New-York tribune., 1907-12-19
THE PERSIAN CRISIS.

The situation in Persia, which for some weeks
has been equally disquieting and obscure. has At
last been illuminated i'm unique manner,
though the causes for anxiety which 1t presents
have been made the less acute Ne
recall no exact parallel TO the action of the
Persian parliament in issuing to the world
manifesto which is practically an indictment Of
and an appeal against IFS sovereign. Be
yond DOUBT the need must have been great
which prompted SO extraordinary procedure.
while the dignity and self-restraint which were
exercised in framing the document are worthy
of admiration and the incident must be
garded indicating either a degree Of polit-
cal liberty unusual in Oriental land and in
conceivable at the present time in Russia, and
perhaps in some other European countries.
else a remarkable degree of courage and self
sacrifice the part of the parliamentarians
Until the last day or two 1t had generally
been supposed that the troubles of Persia
chiefly economical and social It has been
known that there is great financial distress in
the empire, affecting nearly all classes Of the
population. There have been dangerous out
breaks practically amounting TO instructions
in various districts. especially in ShraZ. Uru-
mah. Astrabad and Meshed. There have been
no soldiers available for the restoration of
order. and 10 money for hiring any. Added to
these things the Clerical party in parliament
has made itself conspicuous by efforts TO
tablish Clerical control over all departments
Of the government. with strong reactionary ten
denotes. and at least anti-dynastic con
Spiracy has been formed In these almost des-
perate circumstances il not strange that the
ministry resigned. after having for suIne days
vanlv begged tho Emperor TO accept their
designations. Still. the Emperor's conduct in
forthwith arresting several of the retiring min
81 Csl.g-
seemed 10 indicate that there was something
more in their designations than appeared on the
surface. The explanation is now offered by
parliament that the Emperor attempting a
reactionary revolution under the malign infiu-
ence of certain Clercals
This is the more surprising and regrettab.e
for the reason that only few weeks ago. on
November II, the Emperor paid his first visit
TO parliament and there confirmed the per-
petuty and sanctity of the constitution and took
the oath of allegiance TO it. During this first
year of the national councils existence" he
said. 1.-The peoples deputies and the government
officials have dutifully carried out the consti-
"tutionaI principles and thus have given our
royal person continual satisfaction. Now for
the encouragement of the nation and the
Strengthening of the constitution we have our
self come to express our perfect
pleasure and satisfaction at the work done by
-'tha national representatives" After such dec
iarafions. and after taking from the bottom
the heart the oath of allegiance to the con
stifution il WIS scarcely 10 be expected that the
Emperor would attempt 10 subvert the const-
tuition or to override its principles It has been
known that many of the Clericals are hostile TO
the constitution yet apparently not ma ioritv
~ thenl for they dominate the parliament
ADD here is the. parliament rsking appeal to the
world for support of the constitution
Por some time leading members of parlis.