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Show A NEW ERA FOR RUSSIA. The Moscow Zemstvo Is not modest In Its demands and yet, from the standpoint stand-point of popular rights, Its demands are In fact modest. The demands Include a general amnesty except where the political outbreak was accompanied by murder, pillage, or arson the abolition of all special or exceptional laws, martial mar-tial laws, the state of siege, and the special laws In regard to nationalities; the transfer of the control of the police po-lice to the doumas of the municipalities; municipali-ties; and permission to organize local protective committees. Probably the point which the Czar's despotic advisers will be tho most firm In resisting Is the transfer of the police control to the municipalities For, at present the police system is national, and not local. Its ramifications extend everywhere, and its operations are entirely en-tirely Independent of the local administration, adminis-tration, save as that administration Is itself a part of the police system. The police have their eye on every one. and no person moves about In Russia, be he native or stranger, without attracting the Inquisitorial attention of the police. Their light of entrance to any house or lodging is absolute, and no privacy exists once the suspicions of the police are attracted to any person or family. And the record of It all Is transmitted to St Petersburg. But it is well that the demand is made; more, perhaps, as an ultimate aim than as a present ultimatum. The other demands are such as ought to be granted without delay. So Is the peasants' peas-ants' dem.tnd for direct suffrage to the national Douma, and untrammeled legislative leg-islative power for that body, not only to act upon measures submitted by the Government, but to originate legislation legisla-tion of itself. Prime Minister Wltte. who seems to be rapidly gaining the ascendancy, will probably be found favorable fa-vorable to most of the Zemstvo's demands; de-mands; and these. If successful, mean a new era for Russia. |