The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-02

the Parliament n an early date. The
Clar has abandoned. wsare told. hisDrig-
iBal Intention ~ opening Parliament In
peFson. though u 10 sill aeaerted thas
he will cohBe ~ ~ Petersburg and ~
esivst she members N the Imperial DIma
and NJ the Council ~ the Umpire NJ the
Winter Palace ~ the pepasns pm
arsmms 10 eaTfietl Ouf N 10 sSpse,sh that
The Members ~ Pafilsmenf will take The
oath N The pFeasnos u tn Emperor; btH
N does MT appear that Ne, on he part
will swear 10 observe the Constitution
Theirs arr conflicting vleva concerH
Inc Count MITES rpiasion 10 the eveata
NJ the last els ~ evsn months The
fact Frmains that he wa Premlsf when
By me manifesto NJ Octobev N, tho Csar
committed himself definitely 10 q policy
~ far reaching political reform, and tho
~reac,ioais,a are doubttsss justified In
holding him primarily responsihls Tor
what they look upon as q dangerous "
MT fatal innovation. 10, however. tho
charge f tho Heaetionists 10 well founded
the Russian Liberals. on their part,
should give Count WFFrD tho credit for
the concession NJ q Cons tuition. What
ever, therefore. may be trought Of his
motives. HE name viii be- ~inReparably
linked with one Of the most momentous
events In Russian history. II may be
true that he had expected hat n largo
majority Of tho Duma would connist OF
spokesman Of the peasants. WAC, he may
have taken for granted, would be easily
controlled by their Little Father II
may be true, also, that he believed that
the Duma, az he hoped to guide IL, would
Strengthen instead Of weakening the
imperial authority. Ho knew that the
fundamental problem with which Russia
had 10 deal was q financial one, and he
had reason 70 think that the cooperation
Of the peoples representatives would
enhance tho Governments credit at
home and abroad. That was, Of course,
the Identical motive which impelled the
advisers OF LOUIS XVI, TO convoke tho
States General. Neither they nor no
realized that 1t Ia one thing to lot loose
a mighty political force and another
thing to steer 1t. When CHARLES I. was
driven by his rscuniary needs 10 sum-
mon the Long Parliament he assumed
that it, like it's predecessor, could be
dissolved at will. Once assembled, how
ever, the Long Parliament refused to be
dissolved. In like manner Russia's Con-
stitutional Democratic, when they find
themselves organised In q national as
sembly, may resolve to profit by their
opportunity and extort reforms much
more extensive than were contemplated
by their sovereign or by his Prime
Minister.
It seems scarcely credible that an early
attempt to dissolve the Parliament will
be made. The loan effected the other
day will suffice to meet the more press
ing demands upon the Russian Treasury;
but about rs much more will be impera-
lively needed within a t~welvemonth, 1t
ia doubtful II another ruble could be
borrowed were an early dismissal Of the
Duma to be followed by widespread in
surrection. The peasants, who to the
dismay Of the b~ureaucrats have chosen
as a rule Liberals to represent them,
would share.the wrath and indignation
with which the Cars breach Of faith
would be regarded by the so-oalled Elm
tellectuals, and for the first time would
be found in the ranks Of revolutionists.
Under the circumstances 1t is probable
that hist would repeat itself, and that
a large part of the army would be in
fected with the almost universal fury.
From this point Of view the revolt which
has Just taken place on the part Of a
regiment stationed at %Sebastopol may
we'll be looked upon as ominous.
Whether Count WrTTE vacates his
Office now or consents to hold IL q little
longeris a matter o. no great Importance.
He has sown the wind, and the ~autooraoy
will reap the whirlwind,