Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-17
Commences Of Broad Policy
Little Doubted.
ACTION OF THE CAR
REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIVE LAWS
AGAINST THE POLES.
Six Thousand Workmen Make Demon
stration in st. Petersburg-zsm-
stvos to Be Established.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 17-There is lit
tie room for skepticism as to the genuine
ness of the broad policy of imperial reform
after the remarkable steps sanctioned by
Emperor Nicholas in the imperial rescript
issued yesterday modifying the restrictive
DEGREES In nine of the western governments
of Russia and giving the Poles greater free
dom for acquiring farming lands and pur-
chasing landed properties and Industrial
premises and giving permission to intro
duce the Polish and Lithuanian languages
in the primary and secondary. schools where
the majority of the inhabitants are nom
Russian.
Almost at one sweep the whole burden
Of the vexatious restrictive laws in Poland
and the Baltic provinces have been remov-
ed and the privileges for which the ma
tives have been fighting for years are re-
stored, the assemblies of the Polish mobiles
are re-established and all the harsh ad-
illustrative measures introduced at the
time of the policy of reaction and Russif-
cation are abolished unless later for pur-
poses of state after the Recommendation Of
the council of state they receive imperial
sanction. AS a natural sequence of free
dom of religion the oppressive prohibition
of the purchase Of land by Catholic peas
ants is abolished. In effect the measures
sanctioned amount TO an entire reversal OF
Russian policy in ancient Poland and the
Baltic provinces
In Poland, by ronfining the landholdiag
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 orthodox Russians
or drive them into Poland proper. The
hardships thus entailed were innumerable.
The property of deceased Poles was sold
to Russians by forced sale and at ridicu-
1cuS prices. famous case was that of the
Polish estates of the late Prince Won Ho-
henlohe. the German imperial chancellor.
for which special ukase was necessary
in order to permit the sale.
A prominent liberal, who is especially in
terested in the Polish question, declared
that the latest rescript together with the
reseript on religious liberation, would go far
toward settling the most burning political
problems in Poland and the Baltic provinces
and produce an era of better feeling than
had prevailed in Poland for half century.
He further declared that. contrary to wide
opinion. the Polish population as a whole
was not revolutionary. The Poles realized
that their political future. good or i'll, was
bound up in that of the empire, and they
were anxious to make the best of it.
Tumults such as those at Warsaw May /
were not manifestations of the general
feeling, but were the result of non-political
economic causes, which had produced dis
tress among the industrial population and
afforded field for social revolutionary
agitators.
NJ. Mendeleef. the famous chemist, ex-
presses the opinion that much of the agita-
ton In Russia was the result of the social
istic propaganda carried on by German So
ctaiistS for their own ends. He also de-
clares that the excitement was largely SUI
perficial, especially among the students
Within Six Months.
1t 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 formula
ton of the necessary regulations and la WIS
within six months.
These measures. it is understood. will be
followed by the introduction of local self
government through the zemstvo system.
The steps taken will undoubtedly have i'm
mense influence upon the population Of
Poland. and will practically meet the de-
mands of the rational reformers, who re-
ally recognize that the restoration Of the
kingdom of Poland is an idle and visionary
dream.
The committee of ministers has gone no
further with the Jewish question than to
grant freedom of residence to the artisan
class. The question In its entirety Is OF
such great Importance that 1t has been de-
cided to refer it to the coming general IS
sembly. This practically is decision TO
defer it to the will of the representatives
of the people. being the first public recos-
milton that the government intends to be
guided by it's action.
The emperor's action has produced
splendid impression among the reform ele-
ments, which expressing the highest
satisfaction. AS the announcement was
not published In the Official Gazette until
this morning. however. the newspapers con-
tain no comment.
Workmen's Demonstration.
Special Cabegram to The Star.
PARIS. May IA dispatch to the Echo
de Paris from St. Petersburg says that
6.000 workingmen made demonstration
yesterday. crying Down with the Gar
down with autocracy." Seven hundred Co.'S
sacks charged the procession and injured
many of the demonstrators. including wom-
en- and children.
Proclaimed Zemstvos.
IRKUTSK, Eastern Siberia. May 1.-THE
governors or Tobolsk and Tomsk, In obedi-
ence to the imperial rescript of April 49,
have proclaimed the establishment of
zemstvos in those provinces.
Count Kutaissoff. the new governor of
Irkutsk. requests the cooperation OF the
inhabitants in the creation of the Irkutsk
zemstvo