The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-18
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR RUSSIA.
THE PUBLIC Halls 1T AS A
PROCLAMATION OF A new
ERA.
1t is Believed That the Liberty
Granted to all Creeds is In
tended TO Include the Jews.

Il00QOm OF I6l1SlOu, GQIOUSuOUG Ills
dominion, establishing to some degree
local self government and making
other concessions to the village COM
munities
The decree, which was issued in
commemoration of the anniversary of
the birthday of Alexander I'LL, is
considered to be the most significant
act of state since the emancipation Of
the serfs. The public halls it as the
proclamation of a new era, opening /
upon bright prospects of the yearly
Improvement of Russian internal ad-
ministration.
THE TEXT OF THE DECREE.
"The troubles agitating our country,
which to our deep regret have partly
been sown by designs hostile to the
state and partly engendered by doc
trines foreign to Russian life, hinder
the general work of ameliorating the
we'll being our people. These troubles
confuse the public mind, remove the
people from productive labor, and
often ruin families dear to our heart
and young energies, among high and
low, necessary to the internal develop
ment of the country. In demanding
the fulfllment of this our will, while,
remaining strongly opposed to any
violation of the normal course of ma
tional life and having confidence that
all will Loyalty discharge their local
duties, we are irrevocably decided to
satisfy the needs for which the state
has become ripe and have deemed it
expedient to strengthen and decree the
undertaking observance Of the prln-
ciples of tolerance laid down by the
fundamental laws of the Russian en-
pire, which, recognizing the orthex
church as the ruling one, grant to all
our subjects Of other religions and to
all foreign persuasions freedom Of
creed and worship in accordance with
other rites, and we are further resolved
to continue the active carrying out OF
measures for the improvement of
material position of the orthdox 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
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
referred to the provincial government
councils, so that with the assistance
of persons enjoying the public's con-
fdence they may be further developed
and adapted to the special conditions
of individual localities. In this work
the fundamental principle of the in
volatility of communal property is to
be maintained, while at the same time
means are to be found to render it
easier for the individual to sever con-
nections with the community to which
he belongs if he so desired.
"Without delay measures must be
taken to release the peasants from the
present burdensome liability of fore
ed labor.
Thorough reform is to be effected
in the provincial governments and dis
trict administrations by the local rep
resentatives, while attention will be
devoted to securing closer cooperation
between the communal authorities
and parochial trustees of the orthodox
churches wherever possible.
"Calling upon all our subjects to
cooperate in strengthening the moral
foundations of family, school and
public life, under which alone the
we'll being of the people and the con.
fdence of every one in the stability OF
his rights can develop, we command
our ministers and chief officials con-
cerned in this matter to submit to US
their views regarding the execution of
our intentions.
Although the Jewish faith is not
specifically mentioned in the cars
decree, it is believed that the liberty
granted to call creeds'' is intended to
include the Jews.
The publication of the czar's decree
has produced a universal feeling of
joyful excitement and is tonight the
chief topic of conversation in every
public resort. It is generally attrib-
uted to the emperor's earnest desire to
remove the causes which recently pro-
duced such deplorable outbreaks among
the, workmen and students. Fears,
however are expressed that the pow
erful party of reaction led by Minister
of the Interior Plehve may delay or
frustrate the realization of the cars
aspirations, but great hopes are based
on the known fact that Finance Min.
lister Witte is a strong advocate of
whatever reforms he considers the
country ripe for. In any case
months must elapse before the pro-
jected reforms can be put into execu-
ton. It is understood that the czar
desires to modify the laws by relax
ing the penalties against dissenters
like the students, but that no at
tempt will be made to repeal the law
compelling children to be brought up
in the orthodox church unless both
parents belong to some other denomi-
nation.
The paragraph in the decree propos-
ing to refer the reforms to the pro-
vincial government councils is by
MANY REGARDED as pointing in the di-