Russian Demands for Reform.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 28 May 1895, Page 6

Russian Demands for Reform.

'< A Russian Nobleman" sends a letter to The Times setting forth the grievances which his class desire to see redressed, and the tew moderate privileges" they unanimously wish to obtain. The principal necessity, he says, is the possibility of obtaining justice against the frequent arbitrary acts of representatives of the Administration. Governors, especially, constantly commit the most unjustifiable arbitrary acts, without bting called to account for them in one case out of a thousand. The Minister of the interior, by whom they are appointed, considers it a point of honor, when no personal reason exists, to defend his chosen delegates. The right of free petition to the Emperor given to the Zemstov, and a moderate amount of liberty given to the press, would partially correct this unsatisfactory state of things. Russia is, da fa&to internally governed by the Home Secretary, and not by the..Czar, who is informed only of what .-the former chooses to teport. The >nghts which would at present content the greater part of the enlightened classes are formulated as follows :—A return to the liberal iuternal policy of Alexander 11, especially with regard to the Zemstov, with the concessiou to the latter of advisory powers similar to those possessed in former ages by a national institution which was allowed humbly to lay its opinions at the foot of the Throne. The wildest hopes (the writer continues) of the more advanced members of the party would be realised by the institution of a central assembly formed by delegates from the provincial assemblies of the Zeuistvo, with advisory powers only in matters relating to affairs which directly concern them.