New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
RUSSIANS ASK FREEDOM.
PEOPLES VOICE HEARD.
ZemstUo Presidents Plead for Share
IN Government.


cussed a carefully prepared memorandum,
practically embodying a recommendation for a
national representative body to have share in
the government. This memorandum will be pre-
scented to Emperor Nicholas
Seven of the ten articles composing the mem
orandum were adopted. These sections declare
that the abnormal system of government in
Russia is the result Of the complete estrange-
ment of the government and people" that the
conditions make necessary freedom of
SCIENCE speech and press and the privilege of
holding meetings and assert that the peasants
must be placed on an equality with the other
classes.
The three remaining sections, it is expected,
will be approved at a meeting to be held to-
morrow. The document, which is bound to hold
conspicuous place in Russian history, is as
follows.
Preamble of proposals on the question of gen
eral conditions preventing the norma! course
and development OF our social life, submitted TO
a private conference of zemstvo workers on NO.
vember 10 and November 20 in st. Petersburg
Section l. The abnormal system OF govern
ment prevailing among US, and especially notlce-
able since the eighties. is due TO conlpletS
estrangement of government and people ana
sary TO national life.
Section ? These relations between the govern
ment and the people originate from appreheI,
sion of development of popular INITIATIVE anu
persistent efforts to exclude the people from
participation in internal government. WIN TINS
object the government endeaVored TO extend
centralized administration 10 all branches OF
local government and impose tutelage in every
branch of national life, admitting cooperation
with the people solely for the purpose or bring
ing popular institutions into harmony with the
views of the government
.l,n hY1rn PTaf
ing estrangement Of the supreme power ana the
people creates field for a wide scope OF al
ministrative arbitrarlness and personal caprice
Such q condition deprives the nation or the nee,
essary assurances that the rights of each and
all will be protected and undermines commence
in the government.
Section 4. The normal current and evolution
of State and nation is possible only under the
condition Of close living and union, ana the co
operation Of the imperial power with the people.
Section g. In order to exclude the possibility
Of the displav of administrative arbitrariness
and to guarantee personal rights, it is neces-
sary to establish and apply consistently prin-
ciple by which no one will be subjected 10 pun
ishment or to the restriction of rights without
the decision of independent legal authorities
Section g. For the unrestricted expression OF
public opinion and the free exposition and sat-
isfaction of popular needs it is essential to
guarantee freedom of conscience and speech and
of the press and also freedom of meeting and
association.
Section T. Sef-reliance is the chief condition
of the proper and successful development of the
political and economic life of the country.
considerable majority of the population of Rus
STA belonging to the peasant class it is neces-
sary first of all to place the latter in a position
favorable for development of self-reliance and
energy, and this is attainable only by radical
alteration of the present inequtabe and hu-
initiating condition of the peasants. For this
purpose it is necessary:
.(a) To eQualize the civil and political rights
of peasants with the other classes.
OBJ To release rural sef-government from
administrative tutelage.
(c) To safeguard peasants by proper courts
of justice.
Section 8. Zemstvo institutions in which local
and popular life is mostly concentrated must
be placed in conditions in which they may sue
cessfully carry out their duties For this pur-
pose II is necessary that the ZemstVo representa-
ton be based on no class basis and all the forces
Of the local population be admitted to share in
ZemstVo work; that zemstvo institutions be
brought into closer touch with the people by
the creation OF a small Zemstvo. and unite upon
a basis guaranteeing absolute independence, and
that ZemstVo institutions be assured the neces-
sary permanency and independence essential to
their proper development and activity and NUT
ual cooperation of governmental with popular
institutions.
Section 8. But for the creation and main
tenance Of close and healthy communion, a uni
son Of the imperial authority with the people
upon the basis above pointed out, and in order TO
assure the correct development of life. state and
nation, 1t is unquestionably necessary for ma
tonal representation in the form Of a specially
elective body TO participate in legislation.
Section 10. This conference considering itself
an informal gathering, of which the members
ments of the question Of the bases that form
the relationship of government and popular rep
reSentatiOn In the life OF the country should be
submitted to representatives, of the nation chosen
under the conditions above indicated as essen
tia for freedom in elections.
Prince Svatopolk- Mirsky, the Minister of the
Interior, guaranteed TO the conference protec-
ton from police interference but secrecy was
maintained to the place of meeting. and this
prevented demonstrations prepared by students.
The Liberals have been greatly excited by
the developments OF the last few days. The
meeting was to have been held at the Duma,
or City Hall. but at the last moment official
permission was refused. Many of the zemstvos'
representatives attribute the Emperors atti-
tude primarily to the influence of the Grand
Duke Sergius. NJ. Pobiedonostser, the Procura-
tor General of the Holy Synod. and NJ sas-
sonof, member of the Council Of the Empire
and indirectly to such reactionaries as Mer-
chersky, strumer and suchinsky. The last two
men formerly were the late NJ. Plehve's as
sistants, who were promoted TO the Council Of
the Empire.
One of Prince Sviatopolk- Mirsky's friends said
this afternoon that the Minister'S position re-
garding the meeting being msrepresented.
He declared the zemstvo presidents had tried
to take advantage of the invitation extended to
them, it being understood when the invitation
was issued that the conference would be prin-
cipally for the purpose of the coopera of the
zemstvos in the Red Cross work. which the late
NJ. Plehve refused TO sanction
When the presidents came forward with a pro-
gramme for the broadcast discussion OF all the
general questions Of the empire and wanted to
commit the government in advance TO their de-
cisons the Minister took the position that as
such matters entirely beyond their legal
rights the meeting could not be held under gov
eminent auspices.
Gyia