Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-10-31
END OF AUToCRACY.

~roaAa aAhONtaSJ -
Nicholas, under the unanimous advice
of The ministers, aud uuder the pres
sure of the revolt of his whole en-
pire, has surrendered his autocratic
power and granted constitutional gov
eminent.
The concession comes unwillingly. 1t
is, in fact, the last desperate effort to
save the crown itself for the Romanoff
dynasty.
Whether it will suffice in the present
supreme crisis of national rebellion can
not yet be said.
All ordinary political liberties and genu-
inc representative government by ma
tionsl legislature are granted. A con-
stitution itself is not formulated, but
the power to draft one is delegated to a
douma to be elected by the suffrage OF
all classes.
The only danger is that popular pas
sion is 50 infamed and the perception OF
the complete paralysis of the govern
ment so widespread that the masses may
rush into grave excuses and demand
the complete sweeping away of the ex-
listing regime throughout the empire. A
few hours more will determine the turn
of events.
Count SergiLs Witte has been appoint
ed first premier of Russia with power to
reorganize the government.
The new premier in a message to the
American people says he is sure they
will join in the hope that the Russian
people will wisely aid in the realization
of the liberties guaranteed by co-operat-
ing with the government for their peace
full introduction.
The revOlutionists in st. Petersburg
declare it is too late and they showed
their contempt of the manifesto by
bomb throwing.
The following imperial manifesto was
issued last night:
1--WE, Nicholas the Second, by the
grace Of God emperor and autocrat OF all
the Russias, grand duke of Finland, ETC.,
declare to all our faithful subjects that
the troubles and agitation in our capt.
tails and in numerous other places Oil our
heart with excessive pain and sorrow.
1.-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
eface 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 pa
cifcation in all circles of public life which
are essential to the well being of our
people.
ave, therefore, direct our government
to carry out our inhexible will in the
following manner:
First, to extend to the population the
immutable foundations of civic liberty,
based on the real inviolability of person,
freedom of conscience, speech, union and
association.
Second without, suspending the al
ready ordered elections to the State
douma, to invite the participation in the
douma, so far as the limited time before
the convocation OF the douma will permit
of those classes of the population now
completely deprieved of electoral rights,
leaving the ultimate development of the
principle 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 enforced
without the approval Of the State douma,
and that it shall be possible for the elect
ed of the people to exercise real participa-
ton in the supervision of the legality of
the acts OF the authorities appointed by
us.
ave appeal to all faithful sons of
Russia to remember their duty toward
the fatherland, to aid in terminating
these unprecedented troubles, and to APP
ply their force, in cooperation with us,
to the restoration of calm and peace
upon our natal soil.
"Given at Peterhof, October 30, in
the eleventh year of our reign.
"NICHoLAs."