The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-19
Announces Grant to Country.
man OF National Elective
Assembly
ALL SHALL TAKE PART
IT SHALL HAVE POWER TO FRAME
AND DISCUSS MEASURES BUT
WHAT is TO BECOME OF
THEM HE DOESN'T SAY.

ST. Petersburg, Aug. l9.-Emperor
Nleholas today Saturday announced
the grant to the people of Russia of
national consultative assembly 10
be formed by elected representatives
from the whole of Russia.
The important manifesto is dated at
Peterhof today, and is in part as fol-
lows: "The empire of Russia is
formed and strengthened by indestrue-
tible solidarity of the emperor with
the people and of the people WITH
the emperor. This concord of EN-
peror and people is the great moral
force which has created Russia In the
course Of centuries by protecting her
from all misfortunes and all attacks
and has constituted up to the present
time pledge of unity. independence,
integrity, material well-being, and in.
telleetual development.
"In our manifesto of February "a,
1903, we called to a close understand
ing all faithful sons of the father.
land in order 10 protect the organiza-
lion Of the state by establishing on a
firm basis The domestic life Of the EN-.
pire, and than we devoted ourselves to
the task Of co-ordinating elective pub
lie Institutions with governmental au,
thorities and of removing disagree
ments existing between them which
had reacted so disastrously on the
normal course of our national life.
The autocratic emperors, our an
eestors, constantly had thai object II
view, and the time has come to fol
low ont their good Intentions and X
summon elected representatives from
The whole Of Russia to take conssan
and active part In the elaboration o
laws, thereby attaching to the nighel
state institutions special consulta
tive body entrusted with preliminar.
elaboration and discussion of meas
1,es and with examination of tht
state budget.
1T is for this reason that, while
preserving the fundamental law re
garding autocratic power, we hay'
deemed it well 10 form a Gosudarst
veennaia Douma (lower house of as
sembly) and 70 approve regulation
for elections to this Donna. extendinl
the validity of these laws TO the Who'll,
territory Of the empire, with sucl
exceptions only as may be considered
necessary in case of some regions il
which special conditions obtain.
"As regards participation in the la
hors of the Gosudarstyeennaia Doumi
of delegates from the Grand Ducn.
Of Findland on questions concerning
The empire in general and the gran'
duchy in particular, we will take spec
ial measures.
cat the same time. we have OF
dered the minister Of interior to sui
nit Immediately for our approbatio
regulations for elections to the Dot
ma, so that deputies from fifty govern
Ments and from the military provipc
NOT later than the middle of January
1896"
The emperor reserves the right t
make Changes in the national assen
bly, when he deems them necessary
and expresses confidence that thos'
elected delegates to the assembly wi
prove themselves worthy Of the col
fldence Of the people.
The manifesto, ukase and projet
are published this morning Saturday
in special edition Of the Official Me-
senger, in st. Petersburg and Mo-
COW. They will be given out for pul
licat on at noon to all newspaper
throughout the empire, many of whic
are preparing to issue extra edition
to signalige the momentous histor
cal event.
The national assembly will be
consultative organization In come
ton with the council Of the empir
and not legislative body. The poy
ers of the emperor remain theoret
eally absolute. As the emperor is th
supreme law giver and autocrat, tn
decision OF the Douma have only
recommendations and not bindin
force, though the rejection of any le
islative measures by two-thirds nj
jority Of both houses Is sufficient
prevent thar measure from becomin
law.
Representatives Of the people wi
have notaonly the right to be heard D
any legislation proposed by the 60
ernment, but also can voice their d
sires on new laws and will have tf
right to exert certain supervision ov,
budgetary expenditures.
Suffrage though wide Is not unive
sal. II Is based on a property qua
fication, the peasantry having vo
through membership in communal q
ganizations
A considerable portion Of the rel
dents ofscities, possessing no land
together with women, soldiers. ci,
functlonaries, ETC., are without ~
frage.
u ~ s VIZ NIN 4At N ktt