New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-23
A NATION BEGS FREEDOM
MESSAGE TO CAR READY.
Liberal Rule or ReJoIution, Says q
ZemStUO Leader.

- SOUR & NOV The serious work Of
the zemstvO meeting has been ACCOMPLISHED
the only remaining questions relating to aid o>
the wounded and distressed. MANY or the rsDrs-
sentatives are already leaving here for their
homes At the last moment the form Of the
memorial was altered to make il appear an
expression Of the hope that II is the wish ~
the Emperor to summon national assembly"
With the removal of the idea that the me-
mortal represented opposition to imperial au
thority every vestige of dissent vanished.
The Emperor's response is now awaited with
aH-absorbing interest. The memorial Will te
presented to the Minister Of the Interior to-
morrow, and viii be transmitted by him to his
majesty. The general idea in government ctr
cles. which is shared oy many of those who took
part in the meeting. is that the reply will be un-
favorable. but the whole situation is 20 IN
precedented that even the best Informed men
hardly know what to expect. one OF the most
prominent members of the zemstvo delegation
said to-day:
me general opinion OF my colleagues IS pessi-
n-stc. Therefore 1t is mistake to raise hopes
49, ate doomed probably TO disa ppOintment.
oul nope exists Probably there will be the usual
attempt to temp rize. We may not get all but
We should get something. The Emperor is kind
hearted and sincerely tlesirous Of balDiD- t5a
people If he becomes convinced where the inter
ests of the people and government lie but he is
surrounded BY influences. The court and the IN
perlal family are opposed to anything like the
suggestion of a constitution OF only one thfnr
are We certain-Prince SviatOpOIk- NIirsky will
present the memorial to the Emperor. How far
OF OF NhetneI ne VIII lndoTse IL at all. is not yet
known but he will place il before his majesty
if it costs him his office
No matter what the immediate rssuIt MAJ, ~,
We nave gained a renlar kable victory We have
put into concrete form our opinion that the pres
ehl system IN The end must spell ruin or revO-
luton. The Emperor knows the character or
the men whose names are attached to the me-
norlaL Ihey represent the best blood and
thought Of the empire.
WE ARE NOT REvOLUTEONiRIES WE Do NOT
RELIEVE THE PEOPLE ARE PREPARED FOR A
REFIB BLiC WE SUPPORT THE MONARCHIC4I.
IhEA But WE BELIEVE 1T MUST BE A CONsTI-
TCrIONAL MONARCHY AND THAT THE EN-
PEROR MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN THE MOD
ERArE PROGRAMME WE OFFER AND EVENTUAL
REVOLUTION.
II there is no result now we shall continue the
work OF agitation and education There viii be
a larger ana stronger meeting next year IL
the meeting is forbidden in ST. Petersburg n
viii take place in Moscow. Kier. or in an open
neld II necessary. The movement will gather
headway as time elapses- We have risked our
liberties, and We will not retreat
The law which makes agitation for a change
IN the form OF government punishable with Pc
nal servitude is still in force. We are all amen
able. but as long as Prince Sviatopolk- -Mirsty is
-'AiAAAStCi
take our chances, although feel sure the
government would not dare TO reverse the pol
icy Of liberalism which has received such an
impetus since NJ Plehves death.
The moment is propitious for concessions. The
government is in a difficult position and needs
the support and sympathy of the people
believe something at least will be granted A
free press would be the greatest step short 0f
calling national assembly If only the primary
ideas of the programme are conceded the rest
Will inevitably follow.
The text of the memorial as finally adopted
differs in only few points from the version
given on November 10. The changes were made
solely with a view TO emphasizing and clarifying
what the representatives consider essential
points of their proposition. The nth article
as amended reads:
In order to exclude the possibility of admin
istrative arbtrariuess and steadily give vital
effect to the principle of the invtolability OF
person md private dom1cile, no one must be
subjected TO punishment or restriction of his
rights without decision Of independent law
authorities To attain this end il Is essential
that measures be introduced for establishing
the civil and criminal responsibility OF OffCSfe
holders for violation of the laws. as a guarasts
tee OF the practical realization of the essentials
of legality.
=, fresh section is inserted providing that the
personal civil and politicaD rights of all citi-
zens in the Russian empire must be equal"
Finally an important and explicit definition
is given as to the extent n'whch the specially
elected body shall control legislation This
body is Ito give effect 70 legislation. to draw
up the budget of revenue and expenditure and
to control the legality Of the acts Of the ad-
nnistration-"
Thirty-one of the thlrty-two presidents of the
provincial executive committees have now IN
Gorsed the memorial. President MarkhOff OF the
St Petersburg committee having sent his ad-
heson with "A letter saying that he was pre-
vented by illness from attending the meeting
The president OF the Kherson committee Count
Sten5okfermor. is now the only president who
has nor signed tire petition, with the exception
of the presidents of the Perm and OIonet com
mittces. who We're unable 10 be present Perm.
however. was represented at the conference by
81 former president who signed the memorial
To-day's Iueeting< discussed and passed reso-
iuJious, which VIII be submitted separately 10
Emperor Nicholas through the Minister Of the
interior, praying for the abolition of the state
Of siege existing i'm many cities OF Russia, for
amnesty To all prisoners punished by adnlinis-
trative process or without trial by ordinary
process - ttW; for more favorable treatment
oE JH- question OF primary schools the neces-
sit, fo~ wnjc.s has hitherto not been recognized
or aa-istcG by the authorities, Who il IS al
legged. GO everything to- check and impede prl-
mary education and for "a more humane method
OF enforcing partial mobilization 1t is pointed
out that If The military authorities would con-
suit with tho Minister Of the Interior and tls
zen-sJvos much unnecessary harshness and re-
sui;IuS disturbance would no avoided
Tne questions of the relief of the families "
reserves ana Red cross work viii be disposed
o. tomorrow. when Tho conference viii dis
rcrse.
The idea of Submitting the programme 10 the
district zerrs,vos was abandoned. as all Of them
are subject 10 the control OF the marshaIs %