The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-16

duma is disregarded and q ministry
formed from the emperor's present ad-
VlSors, IL will at least be more liberal
than the one now I'm Office
The duma is a permanent institu-
ton; 1t could not be abolished bv i'm
perial decree without endangering the
crown itself. and it cannot he dis
solved or prorogued with safety Tho
government must therefore treat with
the duma and agree TO such compro-
misses as may be necessary to maintain
peace between the executive and the
people. The officials. too, are learnina,
from the duma something about the
science OF government. When there
was no one to speak for the people
the car could claim to voice their SEN
timent. He can claim this no longer
When the people We're denied hearing
the officials could deny that the people
desired reforms. but the officials cannot
put their unsupported opinions against
an unanimous duma- The elections have
shown how insignificant a support the
government has among its subjects
and these figures contain a warning
which even the bureaucracy cannot en-
tirely disregard
Does the government rely upon the
army? The soldiers are drawn from
the people and serve for three years
a half million raw recruits being en-
listed each year. Is it possible that
they can be different IN sentiment from
their fathers and brothers? In three
years the Russian army will be made
up of men in hearty accord with those
who speak through the duma With
out an army to rely upon what answer
can the bureaucracy make TO the leg
islature?
The car has already suffered much
at the hands of his advisors; he is no
longer the idol that he was. and rev
erence for the church has abated
somewhat as reverence for him. its
temporal head. has decreased. What
can he do? There is but one course
open to him. He asked the people
what they wanted and they have told
him. AS he cannot doubt that they
have told the truth. he must either
accept their answer or confess that he
does not intend to consider their
wishes. If he would appoint a new
ministry, propose q measure guaran
teeing freedom OF speech and freedom
OF the press, recommend an agricuI-
tural bank to protect the peasants
from the small money lenders. recall
the eXiles. release political prisoners
and invite the leaders of the duma to
confer with the ministry I'm regard TO
the land question, he would be restored
TO the affection % his subjects and
have no reason to fear bombthrowers
or hostile criticism. He would find n
hundred end thirty millions OF loyal
subjects a much stronger bodyguard
than few hired soldiers His position
is a difficult one because his environ
ment is unfriendly. and as he has
burned the bridges behind him. he
must go forward.
Russia is not decayinG. She has ex-
tent OF territory, abundant natural re-
sources ana an immense population To
be sure. majority OF her people were
serfs until a generation ago. but there
is no race distinction between the no.
hility and the peasant, and with edu-
cation the extremes OF society are
being drawn closer together.
That Russia has a great future Is
not open to doubt. What experiences
she may pass through before she
energies a free, self-goVerning and
prosperous nation no one is wise
enough TO foresee, but people who
have sacrificed as much for liberty az
have the Russian patriots have in
them the material of which mighty ma
tions are made. The duma is ready to
do its partl will the government rise
to the occasion? Time alone can tell
Copyright, 1905 by Joseph B. Bowles
Copyright in Great Britain-Au
rights reserved