The Washington times., 1906-04-03
A SECOND TOLSTOY
IS RUSSIAN EXILE
Chicago Refugees Work for
Reform at Home.
WRITINGS CONVERTED PRINCE
Basil Bouroff Says Cars People Will
Now Rise and Become Great
Nation.
WRITINGS CONVERTED PRINCE

CHICAGO. April IA Tolstoy has been
found in this city. A champion Of the
dOwntrOdden Russian peasantry has
been living in Chicago since his esca pc
from the imperial power twelve years
ago. During the years that Basil Bouroff
has been resident of this country he
has written-several books upon the Rus
sian crisis. several newspaper articles
for the Liberalists' paper in st. Peters
burg. and pamphlets upon the needed
reforms In the government of his coun-
try which have been distributed among
the high officials OF the empire. The re-
script and manifestoes issued by the
Car have been due partly to the argu-
ments presented by Bourofr in his let
tiers and articles
In 1894 Mr.. Bourof fed from the Rus
sian domain in fear of his life. which
had been threatened because of state
ments made by him I'm which he advo-
Gated reforms in the church. while he
was attending the Academy of ST.
Petersburg. an ecclesiastical institution.
When the war with the Japanese proved
10 be a loss 10 Russia he took advan-
tage of the opportunity to write articles
in favor of constitutional government
and elevation of the lower classes in
the sight of law and had them printed
in pamphlet form TO he distributed
among the aristocracy of Russia.
NJ. Souvorin. a LiberGlist and news
paper editor of St Petersburg. saw that
tho writings of the Russian scholar were
placed in the right hands.
Converted Prince Meschersky.
The result of the distribution was a
long article by Prince Mesehersky. in
which he criticised the argument Of
Bouroff and attempted to show that the
peasantry of Russia never could be ele-
waited. Again in pamphlet the reform
or disproyed the arguments set forth by
the prince and had the article placed in
his hands. This last article had the de-
sired effect and Prince Meschersly was
converted to the cause of Russian re-
form
In speaking OF the reform Mr.. BOur-
or said: 81 do not feel that 1 should
have all the credit for the actions taken
by my country in the way of reform.
but 1 can say that the rescript and
manifestos followed directly upon the
digestion OF my writings by those in
authority. The fact that the first mani
festo did not go far enough caused the
and which 1 said would come II liberal
government was not granted at once.
Abolition in Russia has served its
purpose. 1t delivered the country from
the Tartar and the Monaghan and
brought il TO the present stage. but il
has outliVed its utility. We must now
have constitutional government To
establish a safe government I must con-
vince those in power that autocracy.
bureaucracy, and orthodoxy are no
longer the pillars OF the empire. Rus
sian life is very complex because OF the
steady increase in population and for
Believes Car Is Sincere.
'T believe the Car is a man who Will
do whatever is best for his country and
the reason that conditions have existed
as they have is because he firmly be-
lieved that the domination OF the peas
ant class was divine right.
Russia will come out of this revoiu-
ton a great nation and ! can predict
a great future. She has stood below all
other nations for many years. but she
will rise rapidly now and soon assume
an exalted position"
Mr. Bouroff who IS living at 500
Monroe avenue. will leave the city in a
few weeks to return to Russia. where
he viii connect himself with the edu-
cational department of the government
and proceed with his plans of reform
He took his A z. degree at the Uni
versity of Chicago last week and hopes
to continue his education at the Uni
versity Of st. Petersburg.