The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11

4 ~ lNAE.A0 GOOAR1AAAA0 N0NgAORAN4Dhu Ills
measures for, the State monopoly Of the
manufacture and sale Of spirits. for the
introduction OF. the gold. standard and for
the construction OF the Siberian railway
mark the broad lines Of his policy. He dis
tinctly recognized the necessity OF sup
plying in manufactures a field Of employ
ment for the constantly increasing surplus
Of the agricultural population. He did noE
shut his eyes to the fact that while In some
| particulars Russia was making wonderful
advances her agriculturists were finding
| their lot every day more difficult. In 1909
outbreaks OCCURRED very generally IA
southern Russia, where famine and disease
prevailed, so that the Government deemed
it expedient TO remit arrears OF taxes
amounting to rs, 0O0. 900, rublee. Measures
for reform were discussed, and In March,
1908, an imperial manifesto was promul-
gated promising freedom OF religion
and a greater degree OF local self-govern-
ment. The communal system was not in
terfered' with. but much greater freedom
| Of Withdrawing frcm the peasant on
munities was allow we'd. Provision was also
! made for the abolition of collective responsi-
bility for the payment of taxes by the peas
I ant communities, and q thorough reform
of the provincial and district governments,
which had been altered for the worse since
| the days of Alexander H., was promised,
a commission being appointed to develop
a plan for carrying out the suggested ameii.
| Grafton. Unfortunately the presidency o.
the commission was intrusted TO Plehve.
the Minister Of the Interior, whose auto
cratic tendencies were already we'll known.
About the same time that the reform de-
crees were passed the local committees
appointed in 1902 to investigate the condi-
ton and the needs OF the peasantry drew
up a list of their grievances. These related
mainly to the bureaucratic interference
with local government and to the excessive
burden of indirect taxes. The latter griev-
ance was particularly complained of because
the tariff rates had just been Increased to 50
per cent. ON most commodities and to 100
per cent. on others. In August, 1903, the
hopes OF reformers were dashed temporarily
by the transfer of Witte from the Ministry
Of Finance to the ornamental post OF Preei-
dent Of the COMMITTEES Of Ministers. a change
Justly regarded as indicative of the increas-
ing influence OF the r~eactionAry Plehve:
who had, however, but a short lease OF life.
being assassinated in August, 1904, by a
member Of the Social Revolutionary party.
It was under his successor, Count Mirsky:
that a new reform movement, which drew
its strength chiefly from the upper class and
the zemstvos provincial Inc district coun-
cils) was inaugurated. The political. social
and economic plight Of the country now
became the subject Of general discussion.
On December %, 1904, the long hoped for
reform ukase was issued, and, while it de-
clared the autocratic system indispensable!
IL promised many liberal Innovations, equal
s.xy haforo The Ian Upo.Nap nAar.nI-~
Of the zemstvos, local government, freedom
Of religion, free speech and a free press.
The nominal concessions, however, were So
hedged about by conditions that the amount
of real reform attainable in any particular
case would obviously depend as much as
ever on the Gar and his advisers. In the
meantime the heavy burdens Of the Far
Eastern war snd the repeated disasters
aroused the press and the people to a point
OF evaporation never before reached.
The fall Of Port Arthur In January, 1905;
called forth the most outspoken criticism
OF the bureaucracy N extreme demands
for reform were made wen by apers
so conservative as the Nouoe VYertpd.
A chapter which must have required not
a little labor reviews the history OF the
Ottoman Empire and the Balkan States
during the last thirty years. Attention ia
directed TO a fact often lost sight of. namely:
the economic development Of the princi-
pality Of Montenegro in the last decade.
In 1880 Montenegro was among the most
back ward States of Europe. It had no
commerce., industry, post Offices, tele-
graphs or means Of communication other
than the primitive roads, which, while they
made the land easy Of defence, hindered
civilization and progress. Since 1880, how
ever, largely through the initiative and
courage of the ruler, Prince Nicholas, i'm
portant changes have been effected which
not only have proved of immediate benefit
but also oher great promise for the future.
A road excellently constructed now con-
meets the capital, Cettinje, with the Bocche
di Cattaro on one side and, Scutari on the
other, extending to Podgoritza and Niksio
in the north and westward to connect the
interior with Risano on the Adriatic. An.
other road has bean run from the Lake OF
Scutari to Antivari on the coast. Tele-
graph lines now radiate from the capital
TO all the important points in the surround.
ing territory. Postal conventions have been
arranged with Italy, Servia, Austria n
lin 1901 France. Bridges have been built
or restored and the municipalities have
been reorganized, 80 that now each COM,
munity elects a municipal council and has
the right to devote the local revenues to
local needs. Many projects for the utiliza-
ton OF the natural resources OF the country
have been set on foot. While the climate
is not favorable TO versatile industries and
the poverty OF the land is a great drawback
to it's rapid advancement, yet under proper
management, backed by adequate capital.
the forests and iron mines are capable OF
being developed and increasing materially
the wealth Of the little State. With an eve
TO such development, young M~ontenegrins
are sent to France, Servia and Russia to he
trained in scientific schools and outside
capital has been called upon TO aid in OPEN
ing up the country.
In the last chapter but one will be found
an accurate account Of the Boer war and OF
the events which preceded and have fol-
Lowell it. In the same chapter the Infamous
treatment Of the natives in the Congo State
might have been ~castigated more severerv:
but the Author doaa not fail 20 ~. - -