Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-03
RUSSIA BORN ANEW
Cars Manifesto Provides for
Real Liberty in His Country
Douma to BE a True Legislative Assem-.
bly-Freedom Of Speech and Person
Guaranteed,


Emperor Nicholas issued Monday a
manifesto granting civil liberty to the
Kussian people, and resigning the auto
cratic powers of the car. Count Witte
now Russia's first premier, Monday might
sent the following message to the Ameri-
can people:
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 friend
~ Russian nation at this moment when
the Russian people have received from
ms imperial majesty the promises and the
guarantees Of freedom, and will join in
the hope that the Russian people will
wisely aid in the realization Of these lib
critics by cooperating with the govern
ment for their peaceful introduction. Only
thus viii 1t be possible to secure the full
Dement'S OF the freedom conferred upon
the people. NP0''
lie had just arrived at his residence
on kammeniovrov Prospect from Peter
nor where, in the Alexander palace. tho
emperor two hours before had given his
maj approval to a manifesto and to a
program which will forever end the rule
OF absolutism exercised by him and his
komanon ancestors for 800 years.
The Cars Decree.
The following is the text of the imperial
manifesto: '~'
We, Nicholas the Second. by the grace
OF God emperor and autocrat of ali the
husslas, grand duke OF Finland etc, de-
care TO all our faithful subjects that
the troubles and agitation in our capitals
ana IN numerous other places fll our
heart with excessive pain and sorrow. The
happiness Of the Russian sovereign ia in
dlssolubly bound up with the happiness
OF our people and the sorrow OF our people
Is the sorrow OF the sovereign
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 efface
ourselves and to use all the force and
reason at our command to hasten in
securing the unity and coordination OF
the power OF the central government and
TO assure the success OF measures FOR
pacihcation In all circles OF public NE
which are essential to the well being
OF our people.
We therefore. direct our government
to carry out our inhexible viii in the fol-
lowing manner:
First To extend to the population the
immutable foundations Of civic Uhortv
based on the real inviolability OF person
freedom Of conscience, speech, union and
association
Second. without suspending the AL
ready ordered election to the state Douma
10 invite to participation In the Douma, so
tar as the limited time before the convo-
cation OF the Douma win permit. those
classes OF the population now completely
deprived OF electoral rights leaving the
ultimate development OF the principle of
the ELECTORAL right In general to the new
ly-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 1t shall be possible for the elect
ed OF the people TO exercise real partIcIpa-
tion In the supervision OF the legality OF
the acts OF the authorities appointed by
us.
We appeal to all faithful sons of Rus
STA to remember their duty toward the
fatherland, to aid in terminating these
unprecedented troubles and to apply all
their forces In cooperation with us 10
the restoration OF claim and peace upon
our national soil.
Given at Peterhof. October 80. in the |
eleventh year OF our reign. NICHOLAS. |
The manifesto shows that the Gar
has bowed to the inevitable and that some |
mind stronger than his own dictated the |
document. He practically Yields every |
thing-civll liberty, the inviolability of |
person and liberty OF conscience, speech |
and assembly. He not only converts the |
farcical Imperial Douma with only con- |
sultative power into a true legislative as |
sembly, without the assent OF which no |
measure shall become law and before
which all governmental authorities must
answer, but promises, eventually, uni
versal suffrage.
The announcement from st. Petersburg
that all political prisoners whose release
n this time would not imperil public
order are to be set free, is a good start
or the new regime in Russia Premier
White Is reported as working hard on the
initial difficulties OF his great task. and
'eceiving congratulations in q way which
shows he appreciates the chances OF
allure. The reform manifesto is received
With great favor by large part OF Rus
'ia' but there is an inevitable disposition
n some quarters to withhold Judgment
intil the cars latest promises snow
,Vldence OF being actually carried out