The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-13
RELIGION Is FREE
By a Recent Proclamation, the
Car Makes 1t So.
RtLIEVEPEASANT'S BURDEN
QaI.. ln.; "a Ga o.
Only Trying to Garry Out
Fathers Wishes and Designs.

1 80
has issued decree providing Tor free
dom of religion throughout his dornin-
| ions. establishing to some degree local
self government and making other con-
| cessions to the village committees.
The car announces his decision to
grant freedom of religion to all his sub
| jects who profess non-orthodox creeds
| and to improve the conditions OF village
life and those of the local nobility and
peasantry. Among the measures outlined
| by the car for the attainment of these
ends: Reform of the rural laws, which
| is to be effected with the advice of per-
| sons who possess the confidence of the
people. The system of administration in
| the various governments and districts is
| to be examined by representatives of the
different localities concerned, with the
! view of effecting the necessary amend
| mennts. Measures are also to be taken
| to relieve the peasantry of the burdens
of forced labor.
The decree which was issued in COM
memoration of the anniversary of the
| birthday of Alexander Ill, is considered
! to be the most significant act of state
since the emancipation of the serfs. The
public halls il as the proclamation of a
new era, opening up bright prospects of
| the early Improvement of Russian in
ternai administration.
The text OF the decree is as follows:
ION ascending the throne of our ances-
tors by the providence of God. we made
| solemn VOW before the Almighty and
our conscience to sacredly guard the
centuries-old pillars of Russian power
and to dedicate our life to the service of
our beloved fatherland in interchangeable
soicitude for our subjects We chose.
| in order to assure the we'll being of our
people, the way indicated by the memo
rable deeds of our predecessors, espec-
| tally our never-to-b forgotten father.
God pleased to interrupt the deeds of
| our father by his early death and thus
| laid on us the sacred duty of completing
| the consolidation of order and truth be-
gun by similar in conformity with the
| exigencies of national life. The troubles
| agitating our country. which to our deep
| regret, have been partly sown by designs
| hostile to the state and partly engen-
| dered by doctrines foreign to Russian
| life, hinder the general work OF anchor
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 development
| of the country. In demanding the full
| fillment of this, our WILL while remain
| ing strongly opposed to any violation
| of the normal course of national life.
| and having confidence that all will 10y
| ally discharge their local dutiesc we are
| eSocably decided to satisfy the needs
| for which the state has become ripe and
| have deemed il expedient to strengthen
| thin, and decree the undertaking observ-
| anc of the principles of tolerance laid
| down by the fundamental laws of the
| Russian empire. which, recognizing the
| orthodox church as the ruling one, 10
| grant to all of our subjects of other re-
| ligion and TO all foreign persuasions.
| freedom of creed and worship in accord
| ance with other rites; and We are fur
| Their resolved to continue the active car
rying out of measures for the improve
ment of the national position of the or
thodox rule clergy while enabling them
to take larger share in intellectual and
public life.
I'm accordance with impending meas
ures for the consolidation of the ma
| tional economy. the efforts of the state
| credit institutions and especially the ma
| bles' and peasants banks should be d.
rected to strengthening and developing
| the welfare and fundamental pillars OF
| Russian village life and that of the loce
! nobility and peasantry. These principles
! marked out by US for the revision of tbs
| laws of the rural population are. wher
! formulated. to be referred to the pro
! vinciaI government councils. so that. witt
! the assistance of persons enjoying the
public's confidence. they may be further
developed and adapted 10 the special
! conditions of individual localities In
| this work the fundamental principle OF
the inviolabiiity Of communal property Il
to be maintained. while a the same time
means are TO be found 20 render 1t easie1
for the individual 10 sever connections
with the community to which he belongs
if he so desires.
without delay measures must h
taken to release the peasants from th'
present burdensome liability Of forceC
labor
Thorough reform is TO be effected II
the provincial governments and distric
administrations by the local representa-
tives. while attention will be devoted Il
securing closer cooperation between th'
communal authorities and parochial trus
tees Of the orthodox churches wherever
possible.
Calling upon all our subjects to CO
operate in strengthening the moral foun
dations Of family. school and public life
under which alone the weil-being Of tn
people and the confidence Of everyone II
the stability Of his rights con develop
We command our ministers and chief Of
fcials concerned IN this matter 10 sub
nit 10 rs their views regarding the exc
cution Of our intentions
Although the Jewish faith Is not sTe
cificaIly mentioned in the cars deere
il is believed that the liberty granted &
All creeds'' IS intended to include ~
Jews.
FOR BETTER UNION.
Florence. Colo. March iz--ActiuE y
advice given by John II. Gehr. Of thu