Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-11-04
GAR GIVES
CIVIC FREEDOM
TO RUSSIA
Signed Imperial Manifesto Granting
People a Constitution.
M. WHITE THE FIRST PREMIER

Nicholas. With Throne lettering and
Subjects In Revolution, Surrenders
to Demands of People, Granting
Them Law.Makinu Powers and Per.
sonal Freedom-Rule of AbsoIutism
Ended After 800 Years.
st. Petersburg. Oct SIT 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.
and will Join in the hope that the Rus
sian people will wisely aid in the real.
ization oil those liberties by co-operat.
ing with the government for their
peaceful Introduction. Only thus will
Il be possible 10 secure the full bene.
fits of the freedom conferred upon the
people"
Count Witte, Russia's first premier.
gent the above message to the Ameri.
can people through the Associated
Press Hs had just arrived at his
residence on Kammeniovroy Prospect
from Peterhof. where. in the Alexan.
der Palace. the emperor two hours be
fore had given his final approval TO a
manifesto and to a program which will
forever end the rule OF absoIutism cx.
ercised by him and his Romanoff an.
cestors for 300 years.
Text Of the Manifesto.
The following is the text of the
imperial manifesto:
I'VE. Nicholas tho second. by the grace
of God. emperor and autoerat OF all the
Russias grand duke OF Finland. etc. de.
clare 10 all ou fn subjects that the
troubles md in our capitals and
In numerous pIaees nll our heart
with excessive pain and sorrow.
''rhe happiness OF the Russian sover.
eign is udissolubiy bound up with the
happiness OF cur people and the sorrow
OF our people is the sorrow OF the SOW.
ereirn.
From the present disorders may arise
the integrity and unity OF our empire.
'rhe supreme duty imposed upon us by
our sovereign office requires us TO eff
face ourselves and to use All the force
and coordination of the power OF the
central government and 10 assure the sue.
cess OF measures for pacideation In all
circles of public life. which ARE essential
to tho we'll being OF oar people
We therefore. direct our government
faatf
lowing manner:
"First-ro extend Ia the population the
immuiable foundations u civic liberties
based on the real invioabiity OF person
freedom of conscience. speech. union and
association.
Second Without suspending the al.
ready ordered elections to the state
douma. to invite 70 participation IN the
douma. 50 far as the limited time before
the convoc'tion OF the douma VIII permit
those classes Of the population now com
pleteIy deprived Of electoral rights leav.
Ing the ultimate development Of the prin
cipic OF the electoral right IN general &c
the newly established legislative order Of
things
"rhird-To establish as m unchange.
able rule that no law shall be enforceable
without the approval Of the state douma
md that il shall be possible for the elect.
Ell OF the people t. exercise real partici.
patton In the supervision Of the legality
Of the acts of the authorities appointed
by us.
1--WE appeal 10 all faithful sons OF Rus
sia To remember their duty towards the
fatheriand continues the manifesto. "to
aid IN terminating those unprecedented
troubles and to apply their forces. IN CO.
operation with MS. 70 the restoration of
the cain and pestce upon our natal soil.
Given al Peterhof. October -. In the
18th year ~ our reign.
,signed, NICHOLAS"
Bowed TO the Inevitable.
A simple perusal Of the manifesto
shows how complete Is the emperors
abdication OF his autocratlc 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
jestys manifestos. II not only betravs
real authorship but shows that the
emperor at last has irreyocably bowed
10 the inevitable. He does not even
conceal the fact that the discomfort
and agitation OF his subjects has
driven him 20 take the step and practi-
cally yields everything liberty.
the inviolability of person and liberty
of conscience, speech and assembly.
lie not only converts the farcical i'm
pcrial 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.
The news spread like wildfire
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.
The effect throughout Russia is ex-
pected TO be instantaneous. While the
extremists threaten an attempt to
keep up the present struggle. the best
opinion Is that the backbone of the
strike Is broken. but In the final analy-
sis the effect will depend on how far
Count Witte will be able 70 execute
the heavy task which he has assumed
(.kfra& CAla~&aa