Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-09

a plan to help in this matter on q COM
tprehensive SCALE"
Prince Lvofr proceeded to discuss the
internal situation, declaring that this
has had q marked influence on Russia's
ability to carry on the tight in the war
with vigor.
II am glad" he said. ito see last
weeks marked signs Of amelioration.
Toll America that I have daily evil
dence Of the rallying Of all the ra-
| tiona1 elements OF the nation round the
coalition cabinet. The irrational ele-
ments. such as the anarchists and boil
| sheviki. are in such q minority that
| there is no reason to fear their getting
| the upper hand Not only the bour-
geois. but an overwhelming majority
of tho workingmen are against them.
Their present excesses are merely
last desperate reaction against their
consciousness Of this
Mote that though every week there
have been loudly advertised plans to
overthrow the government by force,
there has not been one attempt to ex-
ecute the plans made. Furthermore. l.
may deny the rumors of reactionary
and revolutionary agitation and
| threats of Jewish pogroms. Of which
there is no sign whatever
Satisfied With Government.
ION the whole, the nation is satisfied
with the provisional government. be-
cause the government, though ham
pered by grave military and diplomatic
preoccupations. has already successful
ly carried through internal reforms
which embody the traditional aspira-
lions of Russia's progressives. Do you
know that within few weeks of the
czarists' downfall the government real
lied a liberal fivefold program. giving
complete liberty of person, speech.
press. meeting and religion. and going
therein further than most progressive
democracies in Europe or America?
although these tremendous reforms
were pushed through hastily in the alb
sence of legislative machinery. not one
of them has been subjected to serious
criticism, even by the avowed anti
government factions. Perhaps America
knows of this. but does she know that
we have also executed comprehensive
scheme of minor economic, financial and
social reforms which has been unani-
mously approved?
Refers to Decentralization.
II refer you, for instances. to the
complete characterization Of the coun-
try, local self-government in the towns
throughout the country, with the uni
versal and equal suffrage for both
sexes regardless of qualifications, the
special features of which is the estab-
lshment of a smaller unit of local
government. in which is abolished the
inequality between peasants and the
other classes, thus eradicating from the
Russian law the ancient and degrad-
ing distinction of the privileged
classes: the reform of the military
courts and of local courts of justice,
with the admission of women to the
magistracy and legal profession; edu-
cational reform. including a. new uni
versity in the city of Perm, secondary
school reconstruction, the reform of
the backward parish elementary
schools: the democratic income prop
erty tax. with the proposal for the re-
form Of succession taxation: the or
ganization of peasant home work,
which is an important factor in our
village economy; the mobilization of
the nations technical knowledge for
war purposes; many church reforms,
among them the election of the high
est prelates by popular vote, and prep
arations for an ecumenical church
council. Riming at the Addition of
state deApotism in church affairs.
Through these reforms Russia in a
hundred days has advanced a hundred
years."