Alexander III. still hesitates to sign the decree calling a
Consultative Parliament, and remains buried at Gatschina,
listening alternately to the advocates of Liberalism and Re- pression. He has, however, readily sanctioned. a very large decree for the relief of the peasants. Under the Law of Emancipation, they were entitled to purchase part of their owners' land; but the landlords in many districts resisted strenuously, and 837,000 householders—about 10 per cent. of the enfranchised—are still without land. The new ukase orders the landlords to settle with them by January 1st, 1883, and thus removes a grand cause of discontent. The landlords are guarauteed by the State, which demands 6 per cent. from the peasant on the price stipulated, and hands over 5 per cent. to the former owner. In the northern provinces, where agrieul- biro is wretched, this interest has proved too high, and the Czar has reduced it, at a cost of £900,000 a year—equal to a pre- sent to the peasants of £20,000,000 sterling--and has, moreover, ordered the remission of all arrears, the State and the fund created out of the half per cent. difference bearing the loss. These two measures, which together affect 19,000,000 souls, will, it is believed, relieve much of the existing suffering, and prevent the spread of anarchy, but the Czar has still to conciliate the educated and half-educated classes. In his latest proclamation, he asserts that the autocracy is a blessing to the State ; but that is not inconsistent with the Russian Liberals' demand, which is not for a limitation of power, but for its use in a particular way.
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