New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-15
FOR RUSSIAN FREEDOM.

Inc reports Of a reactionary consniracv in
Russia. in which various prominent mamhers -
he court circle" are involved and which cop
templates the commission of abominabIe ont
RACES as means Of defeating the reforms prom
ISeu and intended by the Gar. must be regarded
as credible 1t is known that such things
though on a somewhat smaller scale have heen
zone before. and II is probable that increased
occasion mas induced Increased activity and dar-
ing The creatures who have fattened on the
abuses of autocracy realize that their wicked
system will be forever ended if the proposed
reforms go into effect. As the date set for the
assembling OF the parliament approaches there.
fore. they are becoming more and moro dos
perate, and are inclined TO hesitate ar nothing
lhat may give promise of defeating the hated
REFORMS nevertheless, we shall hope that Count
Witte, aided by Prince Obolensl,v. Count Jobn
Tolstoi and other loyal patriots will be able 10
expose ana 10 bafte these dark designs and IN
fulfil the Cars promise of Russian freedom
A Is true Ihat some even OF the best friends of
Russia, are still skeptlcal nor are they n no
greatly blamed therefor. There have in our own
day been so many false promises that If 10 not
easy 10 accept any as authentic But II was i'm
possible mat SO evil thing as the oldtime tyr
amy OF the Cars should last forever: and what
time could be more fitting for its overthrow than
thlS when truly benevolent sovereign sits
upon the throne OF Peter. when the autoCratic
system has been discredited as never hefora
III Muscovlte history, and when the whole en-
pre- is staggering beneath such a blow as fa,v
empires have suffered and survived?
We have been told hundred times thar tho
cars promise OF reform was vain. that the
National Assembly would never meet and that
II IL did meet ii would have no real mower but
the autocracy would in fact 20 on as before
What however, do we see to-day? DesnIte the
treason of some who should have been most
loyal 10 him, the Gar keeps the faith he syvora
Inc National Assembly is 10 meet on Nav 10
next II is 10 be chosen more freely and will ba
more widely aud truly representative Of tho
| people than was At first suggested In soma 20
spects IL may have less, but IN others If will have
/ more. power than the Gar indicated I'm his
! original decree. 1t will be a real parliament
even though its powers are restricted. II will
be capable of exercising strong influence upon
/ the progress Of the empire, and it's powers will
| probably be from time to time enlarged until
they approximate 20 those of the free parIia-
ments of other lands
We must regard IL matter for regret that
| the reports of the Minister OF Finance on the
! STATE or the treasury are 10 be withheld from
parliamentary consideration, although there
might obviously be much danger in intrusting
the imperial finances too much 10 the control of
| an inexperienced and half-revolutionary body.
HE reservation 10 the Council Of the Empire OF
/ me power 10 establish stock companies with
| special privileges may be fruitful of further
abuses Ike those Of that malodorous Yalu Tim.