The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

Copyright 1905. bv Joseph n. BOgieS- C0pyrtOht IN
Great BrtItH-iW Rights Rcssrrcd.
STOCKHOLM, June 22.-There is at least
one man in Russia who has reason to feel
that his political judgment has been vim
dictated and his predictions verified by the
assembling Of the Duma. u il Count lG-
natieff, who at the age Of % framed the
Pekin treaty and who, "A Minister Of the
Interior Uhe highest Cabinet position at
that time), in 1881 formulated a plan for a
national assembly.
His scheme was 10 have 5000 representa-
tives elected by the people, these representa-
tives, gathered from all parts Of the en-
pire, to meet at Moscow and confer with
the Emperor in person in regard to legis-
lative measures. In order to avoid the OBJ
jections raised to so large an assembly,
be proposed to divide the body into groups
Of 100 each, the groups TO meet separately.
He secured the approval Of the Emperor,
but the other members Of the Cabinet were
90 strenuous in their opposition that the
Emperor decided not to attempt the reform,
and Count IgnatieT resigned from the
Ministry. He warned them that a failure
TO recognize the demands Of the people for
representation in the Government would
puppy via ANO NiiuiASVf oAANA Aiu II "1H
better to yield before the demands becam"
more radical; but the members Of the bu-
reaucracy, deaf to the appeals Of the people
and blind to their own interests, resisted.
and as a result a Duma is now in session at
st. Petersburg and the bureaucracy finds
itself an object Of contempt and loathing,
and the present Emperor, like his prede-
cessor, has to bear the sins of his advisers.
-.II.1 ,,--- T...AN IwnnVfaH an1 g,,,al
him still vigorous in spite Of his gray hairs
and advancing years. ! was interested in
him, not only because he is friendly tow
ard our country and speaks our language
fuently but more especially because he
was a pioneer in a great movement and
foresaw what many Of the nobility even
now fail to recognize, namely, that there il
no place where arbitrary power can justify
Its existence.
The tide Of progress has swept past the
Count and he Is now classed among the
conservatives, but he deserves to be re-
membered because he had the courage
20 speak out when it required bravery
TO propose the taking of a step in the direc-
ton Of popular government.
The Duma is the result OF the labors
OF hundreds, yes. thousands, Of Russian
reformers, a few conspicuous hut the most
OF them unknown TO fame, who for more
than seventy-five years have been insist
ing upon constitutional government. 1t
IL one Of the most remarkable bodies Of
men ever convened in a national capital.
and I nave been %abundantly repaid for COM
ing here.
The Duma must be seen to be appreci-
eted; even more, to understand it one must
not only see the members, but must now
something OF the struggle through which
they have passed. l am satisfied that the
Gar himself is more liberal than his adj
visers and that, left to himself, he would
long ago nave made concessions which
would nave brought the throne and the
subjects nearer together, but he has yielded
30 slowly and given so grudgingly that the
people have become very much estranged.
TWO SIGNIFICANT FACTS.
To illustrate this I need only cite two
facts. First. as to the election.
st. Petersburg and Moscow are the politi-
cal centres where the officials and the
nobility have the strongest representa-
ton, and yet in the elections the Con-
Rtitutional Democrats won an overwhelm-
ing victory In both these cities. In st.
Petersburg the ticket which represented
the Emperor received only 1000 votes out
Of a total Of 40, 900 and in his home precinct,
where 800 voters we're sent to the polls