Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
NEW ERA Is PREDICTED
CAR ISSUES RESCRIPT GIVING
ASSEMBLY FOR THE PEOPLE.
Representatives to Be Afforded OPP
portunity to Express Views in
Framing Laws for Empire.

In the Alexandra Palace at Tsarskoe-
Selo, surrounded by the ministers and
few members of the court. and with the
empress at his side, Emperor Nicholas late
yesterday afternoon affixed his signature
to rescript containing his majesty's de-
cree to give elected representatives Of the
people an opportunity to express their
views in the preparation of the laws of
the empire
A cablegram from st. Petersburg says
that this is the autocracys final response
to the agitation in favor of participation
by the people in government which has
brought Russia in the last few months
almost to the brink of revolution. It's i'm
port must not be misunderstood For the
present, at least, 1t involves no change in
the regime of autocracy, and it means
neither a constitution nor a national as
sembly.
At the same time 1t recognizes the prin-
ciple of the peoples right to be heard re-
garding laws under which they must live.
Whatever the result must be, the docu-
ment is sure to mark an epoch In Rue
sian, history as important, if not more i'm
portant than the signing of the emancipa-
ton manifesto, the twenty-fourth anniver-
sary of which 1t was intended to sig
naliZe.
Dramatic Climax.
The signing of the document came at
the end of a dramatic scene, the climax
of which was an impassoned speech by
Emperor Nicholas to his minister's In
| which he declared that he sought only the
welfare of his subjects.
II am willing" the emperor said Ito
shed my blood for the good of my peo-
pie"
From the lips of a high parsonage who
was present when the rescript was signed
the Associated Press is able to give the
following authoritative statement:
THE action of the emperor is not step
toward but the actual grant to the people
of the whereby their duly elected
representatives can place before his ma jes-
ty their views upon every important meas
ure affecting them and recommended by
the council of the empire. Moreover If
you will read the rescript carefully, you
will see that 1t contains distinct promise
of something more In the future. It's small
beginning will not involve the surrender
Of the principle of autocracy now what
1t may evolve In the future only the future
can determine"
Members Elected by the People.
The rescript, which Is addressed to the
minister of the interior, begins by thanking
the nobility, the zemstovo assemblers and
other organizations for their expressions
of loyalty to the throne, and then declares
that in the fulfillment of the cars inten-
lions for the welfare Of is.people he Is re-
SolVeu NeHCeIOFtn, Win the nelp or COD, to
convene the worthiest men, possessing the
confidence Of the people, and elected by
them, to participate In the elaboration and
consideration Of legislative measures
The rescript continues:
I'm undertaking these reforms I am con-
WINGED that local needs and experience of
life well weighed and sincere speech Of
those elected will insure fruitfulness to leg
islation for the real benefit of the people
At the same time, l foresee all the COM
plexity and difficulty presented in the elab-
Grafton Of this reform, while preserving alb
solutely the immutability of the funda-
mental laws Of the empire.
II have confidence In your long admins
trative experience, and value your tranquil
assurance in appreciation of special con-
ference to meet under your presidency to
consider means to accomplish this my WILL"
Character Of the Membership.
1t is not the present intention of the gov
eminent to have representatives of the diff
ferent classes. nobles zemstvos merchants,
industrials and peasants. sit together to de-
liberate upon laws, but that the representa-
lives of each class will be constituted into
q permanent body to be electable at stated
periods. The Jurisdiction OF each will be
limited to the expression Of Views upon the
particular legislation affecting such class.
Moreover. the sittings OF the different
Glasses may be held at different times, thus
avoiding thereby the danger from the con-