New-York tribune., 1910-10-31
THE DOUMA.

1t seems as if it were only yesterday
that men were saying with assured
confidence that constitutional govern
ment was impossible in Russia. and that
the autOcracy was secure for an age TO
come: yet last week saw the opening Of
the fourth session of the third Douma.
So CSSliZot SenteniouSly declared that
there was no future for universal Suf-
frage on the very eve of the revolution
which established the Second Republic.
So RcIlher. in the narrow space between
Menta na and Sedan. declared that Rome
could never become the capital of United
Italy. Time often plays strange tricks
with political prophecies. The present
Douma does not. it is true, measure up
TO the full standard of constitutional
government, but it does mark the pass
ing of the autocracy and it is in its de-
gree an actual parliament, more repre-
sentative of the nation, we might say.
than the British Parliament in Stuart
times when constit1rtionaliSm succeeded
in making itself pretty vital force.
One of The marked weaknesses of the
system or rather one of the infirmities
of the members of the DOuma and their
constituents. was deplorably displayed
at thc opening of the session last Fri
day. Thcr, was much disorder. which
bad been expected, and a wholesale
withdrawal of two factions from the
hall. That was because of disagree
ment over the paying of a formal tribute
10 the memory of a former President of
the Donma who had died since the pre-
ceding session IT is said that motion
was made that the house rise as token
of respect for ifs former chairman, that
the Vice President refused 10 put the
motion. and that thereupon two factions
of the house withdrew. We cannot
imagine the occurrence Of such thing
al Washington or at Westminster
There the paying Of even a more marked
tribute would he unanimously ac-
quiesced in. and if the motion were
made by the leader Of the dead mans
party il would surely he seconded by
the leader of the opposition. The Incl
dent shows how much Russians have
vet to learn or to acquire of that pa
lriotism which is capable of transcend
ing personal or factiOnal animOsities.
Nevertheless. the DOuma is a great
and most auSpiciOus fact. 1t is true that
its bills for freedom of the press and of
speech. personal inviolability and the re-
strictiCn Of martial law are mot likely
TO be reached this session" Yet it will
be no light thing TO enact law for uni
versal elementary education and to leg
islate on important financial and agra
rian matters. And what is most i'm
portant of all is that the DOuma Is ac-
customing the people 70 parliamentary
government and is training a consider
able number of men therein. Without
incllrring the reprUach of rash prophecy
we may surely doubt whether. having
once thus tasted of constitItiOnalism
Russia can ever be forced back under
absolutism IT was a long way from
the Parliament of Eanc, or even that
Of Walpole. TO that Of Gladstone and
Balfour but the one was the assured
precursor Of the other. For Il like
change the way may he longer still i'll
Russia, but the change will come and
the present transactions. however unsat-
isfactOry they may at times appear. are
irresiStibly preparing the people for it.
in intellect and in temperament.