The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-04-03


People.
St. Petersburg. March 1G.-(COrre
spondencc OF the Associated Press.)-
1t has been stated that the public had
adopted a waiting attitude toward the
empelor's reform manifesto. This
feeling is mingled with perpleXity in
regard 10 the orient. The emperor
seems to intend 10 refer the reform
schemes, when they are drafted 10y
the ministries 10 special committees
representing the rural interests and
the public is unable TO reconcile this
with the treatment that has been the
reward of the local committees lately
investigating the agricultural deples-
sion. These committees interpreted
their instructions literally and made
numerous recommendation for gov.
ernmental reforms. Their recommen-
datiOns embraced, among others. some
of the very points that the emperor
has adopted and yet the ministry of
the interior is eXerting its utmost eff
forts in order to prevent these recon-
mendatiOns from reaching the empe-
rOr. The provincial governors have,
under strict instructions from Minister
Plehve prevented the provincial com.
mitteeS from even discussing reform
proposals offered by the district com.
mittees or have procured their TejeC.
ton in the provincial committees in
nearly every instance II should be
explained that the local committees
were selected by the marshals of no
bility. who are often men of advanced
views. The provincial committees
were selected by the governors and
they gave the prepOnderance to off.
Gals and more conservative land own.
ers. The ACTON of the governors OF
TambOv and TveT resulted In the with
drawal of all the liberal elements from
the provincial committees of these
provinces. in fact. Of almost every one
except officials. This example has
now been followed by the liberals
of the province Of Moscow.
In letter 70 the Russia VedOmosti.
the republication Of which in other
den by the censorship, D. n Shipov.
the handspring of the famous Moscow
conference last year that drafted the
liberal program for all the local com
mittees, state that II members had
withdrawn from the Moscow provincial
committee on account of the FREEDOM.
inence of officials representing the
central government
For some reason the liberal pro
gram met a more favorable reception
In the provincial committee for the
province of Nirhny NOvgorrOd. al
though it also included a large mum.
Ser of officials as their program would
certainly have been adopted in many
other provinces f local opinion had
been allowed expression and since it
is similar 70 the resolutions adopted
by a large number Of local commit
tees throughout European Russia The
liberals claim ii is a moderate express
sion Of the sentiment of the rural
population Of the empire.
The resolutions that were adopted
would require two columns of an
American newspaper.
These few extracts will indicate the
salient features Of them:
Popular education must be free and
accessible TO al. but not obligatory.
Practically popular schools must be
under the jurisdiction of the minis
try Of education exclusively and the
Zomstvos should participate in the
c0ntrO Of the course Of study as well
as in the financial support Of the
schools. CThis is aimed. in part. Fl
the present tendency Of the govern
ment TO favor parochial schc0ls.)
Liberal support Of primary educa.
ton by the central government is nee.
essary Such schools have at least
a few years course. and should pursue
no ends except secular education
Resolutions fav0vi1g the extension
Of popular libraries and intermediate
and higher educational institutions.
particularly agricultural colleges were
also adopted.