Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11

than q month upon st. Petersburg. the
political barometer OF Eu-
Causes Of rope. Russia excites actual
~ more than ordinary IN
AASe10Ss' terest. first. because Of all
governments In Europe. except. perhaps.
the microscopic San Marine and Monaco.
her budgets for 1910 and now 1911 are
not in deficit. Thus. again. the duma re-
opened Its interesting sessions the 30th
ultimo, to adjourn on the 21st as a mark
Of respect to the memory OF Count Leo
Nikolaievitch Tolstoi, whose death has
caused profound sorrow not alone in Rus
STA. but throughout the world. The in
teryiew Of the two emperors at Potsdam.
the threatened remuneration Of the gov
eminent OF the Viborg In Finland. and.
finally. the proposition to construct an
International transpersian railroad to In
dia add extraordinary interest to Russian
affairs
The Russian press, in connection wi-n
the report of the ministry Of finance.
which submitted TO the budget commits
sion of the duma the outlines Of the
budget for 1911. attributes Russian pro-
gression to the economical and energetic
pin. It is true that the abundant crops
| of 1900 and 1910 have peen important
factors in aiding the work OF the premier.
Russia's difficulties have appeared to the
looker-on as insuperable. She has been
obliged to devote the greater part of her
receipts. amounting to 1.645.OO0OOO rubles.
| to the national defense. Thus G0O,Wo.'O0
to defense and 4OO.OO0cOO to her debt and
the remainder to the several departments
The duma, it should be said. notwith-
standing it's varied and conflicting ele-
ments, has exerted it's powers in applying
these credits for the good Of the nation
These credits amounted to 45,NO.OtO III
1907: they rose to 76,O00.O00 In 1910. The
credits of the agricultural budget In the
same interval passed from 31.OO.OOO to
So 600 600 in 1910 and to 1O2O03.OOO IN
1911. This systematic growth indicates
the policy of political economy followed
| in Russia "AT and everything i'm favor
of agriculture is the device of NJ. Stoly-
pin, who is seeking the quick recovery OF
Russia.
The reelection of NJ Goutchkof as
Wolkonski as vice president are notable
events as showing the power of parties
NJ. Goutchkof is octobrist and was elected
by col votes of the octobrists against l3d
| votes of the nationalists.
1t should be recalled that the octo-
brists occupy in the center of the duma
| a middle situation between
Octobrists' the conservative monarch
| o.. lists and the constitutional
1oSItIVA' lists OF the left. The in
compatibility OF the tendencies protested
by these two great groups renders illusory
the conciliatory role which the center oc-
TOURISTS propC sed to play.
! This center is itself solidified in two
directions Numerically oppt sed. 1t sur
fers from chronic disassociation. which
detached from it a subsection Of the oc-
tobrists of the right. which encourage the
octobrists of the left to rebel against
party discipline Octobrism does not pos
sess a desirable cohesion and is numer-
ically weak. The total effective vote, in
Guiding the 10 octobrists OF the right;
is 135 votes. little less than one-third
of the duma, since the assembly NUM-
| bers AL members. The right is the
strongest with its 81 monarchists. or
right properly speaking. and its 80 ma
tionalists. or center right. total OF
141 Votes The left is even stronger with
Its q deputies-Poles Lithuanians. mus
sulmans, 40 progressists and renovists'
| 16 independents or "Savages, IS CADETS,
IL laborites and Is socialists, total OF
|
1t results from the foregoing figures
that the octobrists cannot constitute a
| majority except in forming "bloc" with
| the nationaiists, that Is. with part OF
the right. That majority is formed In
| all important circumstances Of parlia-
| mentary action. Nevertheless the ex-
| istence is subordinate to mutual consent.
which requires each time new delibera-
| tions. 1t is always temporary and coali-
tional. The interest Of the octobrtsts Is
| then not to place themselves too often In
evidence and 70 avoid the crisis OF the
| majority, which subjects them to sort
| of cross-examinatiOn as to the real force
| of their party The reelection of NJ.
Goutchkof was one Of these character
istic combinations.
The interview of the two emperors at
Potsdam on the 4th and 9Th Of November
has been the subject of
Imperial endless discussion and
suggestion. In vain it
interview. has been answered
"These interviews are simply recurring
| exchange OF visits which may or NAV
not have political Importance" The in
terview at Bjorkoe in 1905 Swinemunde
in 1907. Friedrichsham In 1909 had NO
| special Importance. Nevertheless there
were serious questions which had arisen
with relation to Turkey. and above all ia