RUSSIA'S AUTOCRAT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 7

RUSSIA'S AUTOCRAT.

A HINT TO THE DUMA. THE SUPREME POWER MAY STEP IN. " CONSTITUTION " IGNORED. Bl' TELEGRAI'H —PIIES3 ASSOCIATION—COPIEIOnT. (Rcc. Doc. 1, 4.15 Ji.m.) St. Petersburg, November 30. M. Stolypin, the Premier, road in tho Duma a Ministerial declaration carefully avoiding the word "Constitution," and declaring that autocracy is the supromo power of tho Tsar, who will resort thereto whenever Russia's safety demands it. Tho statement instances tho electoral law of Juno 16, and the present need of further repression of tho revolutionary movemont. Tho newspapers comment soverely on tho declaration. During the recent debate in the Duma tho monarchist Right wished to include the word "autocracy" in tile Duma's address to tho Tsar, while tho "advanced" Left thought tho address should mention " constitution." Tho moderate Centre found a way out by mentioning neither. Tho point which the Right failed to carry is now driven home by the Premier. It would appear to havo already been made clearly enough in the Tsar's manifesto of June 10 dismissing tho third Duma and mutilating the franchise, in which the Tsar stated:— "It is only to tho power which gave the first olect&ral law—the historic power of the Tsar of Russia—that the right of abrogating that law and replacing it by a new law belongs. God has given to us the power of Tsar over our people. It is before His Throne that we shall answer for the destinies of the Stato of Russia." On which tho. "Standard's" St. Petersburg correspondent comments: "Tho manifesto unsuccessfully glosses over the violation of the Tsar's solemn promise, and returns to the theory of pure autocracy. 'I havo given, I can take away.' " Apparently tho Premier's statement hints that the autocratic power will be given a new application in suppressing the revolutionary movement.