Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
POWER BEHIND CAR
London's Opinion of His Strong
est Reserve
IN TIMES OF ANY CRISIS
A Cosmopolitan Sketch Of the British
Parliament.
CONTENT ON WORLDS CONGRESS
Spanish Queen Suffering From Nsrv-
Gus Shock Sustained on Her
Wedding Day.
IN TIMES OF ANY CRISIS
COMMENT ON WORLDS CONGRESS


Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON. July %. 1905
Prophecy 10 VIGOROUSLY dangerous. and
| in the conflict Of opinions about the situa-
| ton In Russia It Is difficult to obtain a
clear grasp OF the actual circumstances In
which the czar has ventured on the momen-
| tous exercise Of his autocratic power. While
the best-informed authorities recognize that
we may soon witness one Of the most IT,
tanic struggles in history. they safeguard
| their utterances by an assertion that the
revolutionaries claim to having the sup
port Of the army Is exaggerated and that
the full extent of the cars resources for
defense OF the existing order Is not fully
realized outside Of Russia.
AS matter Of fact the cars strongest
reserve is that large and powerful body
Of moderate liberal opinion which was rep
resented in the late duma by the constitu-
| tional democrats. These representatives of
the bourgeois and the professional classes,
with powerful monetary interests at stake.
| dread a violent revolutionary upheaval as
much or more than they dread the autoc-
| racy. And they have attracted to them
selves the representatives OF the minor ma
| tionalities within the Russian empire. SO
that numerically In the duma and proper
tionately outside 1t their policy has the
support Of powerful sections of the Rus
sian people. Their way is the middle way.
and in them and their peace-loving follow
ers the car and the bureaucracy will strive
10 find a buffer state.
Thus in any upheaval. though the repre-
sentatives Of the autocracy may come off
badly, the fullest force of the revolution
tQ iknlv RI ha cd m mi
classes. whose idealism and whose love for
law and order the astute bureaucrats Of
the empire will be sure to interpose be-
tween themselves and the storm.
The Opportune presence in London of the
six Russian representatives to the inter-
parliamentary conference has enabled me
to gather a truer impression of the state
of affairs than can be obtained from the
cabled messages from Russia.
One could not be In the company OF these
men long without becoming aware Of the
existence of those divergences Of sympa-
thy and interest between them which I
have endeavored to define and on which the
autocracy will rely in pursuance of the
doctrine Divide ct 1mpera." While they
obviously took a grave view of the situa-
ton, and some of them foresaw violent
uprising, none of them would commit him
self to the statement that In the struggle
between autocrat and people the latter
would be the victors.
indeed. 1t is not unjustifiable to say that
the demeanor Of these representatives Of
the people indicated strong doubt as to the
probability of the triumph of democracy,
while not the least instructive and sug-
gestive fact was the note Of distrust of the
constitutional democrat which appeared.
almost against their will. in the converse
ton Of the more advanced members of the
party, all of whom were at great pains to
impress on their questioners their solidarity
in face Of this despotic disregard Of the
rights Of the duma.
These Russian parliamentarians are men
nP or mo
once an officer in the Guards. Is a most i'm
posing figure. tall and bearded. M. Vas
silieff teaches mathematics at kazan Uni
versity. M. Oshogorsky Is a brilliant Jew,
who has lived in England, and has written
learnedly on democracy in England. All
three speak English excellently. So. too.
does M. Aladyn,\ who, though born peas
ant. has studied letters at Kazan Univer-
sty, has worked an engineer In Bel
gIum, starved in Paris, taught Russian In
London, worked as stevedore on the
Thames, and became a polished man OF the
world.
Stung to action by the insinuations against
the personal courage of the revolutionary
leaders, he returned to Russia, engaged In
the secret movement as an organizer. ex-
changed shots with the troops In Decem-
Der last found st. Petersburg too hot to
hold him, and returned to his native prov
ince of the Volga. Here he was invited to
stand as the peasants representative and
was returned to the duma as leader of the
he looks It. He talks admirable English.
and when at a loss for q word hnds the
right word in French.
~
Seldom II ever have the precincts of the
British parliament presepted 50 cosmopoli-
tan an aspect as throughout this week,
and whether inside or outside the palace
of Westminster. whether in 1.-The Hall Of
leaven Of the interparliamentary confer
ence was to be felt. Elamites Parthians
and Modes, In the shape of Americans,
Frenchmen, Russians and Germans en-
countered at every turn, and members who
could speak a foreign language with any
reasonable approach to fiuency and cor
rectness were much in demand. The Wis
itors from afar were obviously impressed
alike with the warmth of their welcome
and with the architectural beauties and
hospitable capacities OF the parliament pal
ace: and. having watched the debates in
each house with marked interest, they had
a special opportunity for studying how law
makers manage to combine business with
pleasure, for the prompt way In which the
terrace. in the midst of crowded tea time
on q lovely afternoon, was cleared Of men,
beers at the policemen's stentorian cry Of
division" afforded at once amazement and
amusement to the assembled legislators
from other lands.
Il is a curious commentary on the great
gulf that Is fixed between precept and prac-
ttce that the members of the interparlia-
mentary congress should be extolling the
HE Of universal peace between walls
frescoed with battle pictures and ornate
with gilded statues Of Britain's lighting
monarchs.
The Royal Gallery in the house Of lords.
where the congress il sitting. Is, strange to
say the most warlike apartment in West
minister Palace The frescoes representing
the meeting, after Waterloo. of Wellington
and Blucher and the hoisting of Nelson's
signal before Trafalgar are famous The
actual associations Of the chamber. how
ever. are sufficiently appropriate, for
through 1t the king must pass on his way
to omen the mother Of parliaments.
The scene of the opening was deeply in
teresting, II not deeply impressive. Al
though the official language Is French, at