CHAPTER IX.
THE WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT: ITS STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS EAST AND WEST The movement towards democracy is world-wide to-day, and the political constitutions of the West are desired with fervour in the East.
For generations there has been agitation in Russia for representative government, and men and women--in countless numbers--have sacrificed wealth, reputation, liberty, and life itself in the cause of political freedom.

On the establishment in 1906 of the Duma, a national chamber of elected members, there was general rejoicing, because it seemed that, at length, autocracy was to give place to representative government.

But the hopes of the political reformers were short lived.

The Duma still exists, but its powers were closely restricted in 1907, and the franchise has been narrowed, to secure an overwhelming preponderance of the wealthy, so that it is altogether misleading to regard it as a popular assembly.
In Egypt and in India the Nationalist movements are directed to self-government, and are led by men who have, in most cases, spent some years at an English University, or have been trained at the English Bar.
Residence in England, and a close study of British politics make the educated Indian anxious for political rights in his own country, similar to those that are given to him in Great Britain.

In England the Indian has all the political rights of a British subject.