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Show IDE CZAR Members of ZcmstVo 'Con-grcss 'Con-grcss Present Ttcir Views to the Emperor. ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 26.-::W a. m. The unexpected may happen after -all. j The meeting of the Zemstvoslsta, 'first I Russian congress" as it is now called, may ! indeed mark the beginning of a new era for Russia, Emperor Nicholas. Initiator of the plaa for universal disarmament, may turn his back on the reactionaries and crown his reign by granting to his subjects the constitution which his grand-fatner'had grand-fatner'had already prepared when he fell by the hand of an assassin. The basis of such a possibility Is the significant fact that late this afternoon the Emperor received four - prominent members of the Zemstvo congress and listened lis-tened at length to their views. It develops, devel-ops, that when Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk-Mlrsky presented the .Zemstvo memorial and resolutions on November 24. the Emperor was so deeply impressed, as well by the contents of the documents as by the character of the signers, that he Immediately expressed the desire personally per-sonally to receive a deputation of four. The Zemetvolsts therefore went to Tsarkoe-Saloe bv imperial command. At (heir audience. It ta said, they explained fully their position and reiterated the views expressed by the memorial, that the salvation of the Empire from ruin by revolution lay in the adoption of the general Ideas expressed In the memorial. The Emperor was greatly Impressed by what he heard and asked many questions. While it is said he gave no indication of his purpose, except the sympathy displayed, dis-played, the emissaries, when the returned to St. Petersburg, were In hiah spirits. The news that the delegation had been given an audience by the Emperor spread like wildfire through the city tonight and created tremendous excitement, rejoicing among the Liberals - and amasement among the uncompromising supporters of the old regime. Earlier in the day a report was current that an immediate effect of the Zemstvo meeting would likely be the realisation of the plan for giving two elected Zemstvo representatives seats in the council of the Empire. One of the prominent Liberals who participated in the congress tonight declined to share In the jubilation of some of his colleagues, and expressed the opinion that victory was yet a long way err. although he said he believed it was sure to corns In the end. "All the members of the congress." he raid, "are large landed proprietors. A leveling process which would put the .Mulik on an equality with them must be prejudicial to their personal Interests. In Russia men seem anxious to make sacrifices sacri-fices for an altruistic ideal. The same thing nappened with the emancipation of the serfs. In the time of Alexander II, when many nobles advocated the measure, though it meant practically ruin for them personally." |