Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-15
ISSUE AN ADDRESS,
The AII-Russia ZsnistvO Congress
Acts veO ls.y.
Al UBCERENOEIOUS COMMUNICATION
ArFaigns the Bureaucracy sRa Re
minAa the EmpercF HIS Pledge
70 Revoke National Asaenbly
IL slow OF FuInllment.


st. Petersburg. June 9.--The voic'
Of the delegates Of the zemstovs ant
Of the municipalities demanding In nc
uncertain tones the immediate CON
vocation Of national assembly to pass
upOn the question Of peace or war, u
heal internal strife and to unite INC
people for the rejuvenation' OF Russia
will be heard in the address adopted
by the all-Russian. zemsto congress
at Moscow, which deputation headed
by Count Hayden and M. Shipof Il
bringing to present to the emperor
The document bids fair to become his
tory. The customary phrases OF re-
spect at the opening and the closing
are omitted and 1t Is otherwise uncer-
emonious, employing the direct person
al ptonoun.
The address arraigns the bureaucf-
acy and reminds the emperor that his
pledge to convoke a national assembly
is slow 6f fulnllment. It says the coun-
try is on the verge Of civil war and
even ventures to criticise q royal meas
ure, contrasting the increase Of the
police power by the ukase issued last
Sunday with weakening Of the rl-
ministrative progress which the cuun-
try had been led to expect.
The address urges the summoning OF
o national assembly that the war may
become national or cease and con-
cludes with solemn reminder OF the
sovereign's duty to God and the father
land, and a prayer for action before
II Is too late.
There Is intense interest to learn
whether the emperor will receive the
bearer Of so bold O message couched
in terms such as have never before
been used between the emperor and
his subjects. The address Is buttress-
cd with a stream Of petitions from I'M
dlvidual zemstvos and municipalities.
The doumas Of nearly all the princi-
pal cities have addressed the throne
praying that the representatives Of the
people be summoned at once.
The address is a lengthy document
from which the following are extracts:
"Sire, Russia has been drawn into
q disastrous war by criminal abuses
and the negligence Of your councillors
Our army is powerless and our fleets
have been annlhilated, but more menac-
ing than this extreme peril Is the pros
pect Of a civil war waged by your
people against all the vices Of dam
gerous and ignorent beaureaucy."
Preceding the address declares that
the emperor's reform intentions have
been distorted and miscarried while
the police have been given unrestricted
power.
Martial law has been declared"
the address says, "and the path to
enable the truth to reach you Is barred
to your subjects. Sire, before. 1t Is too
late for the welfare Of Russia. COM
mand a convocation Of representatives
Of the nation, elected by equal fran
chise, and let these elect represents
tives decide with you the vital question
Of war or peace. thus transforming
the war into q national one. Let them
establish an agreement with you q
renovated national organization. Sire,
do not delay Great is your RESPONSE
billy before God and before Russia In
this terrible hour Of national trial"
The address will not be published
In the newspapers. but Its contents
will be spread with the mysterious rep
idity characteristic Of Russia.
Throughout the address the word
majesty" is not used and there is not
loyalty.