Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21


One Of the leaders Of the late Russian duma
The first Russian to publicly advocate constitu
tional government.
truce, TO the duma asking for terms of
peace: and the leaders of the constitutional
democratic party. who are in a majority.
took the responsibility Of rejecting his over
lures. Then came the dissolution. Time
will demonstrate whether the action Of the
duma leaders was a. mistake. A good many
thoughtful people believe that 1t was.
The first overture from the car, made
under the influence Of his liberal minded
advisers. reached the duma in the form
of message to President Mouromsten.
that he would like to confer with him con-
corning the appointment of a coalition min
istry; that he would like to invite several
members Of the durnai to enter his cabinet.
MFR. Mouromstef submitted the invitation
to his colleagues, who unanimously In"
structed him to inform the czar's messenger
that such a mixture was not only impracti-
cable but impossible-that they would not
accept share of the responsibility for q
government in which they had no con-
fidence.
A couple Of weeks later Mr.. Yermoloff.
leader Of the moderate party in the impe-
rial council or upper house OF the parlia-
ment. and formerly minister OF agriculture
in the De Witte cabinet, was instructed by
the car to ascertain upon what terms the
constitutional democrats would form cab
met under himself as prime minister. There
was Sunday conference attended by a
dozen or more Of the leaders of the party.
who instructed Mr.. Rodicheff. one Of the
ablest and shrewdest Of their number, to
represent them in the negotiations.
A Significant Selection.
His selection had extraordinary signii-
canoe It was the irony Of events, for he
was the first Russian to publicly demand a
constitutional government, and when he
did so the car replied that such a thing
was "a senseless dream and ordered Mr..
Rodicheff sent into exile.
Mr.. Rodichen was one Of the most strik-
ing personalities in the chamber, and wears
a smile that does not come OF. He Is q
glasses attached to golden chain and q
Van Dyke beard and mustache. And his
smile Is famous. The Creator arranged the
muscles of his face 80 that he seems always
to be pleased about something. He even
smiles in his sleep. A witty person once
said that Mr.. Rodichef looked like the cat
that had just eaten the bird. and every
body has since accepted the description as
accurate. He is q man of cheerful DISPOSE
ton. diplomatic manners and keen penetra-
ton.
In obedience to the instructions of his
colleagues, Mr.. Rodichen informed his maj
esty's envoy that the constitutional demo-
Gratis would not undertake to form a minis
try unless they were allowed TO carry out
the entire program Of their party. But
only ono Of the propositions was stated.
The car stopped short on the first. which
was the release and pardon Of all political
offenders now in prison. numbering. as
have told you in previous letters, some
where about 10000 mostly ignorant peas
ants and other laboring men.
The car rejected this proposition in
stantly. He would not consider II for q
moment, but at the same time the constitu-
tional democrats could not do otherwise
| = I, incl lot m w traQcharV
to their allies. Very few constitutional
democrats are in prison. Ninety-1ve per
cent of those who are being punished for
revolutionary demonstrations and other po-
itical reasons belong to the social demo-
Gratis, social revOlutionists. the peasants
union and the labor parties. and the Poles
and Jews who have given the constitutional
democrats a solid and consistent support
from the beginning. It would have been
the grossest treason and would have been
fatal to the future of the constitutional
democrats as q party II they had not made
this plain.
Although there seems to be q very slight
difference between the two plans. Mr.. Rodi-
chef was instructed to inform the cars
envoy that the government must adopt the
Herzenstein plan for distributing land
among the peasants instead Of its own. q
proposition which his majesty would not
consent to.
Controversy Over Recess
In the third place the car insisted upon
q recess for the duma. In order to quiet
agitation, to prevent political harangues
and particularly to prevent the investiga-
| ton Of certain scandalous proceedings
which have been mentioned In these letters.
Mr. Rodichen explained why 1t would be
| impossible for the constitutional democrats
| to desert their allies. and that recess
would certainly precipitate q revolution
| among the peasantry, who were even now
| held back from violence with the greatest
| difficulty upon the assurance that their de-
mands would be complied with as soon as
possible. He explained that the duma
| could not adjourn under any circumstances.
| II 1t did the constitutional democratic party
would be held responsible, and Its useful
ness would be ended.
| As an agreement seemed impossible: az
| the car would not adopt so revolutionary
q platform for the policy OF his government,
| and the members of the duma would not
accept ministerial responsibilities under any
other circumstances, Mr.. Rodicheff was In
| structed to withdraw from further negotia-
| tons and to inform the cxar's emissary that
the 'scadetsr would fight II out on The pres
/ ont lines X II took all summer; tnat moth