New-York tribune., 1907-06-23
POLICY OF THE CAR.
Conservative DOuma Necessary
Martial Lac an Provinces.

st. Petersburg, June 22.-In answer to vari-
Gus objections Ievelled at the government for it's
recent course and action. The Associated Press
has obtained the following declaration Of the
position and policy of the Cabinet from one who
is considered one of its most liberal members.
The will of the people is the supreme law, higher
than the written constitution, and both the decree
of dissolution and the electoral law are the
fruit of this conviction.
The Emperor summoned the nation to choose
representatives under the old electoral law for a
distinct and twofold purpose-to examine ana Tatl-
fy the budget and to draft and enact laws. The
second Donna had shown itself incapable of either
task. My department introduced three hundred
bills, both big and small during its sessions which
related to definite national needs which could not
properly be deferred. Other ministries introduced
a corresponding mass of pressing legislation. but
dulns three months ali of these bills remained un-
touched. Instead, the Douma shamefully wasted
time discussing the rights of man.
For example. 1t devoted 4 whole session to de-
Douncng the of handouts Which used in
Great Britain and America and throughout the
world We were convinced that all doumas elected
under the ola electoral law would be equally ready
to talk and unwilling to work
Owing to the impossbility of obtaining the
Douma's consent TO changes in the electoral law,
which would give us a busnesslike third Douma.
the government itself obliged ts>decree the
changes
The law favors genuine Russian stock at
the expense of aliens. and taxpayers at the expense
of p2n-taxpayers. The critics say that the law
Will promote aristocracy and oligarchy, but the
West, which boasts an advanced institution has
not yet worked out perfect system of representa-
tion.
We issued the law as did the Prussians in 1s4s.
The of it's features modelled various
German precedents. Those classes will possess a
ma jorty I'm the Douma which actually have
the upper hand, in the British Parliament and
the American Congress and other successful legis-
latures.
It is the distinct purpose of the Emperor to
obtain parliament which will respect property.
If his calculations at fault he will not hest
tate TO dissolve a third Douma a fourth until
the result is achieved.
AS though their appetite grew by eating the
Russian people have had the habit always OF
camoring loudest for additional rights just after
the government has made substantial concessions.
Thus. the uprising in Moscow in 1905 followed on
the heels of the generous October manifesto; thus
occurred several of the episodes In the life. and
the assassination. of Alexander II, called the
Liberator." but Russian monarchy has shown an
unfailng ability to reassert itself after eclpses
Five years "a consultative assembly would
have been deemed sufficient by public opinion. but
the Emperor actually granted n legislative assem-
bly,. The people were not appeased. and clamored
for parliamentary ministry The Douma and the
ministry gradually will learn to cooperate but the
ministers will remain his majestys ministers. There
is no likelihood that there VIII he stable
majority in the Douma because the diversity OF
races and economic interests is such that monarchy
Is the only bulwark against anarchy breaking up
the empire.
This is patent that the Constitutional Demo-
Gratis. who IA sensible party. will ultimately
rally to the state The Constitutional Democrats
cater to the Jews and other races in order to get
votes and subscriptions but -fourths OF that
the Polish project Of autonomy. The members OF
the Group OF Toll of "A similar mind Even
among the Social Revolutionists there few
genuine republicans.
The Acknowledgement of aliens means the en-
franchisement Of Russians The records OF
quorums present in the Douma day by day showed
that the aliens almost always in the ma
jority and always able to dictate the Douma's
action. Thus. the Poles and Mahomctaus generally
cast deciding vote. The Poles bargaincd for
concessions leading 10 autonomy. and threatened
otherwise. to reject the budget
a 1ff Is iDf lie in he Rrfc-
sian Empire. The Polish pretensons revive tho
old question of mastery between the two Slavic
races. which cannot exist side by side Poland Is
dead forever. The Russian Poles should say good
by to their political dreams.
The governments campaign against the Lib
eral press to prevent hostile criticism OF the dis
solution of parliament and the electoral
law continues vigorously. Dispatches from
many cities report that papers have been fined
from $500 up, the limit being $4,000. All tho
Radical papsrs have been suppressed.