The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-14

western Europe concerning the
history and actual condition of the Rus
sian empire as M. Anatole Leroy-Beau-
been translated into many languages As
his former prolonged Investigations have
been supplemented by observations made
in a recent visit much interest attaches
to the opinions expressed by him in an
interview with regard to the present sit
uation and the probable outcome of it.
His conclusions differ materially from that
formed by many onlool1ers, in that he be-
lieves that Russia's revolution, far from
and marked by many vcissitudes.
The political feature is the least diff
ficulty of the Russian refomers. 1t must
be plain today to every intelligent reac-
zionist, as it is to the most rabid nihilist.
that the autocracy is dead So far as the
next form of government is concerned,
the choice lies between constitutional
monarchy, a federative republic and an
archy. On the other hand, it is obvious
that the agrarian question cannot be set
tied easily and lastingly IN Russia, as 1t
was in France. The tillers of the soil were
a much smaller fraction of the total popu-
lation in the France of 1888 than they
are in contemporary Russia. 1t was easy
TO satisfy the former by the distribution
| among them of the lands previously be-
longing to the crown, to the church and
to the emigres The distribution which suf-
feed at the time has continued to suf-
flee, first. because of the low birth rate
which prevails in France, and second,
because already in 1888 manufactures were
much more advanced than they are now
in Russia, and they have since acquired
a remarkable development Such In Rus
STA is the pressure or the agricultural
population ON the means of subsistence
that allotments of the crown lands, the
church lands and the estates of such
private landowners as are willing to sell
| would by no means meet the actual de-
| mand. That is why the constitutional DEM
ocrats, who alone seem qualified to save
their country from shipwreck ON the reef
of anarchy, insist that no individual citi-
zen should be allowed to hold more than
a minimum of acres, and that the sale of
the excess must be made compulsory,
with a view to an immediate division Of
it among the more needy peasants. 1t is
perfectly clear to these refommers, how
ever, that if their plan were carried out
| tomorrow, yet, owing to the abnormally
high birth rate in Russia, the difficulty of
feeding the peasantry would recur at no
distant date unless quick and efficient
steps should be taken to divert a large
| and growing part of the rural population
to manufactures, mining and emigration.
From still another point of view the
| task which the Duma must essay is inn
measurably harder than that with which
the French states-geteral was called upon
to deal. The population of European Rus
STA is to an exceptional extent heterogen-
eous. So far, indeed. as Russians of the
pure Muscovite stock are concerned, they
have been welded together by common
| language, common institutions, a common
religion, and until lately. a common love
of their sovereign. If Russia were no
| larger today than it was when the
dynasty of Rurik came to an end near
the close of the sixteenth century. the
would not have been complicated by
heterogeneity of racial elements. Very diff
ferent is the situation of the European
part of what we term the Russian en-
pire today. Its inhabitants include not
only genuine Muscovites, but Little Rus
SLAMS. called. who speak a different
language, Lithuanians, Poles, Firms Ger
mans in the aBltic provinces, Tartars
and Circassians, to name only the more
important of many conquered peoples. As
regards to religion, there are many Cath
olics and many Protestants among the
Cars subjects, to say nothing of the
fact that the Orthodox church itself Is
split by the "Old Believer" schism and
by a multitude of minor sects There are
the Jews, also, numbering some b,Oo0'oOo
who are sternly relegated to particular
geographical section, and even tnese are
subjected to harsh determinations before
the law 1t is true that the Semitic ques-
ton could be settled speedily and defin-
itelv by a law placing the Jew absolutely
on the same footing as the Christian. The
other racial sources OF disturbance could
not be so lightly disposed or The Poles
and the IAthuanians. at all events, will
undoubtedly demand what cannot be re-
fused with any show of consistency. the
same fun measure of autonomy that al
ready has been granted to the Films
1t seems. to follow that whether she
prefer to be called a monarchy or a re-
public, Russia cannot look forward to
becoming unified state like France. but
must frankly adopt the federative struc-
ture exennplihed in the German empire
The acceptance. however, of the fedora