Evening star., 1909-07-18

A notable movement in the way Of
progress-nothlng less than the recognition
by the government of the
Material liberty OF conscience-has
just now been accomplished
<Ao'ance' by the indefatigable prest-
dent OF the council Of ministers. NJ. Stoly-
pin. Car Nicholas ii promised the presi-
dent of the council recently that he meant
to remain faithful to the October mani
festo, and recent events go to prove that
the car and his valiant chief OF council
are faithfully and firmly following the
proposed reforms in the evolution Of the
country.
Two votes in the duma recently, one of
May and the other of June 3, inaugu-
rated probably new era in the political
life of. Russia. probably because final ac-
ton on the government bill will take
place when 1t comes up for debate before
the upper house.
May the majority approved the propo-
sition Of u special commission to reform
the statute which governs the community
known as 'Staroviera. or old believers.
June the same majority in the duma
sanctioned the principle of freedom in the
change from one religious profession to
another. The innovation Is great and has
not been accomplished without struggle
on the part OF the adherents of the re-
form.
The "stariviera," or schism, dates from
the seventeenth century at the time when
jealous reformers undertook to organize
the Russian church and purify its books
and rites. Among the faithful certain
ones refused to accept the reform and
held obstinately to the sign Of the Cross
made with the two fingers; to the double
Hallelujah; the old believers continued
to name Jesus. Jsous, and would not ac-
tl,o nc bn 3,rn vI,0
former have suffered persecution during
more than two centuries which has only
attached them the more to the old sacred
texts and rites which had been handed
down from the eleventh century.
Since the imperial ukase of April 30.
1905 concerning religious tolerance and
the constitutional ukase of October 30 1t
has become an urgent necessity to apply
the principles of these ukases to the old
believers, and this was done by govern
ment in Issuing a series Of measures
which by article 81 of the fundamental
laws were given provisional force as laws.
1t was to obtain the sanction of these
measures that the duma was convOked
the last of May. M. Stolypin formulated
the attitude of government on the Inn
portant subject at issue and said:
*
"In the presence of the great interest
which attaches to these laws of tolerance
it is necessary to specify
Stolypin's the governmental point of
view in questions touch
9'"'en'' ing the liberty of con-
science. Since two centuries the relations
between the principal church and the
other professions have been governed by
the old legislation. Now the church
should be absolutely independent in can
onical and dogmatic questions. She
should be given complete autonomy in
questions relating to ecclesiastical rule;
but nevertheless the state should reserve
for itself the liberty of controlling its re-
lations with the church,
NJ. Stolypin declared that all the states
Of western Europe had proclaimed the
principle Of the liberty Of conscience and
had made concessions to creeds and popu
ell prayed the assembly to put aside all
party interests and adopt the project pre-
sented by the government. do not for
get" said he, that this law will be
sanctioned by the emperor. who for one
hundred millions of his subjects has been
and will remain the emperor"
That the duma has taken its place
among the assemblies Of western Europe
with regard to the sometimes violent Incl
dents which occur was illustrated by
right in the course of discussion Of the
government bill. The Bishop of Eulogia
denounced the constitutional democrats as
'pharisees and hypocrites who should be
ashamed Of themselves Baron Meyen-
dorf called the bishop to order amid the
plaudits Of the left: but the extreme right,
furious. beat upon their desks, and with
hands pointing to the president cried:
monkey" and other significant local cpl
thets equally complimentary. The left
replied with vehemence: Focus Of
progromv' "Murderers!" etc. The up
roar was formidable and a veritable bat
tie avoided only by Baron Meyendorf,
who adjourned the sitting. The incident
is important only as showing how readily
the duma is adapting itself to modern
parliamentary pugilisms.
The first obstacle encountered by the
government was the commencement Of a
difference in the Octobrist
Octobrists group, composed. it may
1.-., be recalled. Of one part Of
SAoe' cadets and the other Of
the right. During the discussion NJ
Nicholas Lyof q distinguished octobrist,
protested against the liberty demanded
by the commission to permit the old be-
levers to preach to their focks. and he
asked that restriction be maintained on
that point and others. These and other
objections were hotly discussed by the
duma, and the result for a time was
doubtful. Finally the government bill.
with some concessions. obtained a vote
Of ITS against 139. Thus the measure Of
tolerance for the old believers was rati-
fed.
The reform OF June s conceding the
right of change of religious faith to an
other marks a more notable progress still.
The liberty to change religious faith inn
plies in effect entire freedom OF con-
science and the abandonment, indeed. OF
orthodoxy as the religion Of state in Rus
sa. The Russian press. even the modern
press, expresses the fear that the conces-
sion is too sudden and apt to create trou-
BILE in the country. The Novoie Vremya
not to renounce the last clause remaining
intact OF the ancient Slavist formula:
'Autocracy, nationalism, orthodoxy" And
the Vremya appeals to the council of the
empire to stop the progress Of innova-
ton and to oppose its veto to this last
vote of the duma.
The measure, besides its theoretical I'm
portance, will have the effect OF suppress
ing the numerous restrictions upon the
Jews. and thus leads to solution Of the
Israelite question based upon their full
and complete liberty.
NJ. Raymond Recouly In the Figaro ex-
presses the opinion that the liberal mani
festations Of the majority
Liberal threaten to become arms
which may be used by
1enueAcies' those who have sworn to
overthrow NJ. Stolypin, whom they affect
to treat as a revolutionary. NJ. Recouly