s dissolved by Imperial ukase.

The reason assigned for this was that, "instead of applying themselves
to the work of productive legislation, they have strayed into a sphere
beyond their competence, and have been making comments on the
imperfections of the Fundamental Laws, which can only be modified by
our Imperial will."

The Tsar at the same time declared his immutable purpose to maintain
the institution of Parliament, and named March 5, 1907, as the date of
the convening of a new _Duma_.

A body of 186 Representatives, including the Constitutional and
Conservative members of the _Duma_, immediately reassembled at Viborg
in Finland, where, in the few hours before their forcible dispersion by
a body of military, they prepared an address to "The Citizens of All
Russia." This manifesto was a final word of warning, in which the
people were reminded that for seven months, while on the brink of ruin,
they are to stand without representation; also reminding them of all
that may be done in that time to undermine their hopes, and to obtain a
pliable and subservient Parliament, if, indeed, any Parliament at all
be convoked at the time promised by the Tsar.

In view of all this they were solemnly abjured not to give "one kopek
to the throne, or one soldier to the army," until there exists a
popular representative Parliament.

The hand of autocracy is making a final and desperate grasp upon the
prerogatives of the Crown. When the end will come, and how it will
come, cannot be foretold. But it needs no prophetic power to see what
that end will be. The days of autocracy in Russia are numbered. A
century may be all too short for the gigantic task of habilitating a
Russian people--making the heterogeneous homogeneous, and converting an
undeveloped peasantry into a capable citizenship. The problem is
unique, and one for which history affords no parallel. In no other
modern nation have the life forces been so abnormal in their
adjustment. And it is only because of the extraordinary quality of the
Russian mind, because of its instinct for political power, and its
genius for that instrument of power hitherto known as diplomacy--it is
only because of these brilliant mental endowments that this chaotic
mass of ethnic barbarism has been made to appear a fitting companion
for her sister nations in the family of the Great Powers.

It is vain to expect the young Tsar to set about the task of
demolishing the autocratic system cr