Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-18
RUSSIAN EXILE EDITOR
ISSUES FIRST PAPER

ST. PETERSBURG, July 24-Oswobozh-
denia, the liberal newspaper established in
Stuttgart by the exile. Peter Vonn Struve,
to bring about the political emancipation
of Russia, has appeared in print. Printed
on Bible paper, its sixteen pages make a
half ounce letter. and a few copies of the
first two issues have reached their adj
dresses, and are being circulated widely
from hand to hand
The periodical does not pretend to be a
complete news organ. 1t prints no mat
ter which is satisfactorily handled in the
legal Russian press. The contents of the
first two numbers are sufficiently varied
to stimulate curiosity. Among the head
ings are 1.-THE popularity of political muir
der in Russia death of Sipiaguin."
Indictment and trial of the nobleman
Stephen V. Balmasheff," Last words of
Balmasheff," From the universities"
Letter from Poltava on the peasant dis
orders" Review of Russian life"
BY far the most important article is
From the Russian constitutionalists."
This is a carefully elaborated program OF
peaceful revolution, and is apparently the
joint product of many pens: 1t cites and
adopts Minister on Plehve's speech on as
Stunning Office, in which he said the situa-
ton demands Deeds, not words" and
inquiries If he will continue the ruinous
policy of the last 30 years. All think
ing Russia, these writer's proclaim, de-
mand serious political reforms. They
then proceed to map out a program. This
program provides that the first demands
must be for:
First-Personal freedom guaranteed by
independent courts, and consequently
abandonment of arbitrary arrests and in
questions, of administration Punishment,
extraordinary courts and summary trials.
Second-Equality Of all before the laws,
and consequently abandonment Of all
class racial or religious Determinations.
These elementary rights, the program
continues, require as guarantees the free
dom of the press, including abolition OF
the censorship and the responsibility of
the press to the courts alone; the freedom
of assemblage and association and the
right of petition.
The first step in the practical program
must be a constituent assembly repre-
senting all classes of the people to work
out an electoral scheme. Legal reforms
would remain to be discussed in, and
brought about by a representative, cleo
tive assembly chosen in accordance with
the expressed determination of the con-
stituent assembly. All of this seems bor-
rowed directly from the revolutionists in
France over no years ago. The writers
presuppose that the cazr will concede the
right of the people to participate in leg
islation, and in calling the constituent
assembly will with a single stroke of the
pen, do away once and for always with
all administrative abuses and abolish all
spurious form of law which masquerade
under the name of Temporary regula-
ton, ministerial circulars and admins
trative- decisions" and which suspend, re-
vive or alter laws at the will of the adj
ministration. Along with this publication
of the body polite, there is presupposed
the grant of the most thorough going am
nesty to all who have suffered or are suf-
- - L.
and arbitrary administrative acts.
1t only remains to add that thousands
of earnest Russians regard this program
as anything else than chimerical. They
confidently expect a declaration Of bank
ruptcy from the autocracy within meas
ureable times; some say five, some ten,
some twenty-five years.
The Oswobozhdenia also contains let
ter from a group Of zemstvo leaders, de-
Glazing their adherent to this program.