The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-11-03

Gar Signs Manifesto Which Ends Rule
Of Absolutism in Russia.

Cnc American people VINO 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 the guarantees of freedom, and
will join in the hope that the Russian
people will wisely aid in the realiza-
ton of those liberties by cooperating
with the government. Only thus will
1t be possible to insure the full benz
fits of the freedom conferred upon the
people,"
Ends Rule Of AbsoIutism.
Count Witte, Russia's first premier,
last night sent the above message to
the American people through the AS
sociated Press. He had just arrived
at his residence from Peterhof. where
the emperor two hours before had
given his final approval to a manifesto
and to a program which will forever
end the rule of absolutism exercised
by him and his Romanoff ancestors
for 800 years.
A simple p~erusal of the manifesto
shows how complete is the emperor's
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 hereto
fore has characterized his majesty's
manifestos. 1t not only betrays real
authorship, but shows that the emper-
or at last has i%rrevocably bowed to
the inevitable. He does not even con-
ceal the fact hat the discomfort an0
agitation of his subjects has driven
him to take the step. and practically
yields everything-civil liberty, the
inviolability of person and liberty of
conscience, speech and assembly.
He not only converts the farcical
imperial douma, with only consulta-
tive power, to an absolute
Legislative Assembly,
without the assent or which no meas
ure shall become law and before which
all governmental authorities must an
swer, but promises eventually univer-
sal suffrage.
The title "%autocrat of all the Rus
sias'' with which the manifesto begins,
now takes it's place with the title of
king of Jerusalem" borne by the
king of Spain and the emperor of Aus
tria. and with other obsolete titles Of
European sovereisns.
j. Pierpont Morgan, Jr., and George
w. Perkins were with Finance Minister
Kokovsof when the latter received
the news. It was a dramatic moment.
The minister was called to the tele-
phone, and when he returned he was
greatly agitated, and said:
Old Order Is Changed.
Gentlemen, the old order of things
has changed. Russia has a constitu-
ton"
The Jews spread like wildfre
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. IN hour after the news be-
came known, the revolutionists took
occasion to throw the first bomb in st.
Petersburg used since the strike be-
gan. The incident occurred near the
Polytechnic school, but there was 10
fatality.
Is Read With Delight.
Practically all classes, except the
socialists and the extreme radicals,
however, read the document with de-
light and amazement, declaring that
it could not fail to rally the moderates
to the support OF Count. White.
The effect throughout Russia is ex-
pected to be instantaneous. While
the extremists threaten an attempt to
keep up the present struggle the best
of opinion is thai the back of the
strike is broken, but in the final analy-
sis the effect will depend on how far
Count White will be able to
Execute the Heavy Task
which he has assumed. Some persons
high in the government believe it still
will be necessary to use ball cart
ridges to suppress the present move
ment, but Count Witte appears conf
dent. He has become the bridge
whereby the people are to cross to
constitutionalism.
The count already has tentatively
selected the members of his cabinet.
Late last night after the news got
abroad, crowds began marching up
and down the Nevsky Prospect, sing
ing the national hymn and hurrahing
for liberty.
Will Call Of Strike.
st. Petersburg, Nov. IA meeting
of the strike committee was held last
night after the PRONUNCIATION of the
emperor's manifesto was known. The
question of calling the strike off was
discussed, but a decision was post
poned until to-day. A damper was
thrown upon the strike enthusiasm by
the news that work had been resumed
In a large part of the factories of st.
Petersburg.
The committeeman talked boldly of
their ability to call out the men again
and tn intimidatn tho store clerks into