Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-31
FIRST STEP TO FREEDOM.
How Socialists Regard the Cars
Manifesto.

The cars manifesto liberalizing the Rus
sian form of government was translated
into Russian and read to audience Of
Russian socialists in New York last night
by Abraham Cahan. editor of Forward. the
socialist organ of New York. 1t was greet
ed with enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Cahan said that the edct might mean
a great deal and it might mean practically
nothing to the Russian people.
There are clauses which are of great i'm
portance," he said, land If the manifesto
is enforced literally it's effect will be greatly
toward the liberalization of the present form
of government, making it representative
and democratic. But who can tell how it
is to be enforced? That is the important
feature of the situation. If it's enforcement
is left to handful of bureaucrats the Rus
slams will gain little.
Its issuance proves one thing beyond
doubt. and that is that The revolutionary
party has the government just where 1t
wants IT. The car and his autocratic agents
are at least brought to their knees. They
see that they are powerless, and this mani
festo is issued in the hope of stemmng the
popular tide against the present regime and
it's overthrow altogether.
About two months ago a manifesto Gre
ating the douma was issued. 1t meant
nothing. 1t granted suffrage to privileged
class. In accordance with its provision not
more than two hundred three hundred
peopio III tHe vast CITY OI 81 feleTSDuTS
We're allowed to vote. 1t was farce, and
1t has been rejected by the people But &C
cording to this latest manifesto suffrage is
to extend more generally. 1t admits of par
ticipation in the doumo by those classes of
the population now completely deprived of
electoral rights
Under the new manifesto the douma
Is to be genuine parliament, and will be
vested with proper dignity and character.
But We wish there were more specifications
In the manifesto. The people will demand
them They Will want something more
definite Freedom of speech and associa-
ton means a great deal generally, but the
expression used here is indefinite. 1t must
be detailed. No matter how much free
dom Of speech is allowed, however, it will
not equal anything like that enjoyed in the
United States. 1t will in all probability be
of very limited character.
MY Interpretation of this manifesto Is
that 1t Is the true harbinger Of real liberty
in Russia Time will tell in this fight we
are making. The present revolution, I'M
like its predecessors, is powerful and we'll
organized. 1t is it's organization that is
telling on the car and his bureaucrats.
Heretofore revolutions have been disorgan-
lied and OF a rambling and shftless char
acter This one is founded on solid rock,
and it means business.
Il believe that NJ. WHITE will hold con-
ference with committee of the revolu-
tionists and seek to pacify them In the
hope that Nicholas and his court may be
saved. The car knows little of the true
blludllOn anu OF WHAT ne Is UOiHS. w lite
knows it all He will probably be the In
termediary and the manager of the whole
affair on the part of the car.
I'VE hail with great JOY one great re-
form which will be inaugurated through
the enforcement of this proclamation,
namely, the real inviolability Of the per-
son., Heretofore thousands of men and
women, boys and girls, have been sent to
cess without trial or hearing. This prac-
tice will be abolished 1t Is Of vast i'm
portance to the people.
1.-The whole Is but a decisive step In the
right direction. The complete organization
of the revolution will show those in power
in Russia that they must grant truly rep
resentative and democratic form OF govern
ment to the masses. That will not be long
in coming