The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-17
BURDENS
LIFTED BY GAR
Imperial Rescript Removes Re-
E. strictive Laws Under Which
Russia Has Groaned.
POLICY TOWARD POLAND
COMPLETELY REVERSED
Movement Taken as Evidence Of
Emperor's Genuine Good Will
IT, Toward Subjects.

st. Petersburg, May 17.-There is lit
tie room for skepticism as to the gen
uineness of the broad policy of imperial
reform after the remarkable steps sane
toned by Emperor Nicholas in the i'm
perial rescript issued yesterday, modify
western governments of Russia, and Civ
ing the Poles greater freedom for ac-
curing farming lands and purchasing
Landed properties and industrial prem
lses, and giving permission to introduce
the Polish and Lithuanian languages in
the primary and secondary schools
where the majority of the inhabitants
are nonRussian. I ~ N.s .... T.
Restrictive Laws Removed.
Almost with one sweep the whole bur
den of the vexatious restrictive laws in
Poland and the Baltic provinces have
which the natives have been fighting
for years are restored, the assemblies Of
the Polish mobiles are established, and
all the harsh administrative measures
introduced at the time of the policy of
reaction and classification are abolished:
AS a natural sequence of freedom of
religion the oppressive prohibition of
the purchase of land by Catholic peas
ants is abolished. In effect the meas
uioS SduCC1Oneu amount 10 al onCiro
reversal Of Russian policy in ancient
Poland and the Baltic provinces. i.
In Poland, by combining. the ,landhold-
ing to, persons of Polish extraction
strictly by Inheritance, by descent, and
not even by testament, it was designed
to force the Poles either to become or
thodox Russians or drive them into Po-
land proper. The hardships thus en-
tailed were innumerable. The prop
ortH of. +n prc
SLAMS by forced sale and at ridiculous
prices. A famous case was that of
the Polish estates Of the late Prince
Won Hohenlohe, the German imperial
chancellor for which a special ukase
was necessary in order to permit the
sale. - -.-v. -:
Laws Must Be Hurried. Ut
It is pointed out that. in order to
avoid delay in the matter of the intro
duction Of the Polish and Lithuanian
languages the. emperor specifically di
rected the formulation Of the necessary
regulations and laws . within six
months. ~ F..
These measures it is understood will
be, followed by the production Of ]. 10
cal self-government thru the Zemstye
system. The steps taken will un
sdoubtedly have Immense influence upon
the population Of Poland, and will prac
tically meet the demands Of the ra
ticnal reformers who really recognize
that the restoration of the kingdom OF
Poland is an idle and visionary dream
Jewish Question Goes to People.
. The committee Of ministers has gone
no further with the Jewish question
than to grant freedom Of residence tc
the artizan class. The question in it,
entirety is of such great Importance
that 1t has been decided to refer it K
the coming general assembly. Thi,
practically is decision to defer it tx
| the will Of the representatives OF .the
people, being the first public recogni
ton that the government intends to b.
guided by it's action. . >... .s In
The emperor g action has produced {
splendid impression among the reform
elements, which are expressing tn,
i