The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-17
The Cars Mistake

dissolved about 2 o'clock in the morning
Of June 10 under circumstances that re-
feet no credit on the executive depart
ment OF the Government. 1t may be
true that an experience of some months
with the second Duma had convinced
the Czar and even Premier SToLTPIN Of
the hopelessness Of conducting tho adj
mlnistration In conjunction with q legis-
lative body chosen in pursuance OF the
existing electoral law. In view Of the
fact, however, that NICHOLAS II. is on
trial at the bar Of the public opinion Of
the world, Il behooved the sovereign and
his advisers to evince shrewdness and
foresight in the mode Of bringing the de-
alterations Of the Parliament to an end.
Having issued an ultimatum to the popu-
lar branch OF the Legislature, a reason
able time for its consideration should
have been granted to that chamber, and
simultaneously it might have been eI-
pedient to heed tho protest made by
nearly half the members Of the upper
house, or Council OF the Empire, against
tho proclaimed intention to leave the
COuIldJ WitAlOuO dly SOhSOiluIlOIloA SiltOh
upon arbitrary acts on the part OF the
executive. AS a matter of fact the
Government adopted neither of these
prudent courses. On the contrary 1t
threw of at last the mask and assumed
a defiant and autocratic attitude.
It will be recalled that on June IA
Premier SToLYPIN, addressing the Duma,
pronounced an ultimatum threatening
Immediately to dissolve that body unless
it suspended its inviolability not only in
the cases Of sixteen Social Democrats
against whom definite charges were
made but also OF their thirty-nine col
leagues in the same party. The chamber,
under the leadership Of the Constitutional
Democrats, replied by referring the
question Of the legality Of the demand
to O committee. which was instructed to
report at s o'clock P. NJ. on Saturday.
At the hour fixed upon the committee
reported that it was impossible to re-
view all the evidence bearing IN the sub
ject In one day, especially in view Of the
fact that before the issuance of the Gov
ernment's ultimatum the central COM
mittee Of the Social Democratic party,
in accordance with the decision of the
congress lately held in London, had put
forth a proclamation prohibiting mem
bers Of the party from participating in
aots Of terrorism and brgandage, and
ordering the dissolution Of the party's
fighting organizations. A request was
consequently made that the time for re-
porting be extended to Monday, and the
Duma proceeded to adjourn to that day.
What possible harm could the Govern
ment have suffered from awaiting a for
mai reply TO q demand which maniiestiy
could not be reoonciled easily with the
spirit or the historical working Of rep
re~seutative institutions1 What moral
right had the Gar and his advisers to
assume that the report. when made,
would recommend a rejection of the ulti-
matumf Even II, moreover, on Saturday
Premier SToIYP1S, taking for granted
that the Dumas answer would be I'm
favorable, decided to dissolve that cham
ber at once, plainly 1t would have been
judicious to propitiate the Council of the
Empire, which, as partly appointive and
partly elective on a basis Of high edu-
cational and property qualifications,
represents the kind Of advisory body
the Government is supposed to mean
TO substitute for the Duma, which is
the product Of a close approach to uni
versal suffrage. On the same Saturday
the Council Of the Empire, which has
proved TO how considerable an extent
patriotism and a belief in representa-
tive institutions pervade even the high
est classes of the Cars subjects, voted
II to rs on the proposal that during
the threatened interregnum the Senate
should be taken out of the hands Of the
Minister Of Justice and be clothed with
the right Of choosing a Premier who
should have direct relations with the
Emperor and rank above the Ministers.
The motion undoubtedly would have
been carried but for the vehement oppo-
sition OF the Minister of Justice. who
declared that the Government would not
permit the upper house of Parliament to
interfere with the Senate.
Some hours later the second Russian
P6IUdIn6UU was bulllIlhI ll ulSSOlNbu,
and nothing is left of the constitutional
experiment upon which NICHOLAS ii.
wa persuaded by Count WGTTE 10 enter
except a broken promise and a ranking
memory. The memorable ukase OF o.
tober 30, 1905. will either be rescinded
altogether or interpreted hereafter not
according to its obvious purport but at
the pleasure OF the autocrat. Does it
follow that a formidable uprising OF the
Inhabitants OF the capital will forthwith
take place? Such an uprising would be
hopeless under existing circumstances,
for the garrison at ST. Petersburg has
been more than doubled within a few
days, and every strategic point is now
commanded by artillery and machine
guns. The Cars military advisers have
not forgotten the diotum pronounced by
the young NAPOLEON. who, when as a
passive spectator he witnessed the cap
lure Of the Tuileries by the mob, de-
.Iarnd that had ha been Dermitted IN