"RUSSIA IN A STATE OF ANARCHY,"

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 5

"RUSSIA IN A STATE OF ANARCHY,"

I ~ — ~-~"" A PRINCE'S LETTER. Prince Troubetzkoy, president of the Moscow Zemstvo., recently addressed to Prince Mirsky, late Minister of the Interior, a remarkable letter respecting the reform resolutions recently discussed by that important body. He wrote, he explained, because as president of that Zemstvo he felt that certain responsibility attached to him. and he considered i that he was bound to explain his o\vij motives and answer his critics. The letter becomes specially interesting, in view iof the reported decision of the Czar to convene a congress of the Zemstvos: "Russia is now jn a state of anarchy." Prince Truhetzkoy wrote. "The revolutionary movement novr proceeding is not a simple disturbance by the youth of the country. It is a movement which reflects the attitude of public opinion, and it is very dangerous and even terrible, not only for the people, but also for the Emperor. it is, therefore, the duty of every true Russian subject to do what he can to prevent the impending calamity. I recently had the happiness to see the Emperor, and I reported to him truly and in all sincerity the present state of public opinion in the country. I tried to explain to His Majesty that what is now proceeding is not a simple '"emeute." but a revolution. The Russian nation is being , dragged into a revolution which it does not want, and which may be prevented by the Emperor if he will show confidence in his peopie. It is my strong , belief that if the Emperor will himself unite the national forces around him he will relieve Russia from the terrors of an impending bloody revolution. If he will do so, the nation will support the Emperor and his autocratic power. Under existing conditions it is impossible to forbid the people to say what it is that pains them. It is impossible to keep silence when the country is in a dangerous position. We must think of the family and of the children."