New-York tribune., 1906-08-17
THE BUREAUcRATS CAMPAIGN.

The bureaucracy of Russia administering
the government unchecked in the absence Of
parliament or constitution. is developing its
policy in a characteristic way. which may be
temporarily effective. Having dismissed the
Douma, for causes half of which are chargea-
bic against that body and half against the
government itself. it has promised to provide
for the election of a DOuma. That prom
ise it will in all probability fulfil at the ap-
pointed time. Meanwhile it is exerting its most
ingenious and strenuous powers to the secur-
ing of a new DOuma which will be sufficiently
submissive to the imperial or to the bureau
cratic will. 1t would doubtless be reluctant to
attempt the general control Of the elections
through the methods so efficiently employed by
its agents at Kishineff and Biaystok. But
there other ways and means.
One step has been the suppression Of the Lib
eral press. a procedure which is now reported
TO be pretty complete. The censorship has also
been restored in full vigOr over such papers as
are still permitted to exist. and over the mails.
The DOuma being no longer in existence, and its
members therefore no longer enjoying freedom
of speech and of circulation of their speeches,
Russia is thus put back into its old condition
of voicelessness. People can get-save surrep-
utiously-nO information Of what is going on,
and can get no advice or counsel from their
leaders. They can know only what the gov
ernment sees fit for them to know or what they
can secretly learn in evasion and defiance OF
the governments decree
A second step is seen in the prosecution Of
members of the late DOuma on various charges
Action has already been taken against many
Of them, and it is probable-indeed, the Prime
Minister is reported as frankly threatening it
that every man who took part in the VibOrg
conference and manifesto will be prosecuted
That will mean that every member Of the late
Douma who is offensive 70 the government and
whom the bureaucrats do not desire TO see re-
elected will be by legal process DISQUALIFIED for
election TO the new DOuma. The scheme is
quite simple, though it is wellnigh diabolical in
its cynical ingenuity, and it threatens 10 be
effective. Even such men as Professor Milu-
kOff and Prince Peter DOlgoroukOff will prOba-
bly, be excluded from the Douma, and the elec,
tors will be put TO the task of seeking other rep
resentatives, who, it is to be feared, as the
bureaucrats doubtless hope, will be less able
champions of the peoples rights.
While thus throttIng and lettering the people
the government seeks to win the favor OF It's
victims and their confidence and affection
through a fine showing Of generosity. 1t an
nounces that it will forthwith settle the agra
rian question, which is fundamental to the
whole situation, without any such violation of
property rights as some members OF the Douma
proposed. It will not fOrcbly appropriate pri-
vate lands, either with or without cOmpensa-
ton. But IL will distribute the crown lands
TO peasants, and also such private estates as
may be voluntarily offered for sale, and it
presses confidence that thus enough land will
be made available 20 satisfy the requirements
Of all. But 1t is careful TO give warning that
only loyal and well affected peasants will re
ceive lands. All those OF revolutionary inclina-
tiOns Will be left landless. just as the govern
ment withheld the famine relief fund from the
starving wives and children OF revolutionists
It Is not to be believed that these devices
however shrewd and strenuous, will prove per
manently successful. The suppression Of free
dom OF speech will only stimulate secret speech
and communications Of a still more dangerous
character disqualification of one set OF lead
ers will provoke the selection OF others at least
equally resOlute and probably more radical and
revolutionary. AS for the agHarian scheme the
peasants are already showing that they wifi not
be caioled with a bribe into betraying their own
liberties The entire scheme looks ominously
illlss tho scrawtng down ola safety valve. and