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Show AUTOCRATIC TREACHERY. The displacement by 'the Czar of M. Wltte as the directing Ministerial force of Russia, was a characteristic act of a feeble-minded autocrat. It wa3 understood un-derstood In the moneyed centers of Europe Eu-rope that unless M. Wltte could have charge, no more money would be lent to Russia. Accordingly, he was put to the front, and apparently the Czar was determined to stand by him and yield to his counsels. Durnovo. who was WIttc's chief rival and competitor, and was the representative of the reactionary reaction-ary element, was dismissed, and It seemed settled that Wltte should remain, re-main, and his ideas prevail- Thereupon, the money-bags of Europe Eu-rope were loosened. Wltto promised relief re-lief and protection to the Jjws, and insisted in-sisted that the movement for representative represen-tative government through the Douma should bo genuine, and that the power of that great Imperial body chosen from the people should be enlarged rather than restricted. The outlook for Russia brightened perceptibly, and tho world rejoiced that there was a prospect pros-pect of settled order In Russia; that the period of turbulence and bloodshed had passed. Surely the people would respect a Government that they themselves them-selves had such an Important part In, and would respect a peace to which they were an assenting factor. Under these conditions there was not much difficulty In negotiating a loan of four hundred million dollars. The money was needed, and would do great things In repairing the ravages of war and of riots and rapine. But no sooner was this money assured than tho Czar broke with Wltte, displaced him, and while not recalling Durnovo to power, 4 called his chief coadjutor and follower, the man who was Durnovo's willing nnd cheerful second In thwarting so far hh posslblo the movements toward representative- government, and where thc could not be thwarted, minimizing their force. Now that the Douma Is assembling, the great Minister, who was rolled upon to be a friendly medium of communication communi-cation between that body and the Czar. Is no longer In position to help. On the contrary, the Influences now In control will do everything posslblo to minimise mini-mise the work of the representatives of the pooplo, and restrict the scope of their activities. It is a characteristic bit of autocratic treachery; but the main thing for tho people Is that their representatives are in actual movement. Though tholr first sessions may not be important In the work they do, the important im-portant thing Is that they aro held; and tho pover of the Douma will grow, as tho power of the British Parliament grew from small beginnings; and In the course of years It will be the most Important power In the Russian empire, em-pire, ovon as tho British Parliament Is the most Important power In the Brlt-I Brlt-I Ish empire. |