Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-24
First Time a Russian Emperor
Has Ever Recognized the
Legislative Body as a Part of
the Government.
BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA
Event Emphasizes the Increas-
ing Disposition of the Govern
ment and People to Lay Aside
Internal Politics and Bring the
War to a Successful Issue.

Petrograd, Feb %, via London, Feb.
23.-The presence of Emperor Nicholas
| at the opening of the Duma to-day was
hailed by the press and public AS one
of tho most important events in the poll
tical history of Russia IT is pointed out
that the appearance OF the Emperor in
the House has emphasized in the most
striking manner the increasing disposition
| of the government and people to lay aside
internal politics and devote all their
energies to a concerted effort to bring
the war to a successful issue.
The event is alluded to by prominent
members of the Duma az "the beginning
of a new era" and likened. in it's far
reaching significance to the emancipation
of the serfs and the manifesto of 1903
This was the first time that a Russian
Emperor had ever visited the legislative
body or in this formal way had recognized
il AS ono of the parts of the government
1t bears on the Importance of the poll
teal crisis through which Russia has
been passing. Critics of the government
have protested that since the last adj
iournmcnt of the Duma the government
has not shown any increased tendency
to reflect the desires of the populacc or
and that a successful prosecution of the
war was impossible without some real
understanding between the government
and the Duma.
The Emperors presence to-day is
taken as a token of a new union of the
government and the popular represent
atives toward which the liberal and
progressive elements in the Duma have
been striving. and will it is thought
relieve the tension and suspense which
has existed since the adjournment of
the House.
The session of the Duma was opened
| as usual with "A half hours prayer. The
| Emperor entered the chamber prompt
! ly at two o'clock and during the re-
| lgious ceremony stood under the holy
picture of Nicholas the wonder work
| err"
About noon the news that the Duma
was to receive visit from the En-
peror was flashed through the chamber
| but the only preparation which indi
Gated that an event unprecedented in
| the ANIMALS of the Duma was to take
place was strip of bright CARPET
which had been laid in the hall and
the appearance of the golden book
which is only brought out to record
the names of distinguished visitors.
Many Of the deputies, who returned
from the front to resume their lcgis-
| latve duties still wore field uniforms,
| The new premier. Boris V. Sturncr,
! who succeeded NJ Goremykin in that
office. made his first address. lie de-
clared that although Russia did not
minimize the seriousness of the situa .
tion in the Duma and the sacrifices
which she was compelled to make, both
the government and the Duma were
resolved that peace would not be made
until Russia had gained, in conjunction
with her allies, a decisive victory over
| the enemy.
Russia had hardly begun the work
of internal reorganization" said NJ.
Sturmy, when the war interfered But
even in war time this work must go on.
Russias better future is coming. nothing
can disturb our faith in that, In the
| name of this future we will not close our
| eyes to our mistakes and shortcomings
and We must unite our forces. new
| page in Russian history is being opened"
The premier then spoke of the neces-
| sity of reforms to meet the new economic
| conditions and of giving the people a
greater hand in the government H. said
| that the food problem and the question
| of freeing the country from German in
| tuenCc ought to command special attcn-
| ton.