The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-03-19
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
A Decree That Shows the Progress of
the Worlds Thought
CAR OF RUSSIA GROWS LIBERAL,
Local Seif-Government Granted In
some lnstances-A Long Step In
Advance.

st. Petersburg, BY Cablc.-The Car
has published a decree providing for
freedom OF religion throughout his
domin:ons, establishing to some de-
gree local sclf-govcrnmcnt and maxi
lEg other concessions to the village
committees. The decree, which was is
sued in commcmoration OF the ami
Versary OF nc birthday Of Alexander
Ill, is considered to be the most sig
nlllcant act Of state since the emanci-
patton OF the scrfs. The public halls
1t as the proclamation OF an era opcn-
ing up bright prospects OF the cary
Improvement OF Russian internal ad-
mlnlStration The text Of the decree is
in part as follows:
Ihc trouble agitating our country
which to our deep regret have partly
been sown by designs hostile to tho
state and partly cngendcrcd by doe
trlncS foreign to Russian life, hinder
the general work of amcliOrating the
Well-being Of our people. These trou-
pies confuse the public mind, remove
inc people from productive labor, and
oltcn ruin families dear TO- on" heart
ana young energies among high and
low, necessary to the internal develop
Mcnt or the country. In demanding
nc fulfllmcnt OF this, our will, while
remaining strongly opposed to any vio-
alon OF the normal course Of national
NE. and having confidence that all
VIII iOyally discharge their local du-
tics, we arc irrcvocably decided to
satisfy the needs for which the State
has become ripe and have deemed it
eNpcdient to strengthen and decree it
eHpedlcnt to observance Of the prin-
clples OF tolerance laid down by the
fundamental laws OF the Russian EN-
pre-, which. recognizing the Orthodox
Church as The ruling one. grant to all
our subjects of other religious and to
all foreign persuasions freedom OF
creed and worship in accordance with
other rites; and we are further rcsolv-
ed to continue the active carrying out
OIL measures for the improvement OF
the material position of the orthodox
rural clergy, while enabling them to
take larger share in intellectual and
public life.
In accordance with impending
measures for the consolidation of the
national economy, the efforts of the
State credit institutions and especially
the mobiles and peasants banks should
be directed to strengthening and de-
Veloping the welfare and fundamental
pillars Of Russian village life and that
or the local nobility and DcaSantry
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
Of 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 to server connections with
the community to which he belongs, if
nc so desires.
"WithOut delay measures must be
taken to release the peasants from the
present Durdcnsome liability OF en-
forced labor.
''Through reforms are to be effected
In the provincial governments and dis
tricts administrations by the local
representatives, while attention will
be devoted to securing closer cooper
alton between the communal authori-
ties and parochial 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 life
under which alone the wcll-being 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-
gardng the execution Of our intcn-
tons"