The young Czar has given a shock to his admirers,
who a little unreasonably expected him to summon a represen- tative, or at least a consultative, Assembly. His Majesty on Tuesday received an immense number of deputations from the Zemstvos, or County Councils, and the municipalities, and took the occasion to contradict the prevalent reports. He was aware, he said, of certain "absurd illusions" current in the Zemstvos as to their approaching right to par- ticipate in the internal government of the Empire, and he wished the deputations to report everywhere that while " devoting all his strength to the welfare of the people, he intended to protect the principle of autocracy as firmly and unswervingly as did his late and never-to-be-forgotten father." That is, at all events, plain speaking, and it will probably be acceptable to the masses of the people, who prefer their Czar to any County Councillor; but the Emperor would have been wise to say a few words as to the reforms he does intend. His enemies will represent the speech as that of an obscurantist as well as an autocrat, and will declare that the only hope lies in revolution. The Nihilists, who were passive during the devolution of power, will be again urged to activity, and we shall once more witness the contest between a party of fanatics made desperate by police cruelty, and a Sovereign embittered by treachery and threats.
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