Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-31
Count White Succeeds the
Old Ronlanof Rule.
First Bright Spot in Years in His
tory Of Russian Empire.

st. Petersburg, Oct. 30.-"I am sure
the American people who understand
what freedom is, and the American
press, which voices the wishes of the
people, will rejoice with the friendly
Russian nation at this moment, when
the Russian people have received from
His Imperial Majesty the promises and
guarantees of freedom and will Join
in the hope that the Russian people.
will wisely aid in the realization of
those liberties by cooperating with
the government for their peaceful in
PRODUCTION. Only thus will it be DOS
sible to secure the full benefits of the
freedom conferred upon the people,"
Count White, Russias first premier.
tonight, sent the above message to the
American people through The Associ-
ated Press. He had just arrived at his
residence on kammeniovrov Prospect,
from Peterhof, where in the Alexander
palace the Emperor two hours before
had given his final approval TO mani
festo and to a program which will for
ever end the rule of absolutism eyer
cised by him and his Romanoff ances-
tors for 300 years.
simple perusal Of the manifesto
shows how complete is the Emperors
abdicatiOn of his autocratic power.
The very style of the document is
clear and direct ard devoid of the YER
bose, vadue and bombastic phrase
olosy which heretofore has character
lied His Majestys manifestos. 1t not
only betrays real authorship but shows
that the Emperor at least has irrevo-
~ n m In i,1A it,INl
rot even conceal the fact that the dis
content and agitation of his subjects
has driven him TO take the step and
practically yields everything-civil lib
erty, the inviolability of person and
liberty of conscience, speech and as
Sombly. He rot only converts the far
cical imperial Douma with only con-
snltative power, into a true legislat tive
assembly without the assent Of which
no measure shall become law and be-
fore which all governmental authori-
ties must answer, but promises, event
ually, universal suffrage.
The title "Autocratic of all the Rus
sias," with which the manifesto begins,
now takes its place with the title of
king of Jerusalem borne by the
King OF Spain and the Emperor of
Austria, and with other obsolete titles
of European sovereigns.
]. Pierpont Morgan, Jr., and George
w. Perkins were with Finance Minis
ter kokovsoff when the latter received
the news. 1t was a dramatic moment.
The minister was called TO the tele-
phone and when he returned he was
greatly agitated and said
Gentlemen, the old order Of things
has changed. Russia has q constitu-
ton
The news spread like wildfire
throughout the city. The revolution
lists and active agitators generally, de-
clared loudly that the governments
promises would no longer suffice and
that the strike must be continued. In
fact, an hour after the news became
known the revolutionists took occasion
to throw the first bomb in ST. Peters, |
burg used since the strike began. The |
incident occurred near the Polytechnic |
school. but there was no fatality. |
Practically all classes except the So |
cialists and the Extreme Radicals, |
however, read the document with de- |
light and amaZement, declaring that it |