DUMA AND CZAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 50, 20 July 1914, Page 8

DUMA AND CZAR.

A CPJCAT DIIAUA. "At this moment there is going on in Russia one of the most interesting polijtical conflicts of modern times," say.-; the Daily Citizen. "The Duma has thrown out the Imperial liudget; and the Czar finds himself with the choice either of tearing up the Constitution or of accepting a Ministry which has tile confidence of the Chamber, lieturn to naked absolution is out of the question, both because of the blow it would give to Kussian Stair credit and because it would revue revolutionary activities on a scale the (lovcruinent could not cope with. Apparently the only course is to fulfil the Constitution. "Ihihiml this situation there is a vivid history. Coreniykinc, the liussian Premier, is the reactionary who was cho-cii to dissolve the first Dl'mni and to prosecute the majority of Deputies who afterwards, at Viborg. in Finland, issued the famous \ iliorg manifesto of protest, lu the present Party and the (fcto'brUfci, therefore, entered upon a policy of undermining the Parliament's conceded rights. To begin witiii, lie refused to answer i|Urstions on the acts of the l.iovIciiiiiieiil.thus denying the Duma's right V control. Next he denied the right "of tin-Duma to initiate legislation. Noxt--fhis occurred quite recently—ho attacked the right of free speech.' "A Soeiiil-I) ocratic deputy named Tscliaidze was suspended for saving that that group stood for a .Republic: The twenty-one members of the group who supported Tscliaidze were suspended. Refusing to leave, they were driven from the Chamber by soldiery at the point of the bayonet. Ily way of protest lOli.OlM) workmen in St. Petersburg at once struck. At the cud of five dacs the strike was called oil' because meanwhile the twenty-one deputies Iliad cnnie to an understanding with the Cadets and Octohrists.

"The nature of that understandimwas disclosed 1,-,- Professor Milukoll'. the leader of tile (.'inlets, moving the rejec tion (if tlic l!ii(l<ri't. In the Viborfr manifesto the Russian public wore called ii]ioii to refuse payment of taxes not eoustitutioiially voted. •Viti«vjL ? i s in this 11nil." said MilukolF in answer to an interruption. "It is the parting of iiw ways. Always reactionaries cherish a hope of K oiuj> hack on the process of social e\ obit ion. These are vain iniaj>iniiiys. There i- nothinc; lor it but peaceful constitutional advancement, ol", I" 1 ' the liisi.-. an anarchy wbi.-li would brin.i freedom more rapidly, no doubt, but Willi- national a^ony."