The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-03-19
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
A Decree That Shows The Progress ol
tfe Worlds thought
CAR OF RUSSIA GROWS LIBERAL.
Local SeIf-Government Granted in
Some iBstances-A Long Step in
Advance.

49, ;. A1s he LIAR
has published a decree providing for
freedom Of religion throughout his
dominions, establishing to some de-
gree local sef-government and max
Ing other concessions to the village
committees. The decree, which was is
sued in commemoration OF the anni-
versary of the birthday OF Alexander
III, is considered to be the most sig
nlhcant act of state since the emancl-
patton OF the serfs. The public halls
1t as the proclamation of an era OPEN
ing up bright prospects Of the cary
improvement of Russian internal ad-
mln!stratlon. The text of the decree is
in part as follows:
The trouble agitating our country.
which to our deep regret have partly
been soWn by designs hostile TO the
state and partly engendered by doc.
tflnes foreign to Russian life hinder
the general work Of ameliorating the
Well-belng Of our people. hese trout
bles confuse the public mind. remove
the people from productive labor, and
often ruin families dear to our heart
ana young energies among high and
low, necessary to the internal develop
Ment OF the country. in demanding
the fulflllment OF this, our will. while
remaining strongly opposed to any Yio-
lation OF the normal course OF national
ilie, ami having confidence that all
will ioyally discharge their local du-
ties, we are irreVOcaby decided TO
satisfy the needs for which the State
mas become ripe and have deemed it
eXpedient to strengthen and decree it
eXpedlent to observance of the prn-
clples of tolerance laid down by tine
fundamental laws Of the Russian En-
pire, which. recognizing the Orthodox
Church as the ruling one, grant to all
our subjects of other religious and TO
all 10relgn persuasiOns freedom OF
creed and worship in accordance with
other rlteS; and we are further resClv-
ed 20 continue the active carrying out
OF measures for the Improvement Of
the material position of the orthodox
rural clergy, while enabling them to
cake larger share i'll intellectual and
public life.
In accordance with impending
measures for the consolidation of the
national economy. the efforts Of the
Stat" credit institutions and cspecialIy
the mobiles and peasants banks should
be directed to strengthening and de-
VelOping tie welfare ard funda mental
pillars Of Russian village ijfe and that
of the local nobility and peasantry.
These principles marked out by us for
the disposition Of the laws OF the rural
population are, when formulated, to be
referred TO the provincial government
councils, SO that with the assistance
Oh persons enjoying the pUblic's conf
,.dence, they may be further developed
and adapted to the special conditions
OF individual localities. This funda-
mental principle Of the inviolability Of
communal property is to be maintain
ed, while at the same time means are
to be found to render it easier for the
Individual 10 server connections with
the community to which he belongs, ii
he SO desires.
without delay measures must be
taken to release the peasants from the
present burdensome liability Of en-
forced labor.
Through reforms are to be effecte0
in the provincial governments and dis
tricts administrational by the local
representatives, while attention will
be devoted to securing closer cooper
alton between the communal authori-
ties and paFochial trustees of the Or
thodox churches wherever possible.
Calling upon all our subjects to CO.
operate in strengthening the founda-
tions of families. school and public lie
under which alone the well-heing of
the people and the confidence Of every
one in the stability Of his rights can
develop, we command Of Our ministers
and chief officials concerned in this
matter to submit to us their views re-
garding the execution Of our inten-
tions.''