The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-22
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION TURNS
ALL EYES TO NEW DEMOCRACY
Our Popular
tends Even to European Russia Really
BUREAU

IaftarS, MongolS and Germans. The
true Russians are divided into three
groups. the Greater Russians, or Mus
covites, by far the greatest in num-
Der, occupy the center and the north
ern and eastern portions of Russia the
Little Russians, sometimes called the
Ukrainians or Ruthenians, inhabit the
southwest, and the White Russians,
who are settled in the west.
The orthodox Greek faith is the es-
tablished religion OF the empire and it's
adherents are about 20 rer cent OF the
population. The Catholics number
about 1l.420,O0 Professionals 1000. 900.
other Christians 100000, Mohamme-
dams 100000. Jews about 5000. 900.
Russia has also a large number Of
Buddhists and numbers OF scattered
pagan sects.
The language in general use
throughout Russia is the Slavic or
Russian language, which Is spoken by
more than three fourths of it's people.
1t has three distinct dialects--Grcat
Russian, which is the language of Rus
sian literature and in use by more
than 10000, coo people; Lite Russian
or Ukrainian, spoken by the people OF
the south and southwestern parts,
and White Russian, in use In the
western parts Of Russia. chiefly in
Lithuania, and showing kinship to
the Polish.
A Complicated Government.
What the new revolutionary govern
ment, recently inaugurated, will be
able to accomplish in the way Of SIM
plifying the governmental system Of
Russia remains to be SEEN The old
system was one OF the most compli-
Gated character and extremely diff
cult for an outsider to understand. The
influences which eliminated in the
overthrow of the old government and
the abdication of the ear have been
at work for many years. But the old
government may be classified as an
absolute, hereditary monarchy. The
whole legislative. executive and ju.
dicial power was practically vested In
through various bodies OF his own
creation. The chief Of these bodies
was the council Of empire, which con-
sisted OF SO members appointed by the
car and SO other members elected for
nine years. This was purely an ad-
visory council. Another was the SEN
ate, which was the final supreme court
of appeal in all civil and criminal
cases: one section OF it was charged
with the PRONUNCIATION and execution
of the laws and another section with
+ the collection of the taxes. the distri-
button Of the funds. etc.
| The Holy synod was another admin
istrative body under the old regime.
siastical affairs, but in reality welding
powerful political influence in the
government. The council OF minister
). was another consulting body appointed
by the czar. The provincial govern
ments We're under the control Of a gov
ernor general ana NUMBER OF tnem
were also provided with a military
governor. The only governmental as
semblies In which the people had a
direct voice--up to the time OF the es.
Enlistment of the greater duma-
were the zemstvos. These were dis
trict assemblies, elected by thre,
classes OF voters, viz: proprietors
burghers and inhabitants OF rura
communes who were 25 years OF ag'
and possessed of a certain amount O
property, or who were engaged In |
business OF some importance. II wa
through the zemstvos that the liberia
tors of Russia found entrance into tn
duma-the peoples body that firs
enunciated the Russian Declaration Q
, Independence.
The elections for the first duma Yer
, held in March. 1906. 1t assembled
. the Winter palace on May 10. 1t opene
Do vtp,n