The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-02
CAR GIVES
: CIVIC FREEDOM
TO RUSSIA
Signed Imperial Manifesto Granting
People a Constitution.
M. WITTE THE FIRST PREMIER

Nicholas, With Throne lettering and
Subjects In Revolution, surrenders
to Demands Of People, Granting
Them Law-Making Powers and Per-
sonal Freedom-Rule of AbsoIutism
Ended After 500 Years.
st. Petersburg. oct 31.-1 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 prom
Uses and the guarantees of freedom
end will Join in the hope that the Rus
sian people Will wisely aid in the real
ization of those liberties by cooperate
ing with the government for their
peaceful introduction. Only thus will
It be possible to secure the full bene-
fits of the freedom conferred upon the
people"
Count Witte Russias first premier,
cent the above message to the Ameri-
can people through the Associated
Press. He had just arrived at his
residence on KammeniovrOv Prospect
from PeterhOf. where. in the AleXan-
der Palace. the emperor two hours be
fore had given his final-approyal to a
manifesto and to a program which will
forever end the rule of absolutism ex-
ercised by him and his Romanoff an
cestors for 500 years.
Text Of the Manifesto.
The following is the text of the
imperial manifesto:
1--WE. Nicholas the second. by the grace
OF God emperor and autocrat of an the
Russias grand duke Of Finland. etc. de-
clare 10 all our faithful subjects that the
troubles and agitation in our capitals and
in numerous other places oh our heart
with excessive pain and sorrow.
''The happiness Of the Russian sover-
eign is indissolubly bound up with the
happiness OF our people and the sorrow
OF our people is the sorrow Of the SOW
ereign.
From the present disorders may arise
great national disruption. They menace
the integrity and unity Of our empire.
The supreme duty imposed upon us by
our sovereign Office requires us to ef-
face ourselves and 10 use an the force
and coordination Of the power OF the
central government and TO assure the sue
cess OF measures FOR pacncation i'm an
circles OF public life. which are essential
10 the well being of our people
I'VE. therefore direct our government
70 carry out our iudexible will in the fol-
lowing manner:
"First-To extend 10 the population the
immutable foundations Of civic liberties,
based on the real invio'abihty Of person.
freedom of conscience speech, union and
association
Second Without suspending the al
ready ordered elections 10 the state
douma. 10 invite 70 participation IN the
douma go FAR rs the limited time before
tho convocation Of the douma will permit
those classes of the population now com
pletely deprived OF electoral rights leav-
ing the ultimate development Of the prin-
clple Of the electoral right IN general TO
the newly established legislative order OF
things.
'Third-To establish as an unchange-
able rule that no law shall be enforceable
without the approval Of the state douma'
and that it shall Doe possible for the elect
patton ln the supervision % the Legality
OF the acts OF the authorities appointed
by US.
I'VE appeal TO an faithful sons Of Rus
sia 20 remember their duty towards the
fatherland." continues the manifesto TO
aid in terminating those unprecedented /
troubles and 10 apply their forces. In CO.
operation with us 10 the restoration or
the calm and peace upon our natal soil
Given at Peterhof. October 30 in the
nth year OF our reign.
(slgned, NICHOLAS"
Bowed to the Inevitable.
A 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 and devoid of the verbose, vague
and bombastic phraseOlogy which
heretofore has characterized his ma
1esty's manifestos 1t not only betrays
real authorship but shows that the
emperor at last has irrevOcably bowed
to the inevitable. He does not even
conceal the fact that the discomfort |
and agitation of his subjects has |
driven him to take the step and practi-
cally yields eyerything-civil liberty
the inviolability of person and liberty
OF conscience, speech and assembly
He not only converts the farcical i'm
perial douma. with only consultative
power. into a true legislative assem-
bly, without the assent of which no
measure shall become law, and before
which all governmental authorities
must answer but promises eventually
universal suffrage.
]. PierpOnt Morgan, Jr.. and George
w. Perkins were with Finance Minis
ter Kokovsoff 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; Gentle
men, the old order Of things has
changed. Russia has a constitution"
News Spread Like Wildfre.
The news spread Hike wildfre |
throughout the city. The revolution
lists. and active agitators generally, |
declared loudly that the governments |
promises would no longer suffice and
that the strike must be continued.
In fact. an hour after the news be |
came known the revolutiOnists took |
occasion to throw the first bomb in
St Petersburg used since the strike /
began. The incident occurred near the |
Polytechnic school. but there were no
fatalities. Practically all classes, ex-
cept the Socialists and the extreme |