New-York tribune., 1903-03-13
RUSSIA STEPS FORWARD.
IN IMPERIAL DECREE.
Freedom of Religion Ordered and
Local Self Government Ertended.


st. Petersburg. March 1.-THE Car has is
sued a decree providing for freedom Of religion
throughout his donlinions. establishing to some
degree local self government and making other
concessions to the village committees.
The decree, which issued in commemo-
ration of the anniversary Of the birthday Oh
Alexander III, is considered to be the most
significant act OF state since the emancipation
Of the serfs The public halls 1t as the procla-
nation OF a new era opening up bright pros
poets Of the early Improvement Of Russian in
ternal administration. The text Of the decree Is
as follows:
On ascending the throne Of our ancestors by
the providence Of God, we made a solemn vow
before the Almighty and our conscience 70
guard sacredly the centuries old pillars OF
Russian power and to dedicate our life to the
service Of our beloved fatherand In indefatga-
BILE soiicitude for our subjects We chose IN
order to assure the we'll being OF our people,
the way indicated by the memora bic deeos OF
our predecessors especially our never-to- Pc
forgotten father. God pleased to interrupt the
deeds Of our father by his early death ana
thus laid the sacred duty or completln8
the consolidation Of order and truth begun by
him in conformity with the exigencies OF
tonal life The troubles aRitatng our country.
which to our deep regret have partly neen sow
by designs hostile t. the state ana party en-
gendered by doctrines foreign to Russian Ilfe'
hinder the general work of amelioratns the
we'll being of people. These troubles con-
fuse the public mind remove the people from
productive labor. and often ruin families dear
to our heart and young energies among nlsh
and low, necessary to the internal develop
ment OF the country. In demanding the ful-
f1lment of this our will. while remaining
strongly opposed to any violation or the nor
NAL course OF national life and having conn,
dence that all will loyalty discharge their local
duties we are Irreyocaby decided to satisfy
the needs for which the state has become ripe,
and have deemed it expedient to strengthen
and decree the undeviating observance OF 5ne
mental laws OF the Russian Empire, WHICH
recognizing the Orthodox Church as the rui-
ing one grant to all our subjects OF other re-
lgions and to all foreign perHuasions 1ree- @
dom Of creed ana worship in accordance win
continue the active carrying out Of meas
ures for the Improvement OF the materlal
position of the orthodox rural clergy While
enabling them to take a larger snare IN inter
lectual and public life
In acc ordance with impending measures for
the consolidation of the national economy the
efforts of the state credit institutions and es-
| pecialy the mobiles and peasants banks should
be directed to strengthening ana deyelopinR
| the welfare and fundamental pillars of Russian
village life. and that Of the local nobility and
| peasantry. These principles marked out by
| us for the revision OF the laws OF the rural
| population are. when formulated. to be re
| ferred to the provincial government councils
| that with the assistance of persons enjoy
| ing the public's confidence they may be further
| developed and adapted to the special conditions
of individual localities. In this work the funda-
| mental principle of the inviOability OF COM
munal property is be maintained. while at
| the same time means are to be found to rem
| der it easier for the individual to sever con-
nections with the community to which he be-
longs, if he desires.
Without delay measures must he taken 70
| release TIE peasants from the present burden-
| some liability of forced labor
| Thorough reform is to be effected in the pro-
| Vincial governments and district admtnistra-
| tions by the local representatives. while at
tention will he devoted to securing closer CO.
| and parochial trustees of the orthodox churches
| wherever possible.
| Calling upon all subjects to cooperate In
| strengthening the moral foundations Of the
| family, school and public life. under whlcn
| alone the we'll being OF the people and the
| confidence of everyone in the stability or MS
| rights can develop, command our Ministers
! and chief officials concerned in this matter to
/ submit to us their views regarding the exc
/ cution Of intentions.
| The extension of self government to the
| smaller communities. corresponding with the
| township organizations of the United States.
| is regarded as great victory for the zenstvos
| district and provincial assemblies), while the
| retention of the communal system with greater
| freedom of withdrawal therefrom meets the
| wishes of the peasants and landowners, ex-
| pressed through their local committees on as-
| ricultural depression.
| The Cars desire for the cooperation OF the
| educated public closely follows the action OF
| Alexander II at the time of the emancipation
movement.
| Although the Jewish faith is not specifically
| mentioned in the Cars decree it is believed
| that the liberty gra lted to "all creeds' is in