The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-13
REFORMS DECREED IN RUSSIA.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PRO.
CLAIMED NY THE GEAR.
Measures 10 he Taken 70 Relieve the
Pcasantry Of Enforced Labor-seme
Degree OF Local Self.Governmcnt
Granted With Reform OF Rural Laws.

Degree OF Local Seif.l:Overnmcnt
Granted With Reform Of Rurai Laws.
Special Caue Despatch to THE SUN
ST PETERSBURG. March I2.--An imperial
manifesto Is published in which the Car.
after referring to the efforts O. his pred
scessors. notably his father. to improve
the welfare Of the Russian people. announces
his decision to grant religious freedom
to all his subjects other than thos. Of the
Orthodox faith and to improve the condi-
tions of village life and OF the local nobility
and peasantry
His Majesty indicates the means whereby
this will be done. Reform Of rural laws
will be made effective through the assist
ance and advice OF persons who possess
the peoples confidence. The system OF
administration Of Governments and dis
,ricts will be examined by the representa-
tives o: different localities with a view OF
making amendments. Measures win alsr
be taken for relieving the peasants from
forced labor
before the practical significance of the re-
forms outlined In the Cars ukase can Ire
viewed In correct perspective. the launch
ing Of the proclamation hns joyfully excited
the populace wherever the Cars
msssage has penetrated.
1t Is tho one theme of conversation in
homes, cafes. and other public places here.
and although some anticipa,ions are foolshly
,apsuine and most hasty and uniformed,
it is not too much TO say that the ukasc
isisss more cold hopes and causes more
widespread JOY than any domestic political
event since the emancipation OF the serfs
in 1851.
The ukase is the outcome OF the work
Of series Of special commissions appointed
10 investigate the grievances Of the peas
ants, rural mobiles and others. those CON-
missions being the result OF the constant
serious outbreaks by peasants. workmen
and students. which created q we'll
grounded fear that the troubles would in
creas. until they got beyond control.
Practised observers see in the manifesto
a general expression Of kindly intention
rather than u programme Of definite re-
forms. and II may be safely assumed that
no sweeping changes will Immediately
follow.
At the ssme time. with the application
OF the ukase. there will come relief from
many small irritations, which. among
democratic peoples. would have been
swept away rs intolerabie expressions
generations ago.
One Of the most welcome OF the promised
innovations Ia permission for peasants
TO leave their commune and take up an
other occupation than the one in which
they have 'be-n rear-d. Hitherto, al
though q commune was entitled TO expel
an obnoxious member. even il he was law
abiding. the member himself did not en- 10Y
the corresponding right to leave his COM
m,ine unless the latter chose 10 grant him
a passport. The refusal OF passport,
which IL at present common prac tice,
prevents a man from obtaining lucrative
employment outside his commune, the
system consequently operating TO compel
the people TO stay in their native villages.
Politicians regard as the kernel II the
uka.e the reform in the rural laws IL being
held that this is q step in the direction of
Constitutional government Although It In
NOT imagined that Constitutionalism in any
form IL at present intended II is hoped that
this clause contains the germ Of repre-
sentative government. which, however, IL
Is foreseen will not develop for many de-
cades into even Constitutionalism ~ II exists
IN Austria and Germany.
Thus hope. rather than expectation, 10 the
medium through which conservative opinion
regards the declaration. despite the elsted
enthusiasm with which the uksse In re-
ceived by those who are less able TO look
beneath the surface.
The text Of the decree IL as follows:
On ascending the throne 81 our snce--
err by the pro vidance ~ God we made n
oI.mn vow before the Almighty and our
conscienoe sacredly To guard the centuries
Old pillars ~ Russian power and tn dedi-
cat. our life 10 the service Of our b-loved
fsth.rland la indefAtigable solicitnde Tor
oar subjects We chos@. in order To assure
the well-h~,ns u our people. the ~sy In
dioaied by the memorable as~d- ~ ouT
predecessors. especially our n@vsr-to-te-
fDfgottsn father.
God pl.ased 90 interrupts the ds~d. Of
oar father 10y hls early death. and thus lsid
pfl 40 the rAffe~l thtf ~ s0uhbi'bnk va"
consolidation ~ order and truth i'esun by
nm in conformity with il's sriesDcis IL
natloi.al M. tn. Troubles asii stins oar
country. siich o. oair d~eI fssfs' have
l.rly h.sn so~n by as-asi.s Lou,il" Ia tbs
b,a,s aud partly sns.Ddsfed ~ dos'nhss
fon.xn 90 h,..sish hfs. hiisdai the senaisl
u"Si - An1sliofsiils ia. ssil l's'ns ~
our laopls Ii..-- u,,uliln. nDnfsss ,iss
Isidlr mliid. remove tbr lsssi.s iran I'o'
d4ciiss lalsof SUD oiisn sain iAis,i.ss. assT
a. ouf hsaIi, ssd ,s,ii.s sssss 60, s'ao'.f
hsl ahd loo usos--sis a. ii's .hi"iisai
1., saulaiss' - iiss asssiiFr
a. assaAHdii,s liss fsihsas'a ~ 'hi' "s'
sii shh. Hs..iiahs sif"s,sir afg~sss'd
~ shg st1iatissA - tls issnai os,s~ ~
iai..i.si no si.a l.ssli.s s.sifass,ss thai 81
al lsYsiiF sss-i,aiss tissif t,ssi as,lss 90
go fiss,s ,.isll as.ssls-i ~ ssilsfp Gas ssssis
isi st.la1 iiis s,sls hss i-zss.ss ne aisd
hsss aa.as.-an ssbs,-l.ssd ~ sassAsii'ss s,'a
a,-fs-s ii.s Yi.ass tsiii.s sa--se ssss - 'l's
IIltsslass ~ dos shss Asla ds,sf - ts
a. lsa,.sinsl .sss - ii,s its--sA sAaiais
-isss. ss.,siasiaS iis ssii.'ssls' iissi't -
80 i,sAas ,si.s sfsia g. 80 ,',1 sai,lsrss -