The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-08-14
Is Absolute In Such Matters
Though He Advised With
His Ministers.
AUTOCRACY NOT CURTAILED
Ne Has Been His Own Premier and
the Task Has Been Beyond HE
Powers-Influence Of Gregory
Rasputin, the Lay Brother.

have been impossible to convene the
representative bodies, the duma and
the imperial council, in order to hear
from them and expression OF opinion
within the short term allowed for the
decision, writes Samuel N. Harper In
the Chicago Herald.
But such a step was probably not
even thought of or considered. Under
the fundamental laws. the Russian
constitution, war Is delared and peace
signed by the sovereign; the car Is
the commander In chief of Russias
armed forces. The autocratic au-
thority was not curtailed on these mat
ters by the political reforms Of 1905,
which gave Russia the duma.
The duma votes the yearly conscrip-
ton and the appropriations for the
army and navy. Through the control
over the budget II has insisted on and
obtained reform and reorganization In
these departments. The work Of the
third duma will be moro highly esti-
mated when the result of its efforts IN
this field become clear. The duma
gave particular attention to the prob
lem of re-establishing the shattered
army. Here It effected real progress.
although this was necessarily done
without much blowing of trumpets.
Gar Directs Foreign Foley.
The czar directs Russia's foreign
policy. Each year his minister OF for
eign affairs reports to the duma on
TO- xx,itln
other powers. The minister always
prefaces the speech with the remark
that he has received the authority OF
the covereign to make his statement.
The prerogative OF the car In mat
ters OF foreign relations Is thus, estab-
lished and carefully observed. The
duma debates on this report are, how
ever. always frank and critical Such
a debate took place only few months
ago. The present crisis was not an
ticipated, OF course.
But opinions OF the various parties
on the questions now. at Issue were
then voiced. The czar Is reported to
have read the Duma Record with
great care; he has said himself that
he follows the work OF the duma with
great interest He knew what attitude
the party leaders had taken OF the
question OF Russian policy In the near
East: but It was by his own authority
that the czar took the decision that
has led TO war.
In foreign affairs the czar has al
ways exercised his prerogative freely.
The present foreign minister, Mr..
Mr.. Sazonov, Is a man of considerable
ability conscientious and able diplo-
mat But he has been In poor health;
frequently be has had to take long
releases from duty. This has meant
that the sovereign has exercised an
even greater and more personal con-
troll over questions OF foreign policy.
Is His Own Prime Minister.
The car has been his own prime
minister for over three years. He has
been taking the reins of government
more and more into his own hands,
allowing his ministers to advise and
suggest, but reserving TO himself ac-
tual decision and giving them only pro-
/ visional directions, with instructions
to report and then receive further
| orders.
| Apart from all question Of particu-
lar personality. tho task assumed by
/ the car has been beyond his powers.
! More important, however. than this,
| the absence OF an actual head to the
cabinet has opened wide field to per-
sonal recriminations among the vari-
Gus ministers. These countercharges
have been made to the ear OF the SOW
ereign.
This was source OF danger, an ele-
ment OF decentralization in the govern
ment. But II led to a most important
result, though 1t took some time for
the result to come. The czar learned
not what he had been induced to be-
lleve them TO be; he became aware
OF the extent OF the unrest and OF some
OF the causes back OF the discomfort.
The car became worried.
Rasputln. the Monk.
The car tried to get other points of
view. He realized that he had been
considerably isolated. Much has been
written about certain lay brother,
the monk Gregory Rasputin. He has
been at the court for some years, as
a kind OF spiritual adviser. He is un.
doubtedly a fraud in many respects;
but one must recognize In him Quick
and keen mind. He Is OF peasant ORR
gin.
It is asserted that he was In some
measure responsible for the imperial
decree OF last March. IN which the
cfar condemned the fiscal policy so
long in force in Russia. which owed
It's success to an increasing consump-
ton OF alcohol by the people In this
connection Rasputin's presence at the
court was interpreted by some as