The San Francisco call., 1905-06-20
CAR RECEIVES
HMSTVO PLEA
Gives Unexpectedly Gracious
Greeting to Bearers of
Attack Upon Autocracy
AGAIN PROMISES RELIEF
mistaken in His Determi-
nation to Convene an
Elective National Assembly

ST. PETERSBURG, June 1s-Emperor
Nicholas received the Zemstvo deputation
at noon to-day in the Alexander Palace
at Peterhof. Prince Troubetskoy. presi-
dent of the Zemstvo Congress of the
Moscow Government, in behalf of the
Moscow delegation, addressed the En-
peror in long speech. in which he de-
scrired the serious internal difficulties
which had caused the Zemstvoists to ap-
proach his Majesty directly The En-
peror was evidently much impressed. NJ.
Fedoroff. representing the St. Petersburg
delegation. also spoke. His Majesty re-
piled, expressing deep regret at the great
sacrifice consequent upon the war. and
above everything at the disaster to the
Russian navy. He said:
- am happy TO have heard you. 1 have
no doubt you are guided by an ardent
sentiment of love for the fatherland in
addr, ssing me directly.
Il have been grieved in my whole soul,
with all my people, at the ca.amities
which the war has brought upon Russia
and at all those which may still be feared,
as Well as al our internal disturbances
'DiSsipate your doubts. My will is SOW
ereign, and il is my unalterable will that
the admission Of elected representativ
to the work of the state shall be regularly
accomplished
Il watch daily and devote myself to
this work. You may announce that TO all
your friends in the country and town.
Il am firmly convinced that Russia
will emerge strengthened from the trials
she is now enduring and that there viii
be established soon. as formerly, a union
between the Emperor and all Russia,
communion between myself and the men
of Russian soil. This union and commun-
Hon rCr F,0-i for 2 H., .r-fcr
inal principles of Russia.
y nave faith in your desire to help
me in this task"
Upon completing his remarks the En-
peror graciously greeted the individual
members of the delegation. shaking hands
with them and having a few cordial
words for each.
The fact that the Emperor not only re-
ceiYed the bold. plain-spoken address
without so much as an indication of his
disappIobation, but expressed full sym
pathy with the efforts to ameliorate the
deplorable state of affairs depicted there
in and in the most direct and explicit
fashion renewed his promise TO summon
the representatives Of the people, made
the deepest impression on the delegation.
The address adopted by the all-Russia
Zenstvo and Municipal Congress assem-
bied at Moscow was taken to St Peters
burg for presentation 10 the Emperor by
a deputation headed by Count Hayden
and NJ. Shipof, former president of the
Moscow Zemstyo. but 1t does not appear
from the cable dispatches that the docu-
ment was handed TO his Majesty, al
though doubtless Prince Troubetskoy and
M. Fedorof in their speeches communi-
Gated the substance of the address TO the
Emperor The document in its original
form bids fair to become historic. The
customary phrases. of respect at the OPEN
ing and closing We're omitted and 1t was
otherwise unceremonious, employing the
direct personal pronoun.
The address arraigned the bureaucracy
and reminded the Emperor that his
pledge to convoke a national assembly
was slow of fulfllment. 1t said the coun-
try was on the verge of civil war and
even yentured to criticize a royal meas
ure, contrasting the increase Of the police
power by the ukase issued on June with
the weakening of the administrative pro-
cess which the country had been led to
expect.
The address urged the summoning of
national assembly, that the war might
become national OF cease, and concluded
with a solemn reminder of the sovereign's
duty to God and % the fatnerland and
prayer for action before it was too late.