The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-17
It Has Been Inaugurated in
Earnest by Russian Emperor.
Imperial Rescript Gives the
Poles Greater Freedom.
VEXATIOUS BURDENS
Have Been Removed From Large
Part of the Empire.
Privileges Which People Have
Fought for Are Restored.

st. Petersburg, May 17=There is
little room for skepticism as to the
genuineness of the broad policy of i'm
perial reform after the renarka BILE
steps sanctioned by Emperor Nicholas
in the imperial rescript issued yester-
day modifying the restrictive DEGREES
in nine of the western governments of
Russia and giving the Poles greater
freedom for acquiring farming lands
and purchasing landed properties and
industrial premises and giving per-
mission to introduce the Polish and
Lithuanian languages in the primary
and secondary schools where the ma
jority of the inhabitants are non
Russian. Almost at one sweep the
whole burden of the yexat ious re-
kans have been removed and the
privileges for which the natives have
been fighting for years are re
stored and all the harsh Administrative
measures adopted at the time of the
policy of reaction and classification
are abolished unless later for purposes
! OF state after the recommendation of
/ the council of state they receive i'm
perial sanction. AS a natural sequence
1 of freedom of religion the oppressive
prohibition of purchase of land by
( Catholic peasants is absolutely abol-
ished.
Russian Policy Reversed.
In effect the measures sanctioned
amount to IN entire reversal Of F,us-
sian policy in ancient Poland and the
/ Baltic provinces.
/ Ia Poland by confning the land
| holding to persons of Polish extra elton
strictly by inheritance by descent and
not even by testament it was designed
/ to force the Poles either to become
orthodox Russians or drive them into
Poland proper. The hardships thus
entailed were innumerable. The prop
erty of deceased Poles was sold to
/ Russians at forced sale and at ridicu-
/ l0us prices. A famous case was that
! of the Polish estates of the late Prince
ven Hohenlohe, the German imperial
| chancellor, for which a special ukase
sale.
It is pointed out that in order to avoid
delay in the matter of the introduction
of the Polish and Lithuanian languages
the emperor specifically directed the
/ formulation of the necessary regulations
and laws within six months. These
measures it is understood will be fol-
/ lowed by the Introduction of local self
/ government, through the zemstvo Sys-
/ TEN. The steps taken will undoubtedly
and will practically meet the demands
Of the rational reformers who really
recognize that the restoration of the
kingdom Of Poland is an idle and Wis
| .OiiaAy III Setth- Inc committee OF MIN
listers has gone no further with the
Jewish question than to grant freedom
of residence to the artisan class. The
question in it's entirety is of such great
Importance that it has been decided tc
refer it to the coming general assembly
This practically is a decision to defer II
| to the will of the representatives of the
4 people being the first public recognition
that the government intends to be guild
ed by it's action.
The emperor's action has produced a
! splendid impression among the reform
elements which are expressing the high
est satisfaction AS the announcement
was not published in the official gazette
until this morning however the news
/ papers contain no comment.