The Washington herald., 1916-01-23

most OF their colleagues. In describing
the monarchiai congress. which has just
been meeting, at time when all other
conferences are prohibited, these ultra
loyaiists describe all classes Of society In
Russia, excepting their own. as "rotting.
Jew ridden. engaged in the seizure of
authority, lost for Russia. traitors,
rebels"
Criticism Rife.
Criticism OF the incapacity of generals
the appalling results OF grating ON army
contracts, and OF favoritism In political
appointments, was rife In the .duma from
the very beginning of the war. The gov
ernment paid little heed, knowing that
nine parties squabbling among them
selves could do nothing So long as af-
fairs at the front went fairly well. the
duma was permitted to talk as 1t would.
But the terrible defeats, which began in
Galieia in May stirred Russia to its
depths, and the people turned to the
duma for self-expression. The zemstvos,
or provincial legislatures, which have
some measures Of legislative power. de-
manded that the duma organize the ma
ton for victory; defeat followed defeat.
the fall of Warsaw followed the loss OF
Lemberg, and to crown everything. the
rumors that the Gar would yield to the
enemy, spread like a poison through the
veins Of the country. For the first time
In their history. the Russian people. in
despair and agony, achieved a political
soul Until last summer the ruling classes
did not know the meaning of the phrase
public opinion" They know now.
Famous "BIoeIy" Formed.
Parties in the duma began to coalesce.
The government, like fleeing travellers
on the Siberian Steppes. who throw
babies to the wolves to delay pursuit,
sacrificed Soukhomlinoff, the war min
lister, made changes in the high COM
mands and executed traitors in German
pay belonging to the highest court cir
cles. The Duma began to feel its pow
er, and finally the famous Block was
formed. This Block" the cause OF the
present crisis, is composed of six Of the
nine parties: those abstaining are the
revolutionist and the autocratic groups,
the extreme left and the extreme right. \
The Block" which forms an immense
majority OF both houses, drew up for
presentation to the Gar the Magma
Charter" The government, early in Oc-
tober, got wind of what was coming and
dissolved the duma, but this did not pre-
vent the representatives of the Block"
from attempting to submit their de-
mands to the Emperor. The Car re-
fused to see them. the publication OF the
demands was forbidden, but, since the
dissolution. the text Of the memorial
has been circulated all over Russia.
The Magma Charta.
The Magma Charta' has reached Lon
don, and summarize the all-important
document, which represents an over
whelming majority OF the Russian peo-
pie. 1t is signed by representatives of
all classes OF society. excepting the auto
cracy. In the upper house the imperial
council, V. Mellor-Zakomelsky signed for
the group of the Center, which later made
a separate declaration that final victory
can only be won II the government yields.
This group represents the great indus
trial and banking interests. For the
academic group of the council d. D.
Grimm signed the memorial In the low
er house of the duma Count V. A. Bob
rinsky signed for the progressive group
Of Nationalists, " Lvov for the Center,
/. I. Dmiriukoff for the Octobrists, s.
Shidlovshy for the group Of the Union
Of October II, 1. Yefrenov for the Pro-
sressists. and P. MiIlukov for the party
Of National Freedom. Uncouth names,
to the western ear, none of them ever
heard outside Of Russia; but some of
those tribunes OF the people may, II they
live through the coming storm, take rank
in history with Cromwell, Mirabeau, DAN
ton, and Washington.
3
to the Gar alone was permitted to be
published by the Russian censors. 1t
demanded the creation of a united gov
ernment Of individuals, enjoying the con-
fdence OF the counky and In accord with
the legislative bodies with regard to the
execution of a definite program at the
earliest date. The document further de-
manded:
Decisive changes of methods of ad-
ministration, which have hitherto been
based upon distrust Of public indepen-
dent action; strict introduction of the
principle of law in administration;
abrogation of dual authority. military
and civil, in questions that have no d.
rect relation to the conduct of mill
tary operations; restoration of local
administration; a wise and continuous
policy directed to the preservation of
domestic peace and removal of discord
between nationallties and classes.
Reforms Demanded.
The following are the specific re-
forms which, the declaration laid
down, must be carried into effect be-
fore the unity of the Russian people
will be attained, and a Arm, strong
and active authority created, which
can lead the country to victory"
All political and religious prisoners
Car, and all prosecutions of such a
nature stopped, while full political
and electoral rights must be granted
the persons condemned for such Of
fenses. The only prisoners exempted
from this amnesty are those who have
committed acts of a general penaf
character" This would prevent the
liberation Of assasslns. ..
All political and religious exiIes
must be returned.
Temperance must be ratified for
ever.
Complete and decisive discontinue
alton of persecution for belief, under
whatever pretext, is demanded, and
attention drawn to the Cars violated
pledge to this effect, extorted during
the 1905 revolt
Entry upon the path of abolition, of
restriction, Of the rights of the Jews,
In particular further steps toward the
abrogation Of the pale, facilitation of
access to educational establishments and
abolition of hindranees in the choice of
professions; restoration Of the Jewish
press.
A conciliatory policy toward Finland.
with no more prosecutions of local off,
cialfsu is demanded.