Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-29


the idea of the czar and his advisers
seems to have been that it would be
easy enough to let the people think
they were getting everything they
wanted while as a matter of fact they
should have nothing.
The plan of the government includes
three coordinate bodies, consisting OF
the czar and his minister's the council
of the empire, composed of representa-
tives of the aristocracy, and the Duma,
composed of representatives of the
masses of the people.
The czar has assumed as a matter
of course, that he should select his own
ministers. 1t had not occurred to him
that anybody could think of suggest
ing anything else. The Duma has all
along had the idea that it could des-
ignate ministers as they are designated
by the British house of commons.
Upon the assembling of the Duma
recently the czar read his speech, con-
sisting of string of meaningless plat
itudes and the members Of the Duma
listened with silent dissatisfaction.
They prepared a reply in which they
demanded universal suffrage, general
amnesty and appropriation of lands.
The amnesty demand meant the re-
lease of practically all political pris-
oners. The suffrage laws of Russia
discriminate against peasant classes.
There are immense bodies Of land
owned by the crown, the churches
and the nobility, and the people who
live on these lands are practically
slaves of the owners.
The reply of the crown to these de-
mands has been awaited with intense
interest, and it came last Saturday.
It was read by Premier Goremkin,
and it was not at all satisfactory. The
universal suffrage demand was ac-
ceded to and there were promises as
to amnesty that would except certain
classes of offenders; but the expropri-
alton demand was replied to in a
homily setting forth the inviolability
or properly rlSnlS, etc.
With regard to appropriation, 1t Is
the idea Of the Duma that under GER
tain circumstances where the owners
of the kinds of land already referred
to are unable to utilize them the peas
ants may purchase in accordance
with a schedule duly provided and
which seems to be right, and it is also
contemplated that the land owning
class of the nobility must pay its full
share of the taxes, which it is not now
doing.
The refusal of the demands Of the
Duma, especially the demand relating
to the appropriation of lands, produc-
ed the greatest possible Indignation,
and while the prime minister and 9TH
er members of the cabinet sat listen
ing the thing was debated in a man.
ner that is unusual for Russia. Mem
bers boldly stated that they would ac-
cept nothing short of complete COM
pliance with the demands that had
been made and they said also that
tney WOulu Slouhu
there until the Duma is dissolved by
force. One influential member made
the declaration that as the ministers
were clearly out OF touch with the
people there was nothing for them to
do but step down and out and allow
the Duma to recommend "a new cab
met.
All this would mean but little in the
United States or Great Britain; but in
Russia II is understood to mean a Vlr-
tual sounding of the call for revolu-
ton. Having met the unexpected, the
czar and his advisers see no way OF
retreat. The general impression is
that they will have to either dissolve
the Duma by force or yield to its de-
mands, and the one alternative is
hardly preferable to the other The
forcible dissolution of the Duma will
precipitate a revolution, at once. For
the czar to attempt to face about and
go back on the stand he has taken,
will mean an invitation to the Duma
to 90 on and on until 1t has everything
it's own way.