse OF such
privileges.
5. He rejected the agragran proposition
bluntly, and reminded the douma that the
government cannot justly deprive one per-
son of his property in order to bestow II
upon another. The main point OF the propo-
sition was evaded.
8. He bluntly refused to entertain any
propositions concerning the transfer OF tne
responsibilities Of the ministry or the
abolition of the upper branch of parlia-
ment and suggested that those were mat
tiers with which the douma had no concern
Z He declared that he was already hay-
ing laws prepared to secure the proteetlon
of the lives and property of his subjects
and would attend to that matter himself.
The Gear Without Policy.
The entire effect of the cars reply was
to irritate the members of the douma and
by few kind words, without relinquishing
a particle of his dignity or authority. he
might have won over a large number of the
members to the support of his own policy
or program However, he does not seem
to have one. He does not seem to have any
fixed purpose The assembling of the douma
gave him splendid opportunity to make a
great impression, but he had repudiated.
practically, the body he himself created
He formally declared that it was his In
flexible will that Russia should have con-
stitution and a parliament, but as soon as
the words were uttered he began TO devise
means of preventing himself from carrying
out his own promises or limiting their fui-
fillment as much as possible. The Emperor
OF Japan voluntarily gave his subjects po-
litical freedom, and they venerate MIN as
a god But the car has made the fatai
mistake Of placing himself In a position
where his opponents can truthfully claim
to have forced from him unwillingly every
concession that he has granted, and there
fore he will never receive any creult TOT
what he has done.
The peasants of Russia have always been
loyal to the government and have venerated
the czar. They have absolved the little
father from responsibility OF the injustice
and tyranny they have suffered and have
laid II upon his ministers, but, instead Oh
conciliating them, of complimenfing them
for their loyalty and promising liberal
policy in the distribution of idle lands, he
slapped them in the face and alenated
sd. 100000 OF the subjects who have always
given him loyal support He has got to do
something for those peasants sooner or
later Their demands must be complied
with as soon as possible or his throne viii
be overturned Everybody realizes that inn
perative necessity except the car, and 1t
will be the first thing done, but he Will
never get any credit when he might have
claimed 1t all
Urged to Dissolve the Douma.
Instead of strengthening himself and
bringing peace to his people, instead of
stimulating the financial credit of the en-
pire and attracting the moral support of
other liberal nations, Nicholas II has, by
almost every act and word since the douma
was created. dscredited HIS own sincerity
and placed himself In antagonisln to the
best element of his subjects. What would
have satisfied them year ago will not do
now Concessions that would have been
received with universal gratitude at the
beginning of the present year would now be
rejected with contempt. and every day that
passes will make reconciliation more diff
ficuIt and increase the number and the size
OF the CONCESSIONS which the car VIII
finally be compelled to make
Instead Of compromising; instead Of