Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
SURPRISE AND ASHOCk
Dissolution of the Russian
Duma.
HAD BEEN OFTEN PREDICTED
Pobiedonostseff Regarded as Response
BILE for It.
CONFIDENCE IN CAR DESTROYED
Silly But Well-Meant Action Of the
Legislators Gave Excuse for
Emperor's Act.
CONFIDENCE IN CAR DESTROYED
BY WILLIAM 3. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.


prise and a shock to all concerned in the
welfare of Russia. Although such an act
on the part of the czar had been predicted
daily for the last three weeks no one seemed
to be prepared for 1t. Early In June, while
in London. I was advised to hurry to st.
Petersburg because it was altogether likely
that the duma would have passed out of
existence before I could get there. From
day to day, almost every morning. when
people came from their rooms at the hotel
or from their homes into the streets the
first question was. HAS the duma been
abolished?' The expectation that the car
would attempt to destroy the monster he
created before 1t destroyed him was there
fore almost universal. and yet, when the
news flew about the streets the morning
after it was decided upon at a midnight
cabinet meeting. almost everybody ex-
pressed establishment and dismay
The news appeared in only one of the
morning papers-a financial paper usually
devoted exclusively to stocks, crops and
that sort of thing, and that was the result
of an accident rather than enterprise. The
editor happened to meet member of the
ministry on his way home about $3.50 o clock
In the morning, and. learning what had hap
pened, hurried back to his Office to put the
fact into print.
o'clock In the evening at Peterhof, which Is
twelve miles from ST. Petersburg 1t lasted
three or four hours and the ministers re-
turned to the city in automobiles. There
were twelve of them present. and, In addi-
ton to them, Prince Putiatin, an ultra re-
dictionary, and Gen. Ignatieff, governor of
Little Russia and formerly governor Of
Siberia, who has the reputation of being the
most cruel man in the empire.
Pobiedonostseff to Blame.
The cabinet was divided in opinion but
his majesty's mind had been made I'D, the
proclamation edict had already been writ
ten by Mr.. Pobiedonostsef, procurator Of
the holy synod. and the evil genius of the
car, who seems to be responsible for the
whole business, as he has been for nearly
all of the very serious mistakes which have
been made recently, beginning with the
japanese war. Pobiedonostseff had con-
WINGED the car before the cabinet assem-
bled that the members Of the duma had
been guilty Of high treason in defying his
Will and had invaded his divinely bestowed
prerogatfves to an extent that could not be
permitted. AS I wrote you the other day.
the old gentleman takes very lofty posi-
tfon in regard to the Sanctity of his Sover-
eign and the infallibility Of his wisdom. and
he seems to have impressed his own ideas
firmly upon his imperial majesty's mind
so that. when the ministers met, the ques-
ton which called them together had already
been decided. Their conference was there
fore merely formal, although I understand
that Mr.. Goremykin. the prime minister,
told the car very frankly that he was max
ing an irretrievable mistake and insisted
upon being relieved of all responsibility
for it.
Mr. Stolypin, his successor as prime min
lister, was also opposed to dissolution. and
accepted his new responsibility with the
greatest reluctance. His only motive in
doing so was to prevent the power Of the
into the hands of some bigoted reactionary
and official of the old school who would
defy public opinion and resort to the re-
pressive methods that prevailed during the
reign of Alexander III. M. Stolypin is
therefore placed In a most difficult position,
and whether he Is equal to the emergency
remains to be seen. He Is the most liberal
man in the cabinet He is member of the
Octoberist party and his brother Is secre-
tary of the organization. He is an honora-
BILE, humane, sincere and patriotic man and
more progressive in his ideas than any
other person connected with the present
racy is doomed, and yet he is made respon-
sible for it's salvation. He believes that
Russia should have liberal government,
and yet he will be required to enforce the
DEGREES of an autocrat. He believes that
the people have right to share in the gov
eminent and yet he will be compelled to
repress them and deny them what he be-
neves to be their rights.
Six Newspapers Suppressed.
How far Mr.. Stolypin intends to use the
authority intrusted to him remains to be
SEEM but the signs are very discouraging.
Six newspapers have already been sup
pressed for unfavorable comments upon the
cars proclamation, including the Reich,
the organ Of the constitutional democrats,
which is edited by Prof. Milukoff, the rec
ognized leader Of that party. The police not
only arrested and sent to prison the editors
and reporters of Myssi (the Ideal the ablest
of the four socialist-papers, but every COM
positor. pressman. clerk and even a number
of visitors who happened to be found upon
the premises. Hundreds of political arrests
have been made today, and 10 Is no imagi-
nary fear that prompted more than half the
members of the duma to fly to Finland
Four-fifths OF the deputies left the city
within twelve hours after they learned of
the dissolution. Every train and every boat
was crowded. Seventy-four members were
upon one train. and they not only included
conservative members Of the body. Not q
single representative OF the labor group
can be found in st. Petersburg tonight.
Constitutional democrats are also very
scarce.
This confidence in the justice and SINGER
ity of their sovereign is thus illustrated.
His October manifesto was a guarantee Of
free speech, free publication and free asso-
CldtiOH, Dut uODOuy lTuStS Tue hlupeIOT Oh
All the Russias. His guarantee Is consider
ed as worthless as II 1t came from the Sui
tan of Turkey. and yet this is the twentieth
century. Russia Is supposed to be Chris
tian nation. and the car calls upon AL
mighty God four times in his proclamation.
Prof. Milukon can testify as to the value
Of his majesty's promises. and can explain,
from his personal experience, why the men,
bers of the duma fed from st. Petersburg
with such haste, for he has been sent to
prison three times for expressing opinions
that differ from the policy OF the ministry
and twice after the car had proclaimed his
famous October manifesto.
Can any one be surprised that such a
government does not have the confidence Of
the people7
Mr.. Stolypin. the new prime minister.
told me the other day that the car is not
responsible for the crimes that are COM
mitted In his name; that he Is not RESPONSE
BILE for the violation of his guarantees; that
he cannot control the zeal Of his own police
and yet he assumes to be an autocrat!
The men who were suspected of corrupt
ing the loyalty of the aristrocratic regiment
Of guards were punished within three days
after the offense was committed. His maj
esty was powerful enough to reach them.
But he Is not powerful enough to punish
the military and police who murdered
eighty-flve innocent people at Bialystok or