But, of course, this state of things cannot continue. The first session has not ended so bally on the whole, but, if the next session ends like this, it will mean that the Dama is failure, In the opinion of all competent authorities the next session will be the cri one.
The Legislature must consider the questions of the land, the local courts, Incal self-government, ete., and, when these things come to be discussed, the real physiognomy of the Dama will at length be seen. These are the views of a very moderate and cautious Kadet.
They are also the views of M. Gutchkoff, the leader of the Octobrists, a party so conserva tive that, some time back, it could almost be called governmental, " party which would not have more than two or three members in the Duma to-day had it not been for the unconstitutional change which was made in the Election Law almost exactly a year ago, but which now, owing to that law, holds the balance of power in the Lower House. M. Gutchkoff thinks that the work of the next session will be " much more difficult and complicated" than that of the session which has just com toan end, and he is of opinion that thie work will include (1) the reform of the Tocal courts, (2) the reform of the Senate, and (3) a straggle with the Upper House and even with the Government. The Upper House, which he regards us very serious opponent fact, come into conflict with the Lower Chamber on the question of the appropriation for new battleships, which it has accepted, although the Lower House had, s I have already stated, rejected it.' The conflict between the Chambers in the autumn will probably, however, be in connexion with economic questions.
M.A. I. Zvigintsey, secretary for the Committee of Imperial Defence and member of M. Gutchkoff's party, echoes the views of his chief. He says that if, in the next session, the Cabinet is anti-constitutionalist, the Octobrists will be at the head of the Opposition.
These statements of the ('entre have naturally caused great excitement in the Government camp for, if the Octobrists ask for reforms, a majority of the Dama will support them and the Tear must, sooner or later, grant those reforms, as a dissolution wil only result in the reformers bein returned in larger numbers. tHe roroRE.
But what will the Government do in case the Duma becomes unmanageable "has altered its policy so swiftly and so completely several times during the last few years that, when we least expect it, it may change again in the most surprising manner." This is very true. Foreigners have often a very wrong impression of the Russian Government. There is a kind of tradition that it relentlessly follows a certain track from which nothing can make it swerve. As 3 matter of fact, Russia's especially her internal policy, has never been continuous for any long period, and, during the last few years it has vacillat~ ed in an extraordinary manner. Three years ago, Count Witte called the St. Petersburg strikers brothers and received in a most affable manner a deputation from the "Council of Workmen's Deputies, revolutionary organization.
Minister of Finance denies that Russia has any Parliament at all. To-morrow the Pear may publicly eweer to the Vonstitation.
At all events there is some hope of the present uncertainty being cleared up in the autumn, and in any case, to quote the words of M, Maklakoff, "We are on the eve of great events,"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.