The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-03-19
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
A Decree That SkCwS the Progress Of
the Worlds thought
CzAR OF RUSSIA GROWS LIBERAL.
Local Sclf-Gov>rRnlent Granted In
Some lnstaHc.s-A Long Step In
Advance.

St. Petersburg, By Cable.-The Car
has published decree providing for
freedom OF religion throughout his
doninions, establishing to some de-
gree local seif-gove:nment and max
irg other concessions to the village
committees. The decree, which was is
sued in coTmemoration Of the ami
versary of the birthday Of Alexander
Ill, is considered to be the most sig
nificant act OF state since the em2nci-
patton Of the serfs. The public Eai!s
it as the proclamation OF an era open
ing up bright prospects Of the cary
improvement of Russian internal ad-
Einistration. The text Of the decree is
in part as follows:
THE trouble 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
well-being of our people. These trou-
bles 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 fulfillment of this, our will, while
remaining strongly opposed to any yio-
lation Of the normal course of national
life, and having confidence that all
will Loyalty discharge their local du-
ties, We are irreVocably decided to
satisfy the needs for which the State
has become ripe and have deemed it
eypedient 10 strengthen and decree 1t
eXpediept to observance of TIE prin-
c!ples of tolerance laid down BY the
fundamental laws Of the Russian En-
pire, which. recognizing the Orthodox
Church as the ruling ore, grant to all
Our subjects OF other religious and to
all foreign persuasiCns freedom OF
creed and worship in accordance with
other rites; and We are f.rthe- resolV-
ed to continue the active carrying out
of 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
of the local nobility and peasantry.
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 con- -itions
of individual localities. This fundaJ;
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 1t easier for the
Individual to server connections with
the community to which he belongs, If
he so desires.
without delay measures must be
taken to release the peasants from the
present burdensome liability OF en-
forced labor.
Through reforms are to be effected
in the provincial governments and dis
tricts administratioral 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 well-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-
garding the execution Of our inten-
tons"