The state herald., 1905-11-03
'SHACKLES FALL
czAR GIVES FREE GOVERNMENT
TO RUSSIA.
M. WI1TE IN FULL CONTROL
Imperial Manifesto Renounces Abso-
Iutism-Extends to the People the
Immutable Foundations Of Civil Lib
erty-M. Witte Sends Message to
Americans,

erty-M. Witte Sends Message to
Americans.
st. Petersburg-The following is
dated October 3Oth at midnight: II
am sure the American people, who un-
derstand what freedom is, and the
American press, which voices the
wishes of the people, will rejoice with
the friendly Russian nation at this mo-
ment, when the Russian people have
received from his imperial majesty the
promise and the guarantees of free
dom, and will Join In the none that the
Russian people will wisely aid In the
realization of those liberties by coop
Grating with the government for their
peaceful introduction. Only thus will
1t be possible to secure the full dement's
of the freedom conferred upon the peo-
pie"
Count Witte sent the above message
to the American people through the AS
sociated Press. He had Just arrived at
his residence from Peterhof. where, in
the Alexander palace. the Emperor TWO
hours before had given his final ap'
proval to manifesto and 10 a program
which will forever end the rule of alb
solutism exercised by him and his
Romanoff ancestors for 800 years.
A simple perusal OF the manifesto
shows how complete is the Emperor $
abdication of his autocratic power
The very style of the document Is clear
and direct and devoid of the verbose,
vague and bombastic phraseology
which heretofore has characterized his
majesty's manifestos,
1t not only betrays the-real author
ship, but shows that the Emperor at
last has irrevocably bowed to the neH'
liable. He does not even conceal the
fact that the discomfort and agitation
of his subjects has driven him to take
the step, and practically yields every
thing-civil liberty, the inyiolabiiity OF
person and liberty of conscience
speech and assembly. He not only con
verts the farcical imperial douma, with
only consultative power, into an abso
lutte legislative assembly without the
assent of which no measure shall be
come law and before which all govern
mental authorities must answer but
promises eventually universal SUI
rage.
Following is the text OF the imperia
manifesto:
I'VE, Nicholas the Second. by the
grace of God, emperor and autocrat oI
all the Russias, grand duke OF Finland
etc, declare to all our faithful subjects
that the troubles and agitation In oul
capitals and In numerous other places
fill our heart with excessive pain and
sorrow.
"The happiness of the Russian SOY
ereign is indissolubly bound up witt
the happiness of our people and the
sorrow of our people is the sorrow o
the sovereign.
From the present disorders may
arise great national disruption. Thel
menace the integrity and unity OF oni
empire.
THE supreme duty imposed upon u'
| by our sovereign Office requires us tc
efface ourself and TO use all the fore,
and reason at our command to hastef
In securing the unity and co ordination
of the power of the central government
and TO assure the success Of measures
for pacifcation in all circles Of public
life. which are essential TO the well
being of our people.
I'VE therefore direct our government
TO carry out our inneXible will In tn,
following manner:
"First-To extend to The population
the immutable foundations of civic lib
erty. based on the real inyiolability al
person. freedom Of conscience. speech
union and association.
Second Without sugpending ih'
already ordered elections TO the state
douma. to invite the participation. 81
far as the limited time before the con
vocation Of the douma viii permit
those classes OF the population nov
completely deprived Of electoral rights
leaving the ultimate development ol
the principle of electoral right In gen
eral To the nowly'esiabllshud legisla
tive order of things.
"Third-To establish as an nm
changeable rule that no law shall b.
enforceable without the approval of IN,
state doumn. and that II shall be pos
sihle for the elected of the people tc
exercise real participation In the super
vision OF the legality of the acts OF the
authorities appointed by u.s.
I'VE appeal to all of the faithful sons
Of Russia TO remember their duty to
ward the fathorland to aid In termi
mating these Unprecedented troubles
and TO apply their forces In coopcrn
tlon to the restoration of calm and
peace upon our natal soil
.Glyen AT Poterhof. October 30th, IN
,h&~ syenth year Of our reign.